Good nutrition, regular exercise, and protection from common childhood diseases are essential for your child's health. Your child's pediatricians at Pediatrics of Central Florida in Kissimmee, Orlando, and St. Cloud, FL, are here to answer your questions and provide care that will help your son or daughter thrive.

Good health starts with a healthy diet

Growing children need foods packed with vitamins and minerals and other nutrients. Fruits and vegetables should fill one-half of your child's plate at mealtime. Whole grains and proteins should fill the other half. Healthy proteins include fish, lean meats, and poultry.

Limit cake, candy, and potato chips to special occasions and offer healthier snacks instead. Apple slices, carrots, string cheese, yogurt, and celery filled with peanut butter are good snack choices.

Exercise builds strong bones and muscles

Daily exercise is an important aspect of your child's health. In addition to strengthening muscles and bones, exercise also helps your child maintain a healthy weight.

Kids 6 to 17 need at least one hour of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If your child plays sports, he or she may already meet the activity recommendations. Team sports aren't the only way to get exercise. Kids can stay active by riding bikes, swimming, taking walks, dancing, or other activities.

Immunizations keep your child from getting sick

Immunizations prevent your child from developing many diseases, including whooping cough, measles, mumps, meningitis, tetanus, diphtheria, rotavirus, and chickenpox. Children who get these diseases can become very sick and may face lifelong health complications in some cases, or may even die.

Following the recommended immunization schedule is a simple way to protect your child's health. Immunizations start when your child is a baby and continue throughout childhood. Be sure to call the Kissimmee, Orlando, or St. Cloud pediatrics office if you have questions or concerns about immunizations.

Checkups and immunizations help protect your son or daughter's health. Contact the Kissimmee, Orlando, and St. Cloud, FL, pediatricians at Pediatrics of Central Florida if you need to schedule a visit. Get in touch with the doctors by calling:
(407) 846-3455 (W. Oak St., Kissimmee)
(407) 857-2816 (Orlando)
(407) 933-5985 (Cypress Parkway, Kissimmee
(407) 891-0479 (St. Cloud)