Dr. Walsh's Healthy Dose

This weekend, honor those who have served in the military and your family’s health with some tips from Dr. Walsh.

By Stephanie Walsh, M.D., Medical Director, Child Wellness, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

Wish you could go to sleep, wake up and magically be just a little bit healthier? You can—and your kids can, too!

Surprisingly, sleep (and lack of it) plays a big role in both hunger level and food preferences. Did you know that when you don’t get enough sleep, your body releases chemicals that actually make you hungrier?

By Stephanie Walsh, M.D., Medical Director, Child Wellness, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

No one ever said that being a mom is easy! As a matter of fact, kids sometimes think we’re mean just because we don’t let them do what they want or make them do things they don’t want to do. Want to hear about what a “mean” mom I am?

The other day, my youngest son and I were in the grocery store buying produce. He really wanted a sports drink, which I vetoed. He got upset, threw a little tantrum and said I was “mean.” I told him that if he was unhappy with me, he could go to the “Mom Aisle” and pick out another mom…one who would clearly love him less if she buys him the junk food he wants. While still not happy, he got the point.

By Trisha Hardy, Director, Child Wellness, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

As the school year comes to a close, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on some of the strides we made improving school nutrition this year. With the help of the amazing nutritionists and administrators in Fulton County and the financial support of our friends at the Cigna Foundation, we launched our Strong4Life Nutrition Program across all Fulton County schools. Continue reading…

By Stephanie Walsh, M.D., Medical Director, Child Wellness, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

The signs of major water damage aren’t hard to spot: there might be a standing puddle of water in the bathroom. Or maybe a corner of your ceiling is soft and discolored. There could even be nasty signs of mold. But one thing’s for sure: you know serious water damage when you see it. And you know there’s a leak somewhere that’ll undermine the entire structure of your home unless you find it and fix it—pronto. Continue reading…

By Stephanie Walsh, M.D., Medical Director, Child Wellness, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

We’ve all been there. I’m sure even Brad and Angelina, with their small army of nannies, have been there.

And by “there,” I’m talking about being on the verge of pulling your hair out (assuming you have any left) because everything is imploding—or exploding—at home. At my house, it’s usually due to a perfect trifecta: everyone is tired, everyone is cranky and everyone is hungry—all at once. Continue reading…

By Mark L. Wulkan, M.D., Surgeon-in-Chief, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

It’s prom season and I know that every teenager wants to be pretty/handsome for the prom. This is why countless hours are spent on everything from clothes to hair to transportation—ensuring everything is perfect.  While my children (two girls and a boy) have not yet reached prom age, I’m sure I will think they look great!  (Although, like any parent, I’m sure I’ll worry about them staying safe and using good judgment that evening.) Continue reading…

By Lindsey Law, M.Ed, ATC, Sports Medicine Supervisor-Athletic Training, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

Spring is in the air and you know what that means—March Madness. With the NCAA tournament in Atlanta this year, Final Four fever is more contagious than ever!

While I enjoy watching the tournament as both a fan and sports trainer for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, what I really love about March Madness is the opportunity it provides to inspire kids to get moving. Continue reading…

By Linda Matzigkeit, Chief Administrative Officer, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

As Chief Administrative Officer for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and mom of an active 12-year old, I know how hard it is to achieve success in work, home and everything else. So when I raised my hand to volunteer to be the team mom for my son’s baseball team, I silently wondered what on earth I was thinking. While I was excited to support my child (I knew he would think it was really cool), part of the real motivation was being able to influence some of the unhealthy behaviors that have become culturally accepted in team sports. Continue reading…

By Stephanie Walsh, M.D., Medical Director, Child Wellness, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

When you’re asked to describe a superhero as a kid, images of a caped crusader with superpowers come to mind. As an adult, however, you know real-life superheroes walk among us every day. Some are obvious, like police officers, fire fighters and our military men and women, but we can’t forget our silent heroes, like the pastors, coaches, siblings and even the school lunch ladies who fix nutritious foods to fuel young bodies. Continue reading…