As summer winds down and school bells get ready to ring, many parents are busy buying school supplies, picking out first-day outfits, and figuring out schedules. But one of the most important things you can do to set your child up for a healthy and successful school year happens before they even walk through the classroom door — making sure their health is in top shape.

We recently sat down with Jillian Berkshire, APRN-CNP, a School-Based Telehealth Nurse Practitioner at Aultman Orrville Carrollton Health Center, for our Health Matters podcast. Jillian shared expert advice for parents who want to make this school year the healthiest yet. Here are some of her top tips:

1. Don’t Skip the Child Wellness Exam

A child wellness exam isn’t just a quick check-up — it’s a complete assessment of your child’s physical, mental, and developmental health. Jillian recommends annual wellness exams for children of all ages, starting as early as infancy. This visit helps providers track growth, update vaccines, and catch potential issues before they become bigger problems.

2. Stay on Top of Screenings and Vaccines

Before school starts, ask your provider about vision, hearing, and dental check-ups.

• Vision & Hearing: These screenings are vital for learning. Even mild issues can affect reading, concentration, and confidence.

• Dental Care: Cavities can cause pain, missed school days, and long-term problems — regular check-ups matter.

• Vaccines: Immunizations protect your child and their classmates. Your provider can help you stay up to date on which ones are needed for each grade level.

3. Build Healthy Routines Early

Getting into a school-year rhythm ahead of time makes those first mornings smoother. Jillian suggests:

• Establishing a consistent bedtime and wake-up time a week or two before school starts.

• Encouraging healthy breakfasts for better focus and energy.

• Limiting screen time in the evening to help kids wind down.

4. Make Safety a Priority

From walking to the bus stop to carrying a heavy backpack, safety matters:

• Teach safe travel routes and road safety rules.

• Choose a backpack that’s not overloaded — ideally less than 10–15% of your child’s body weight.

• Make sure kids know how to contact you or another trusted adult in case of emergency.

5. Support Healthy Habits All Year Long

• Homework Success: Create a quiet, distraction-free space for study time.

• Physical Activity: Encourage daily movement — sports, playground time, or family walks.

• Hygiene: Remind kids about regular handwashing and other germ-busting habits.

• When They’re Sick: Keep children home when they’re ill and know your options for medical care, including school-based telehealth or local clinics.

Finding a Primary Care Provider

If your family doesn’t have a primary care provider, Jillian encourages parents to seek one now rather than waiting until a health issue arises. Your provider becomes a partner in your child’s growth and development — and can help you navigate everything from routine check-ups to unexpected illnesses.

Bottom line? Back-to-school prep isn’t just about pencils and backpacks — it’s about making sure your child is healthy, rested, and ready to thrive. By following Jillian Berkshire’s tips, you can help your student start the year strong — and keep that momentum going all year long.

🎧 Listen to the full podcast interview with Jillian Berkshire on our Health Matters podcast for even more practical back-to-school health advice.

Medicine Center Pharmacy Health Matters Podcast: Nourishing Wellness with Joy Benjamin

Welcome to another episode of the Medicine Center Pharmacy Health Matters Podcast! We’re your trusted source for health tips, expert advice, and the latest insights to help you live your healthiest life. Today, we’re excited to dive into the world of nutrition and whole-food eating with a very special guest: Joy Benjamin, a highly respected dietitian who specializes in helping people embrace healthy, balanced eating habits, from Aultman Wellness Program.

Episode Highlights

Host: Welcome, Joy! We’re thrilled to have you here. Let’s start with your perspective on the power of nutrition in overall wellness.

Joy Benjamin: Thank you for having me! Nutrition is foundational to good health. What we eat fuels everything we do—from our daily energy levels to how well we sleep, recover, and age. The key is focusing on whole foods—minimally processed ingredients like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.

Host: Let’s talk about whole foods. Why are they so important?

Joy Benjamin: Whole foods provide the vitamins, minerals, and fiber our bodies need without the additives or empty calories often found in processed foods. Think of them as nature’s ultimate convenience food—they come packed with everything you need for nourishment. Plus, they taste great when you know how to prepare them!

Healthy Eating Tips from Joy

In this episode, Joy shared simple, actionable tips for incorporating healthy eating into your routine:

1. Prioritize whole foods: Build your meals around fresh, natural ingredients.

2. Eat the rainbow: Make your plate as colorful as possible with fruits and veggies.

3. Snack smart: Keep healthy options like nuts, fruits, or veggie sticks on hand.

4. Plan ahead: Meal prepping can make healthy eating easier during busy weeks.

Host: I love that idea of eating the rainbow. Why is it so important to include a variety of fruits and vegetables in our diets?

Joy Benjamin: Each color represents different nutrients. For example, orange and yellow foods like carrots and sweet potatoes are rich in beta-carotene, while dark green veggies like spinach are packed with iron and calcium. A colorful plate is not just visually appealing but nutritionally balanced, too.

Joy’s Quick & Healthy Recipe

During the episode, Joy also shared a simple recipe to inspire listeners to get more veggies into their meals:

Rainbow Veggie Stir-Fry

• Sauté a mix of colorful vegetables like red bell peppers, carrots, broccoli, and snap peas in olive oil.

• Add garlic and ginger for flavor.

• Finish with a splash of low-sodium soy sauce and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.

Joy Benjamin: It’s quick, delicious, and packed with nutrients. Plus, you can customize it with whatever vegetables you have on hand!

Final Thoughts

Host: Joy, what’s one piece of advice you’d give listeners who are just starting their health journey?

Joy Benjamin: Start small and focus on one change at a time. Maybe it’s adding a vegetable to every meal or swapping out processed snacks for whole-food options. Small, consistent changes lead to big results over time.

Host: Thank you, Joy, for joining us today and sharing your insights. It’s been a pleasure having you!

Joy Benjamin: Thank you! It’s been a joy to be part of this conversation.

Closing Notes

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Medicine Center Pharmacy Health Matters Podcast. If you’re in Canton, Ohio, be sure to check out the Aultman Hospital Wellness Program, where Joy will be hosting additional sessions on healthy eating and whole foods.

For more information on upcoming events or to listen to past episodes, visit our website or subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platform.

Stay healthy, everyone!

Thanks for listening today! We’d like to remind our listeners, if you suspect you have a medical issue, please contact your healthcare provider. Thanks to our sponsor Aultman Health System. As always, we thank our listeners for joining us on Health Matters with the Medicine Center Pharmacy. Have a healthy week and we’ll see you again next Friday right here on News Talk 1480 WHBC.