GOOD FOOD TIPS FOR CHILDREN!

We always seem to have blogs aimed at the adults, so today, I thought I will talk to the children. Moms and dads, you are welcome to read this, as it effects you too. Let’s look at some good nutrition…

Here are some points to remember:

Don’t skip breakfast – A healthy breakfast helps you pay attention in school. It also keeps you from being hungry and wanting to snack on unhealthy food like chips. Eat some oatmeal, whole grain cereal with nuts, or whole wheat toast with peanut butter. These foods are packed with nutrition to keep you full until lunch
Talk to your parents about healthy food – It’s difficult to eat healthy if the snacks you find at home are cookies, chips, and other unhealthy treats. So talk to your parents. Ask them to buy healthier food like fruits, vegetables, whole grain breads, and yogurt and 2% milk. You can even offer to go grocery shopping with them to show them what foods you’d like to eat. That way, when you’re hungry, you can eat something you like that’s good for you.
Check whats in your lunchbox – Pack or ask your parents to pack foods that are good for you and that will keep you full for a long time. A sandwich on whole wheat bread will make you feel fuller longer than white bread would. That’s because whole wheat bread has fibre. Fibre is good because it takes time for your body to digest, so it fills you up.
Eat food with water in them – Fruits and veggies are filled with water. That means you can eat a lot of them, and they will keep you full. When you have a choice, pick foods with lots of water in them. For example, you could eat just a handful of raisins, which are dried grapes, or 2 handfuls of fresh grapes with lots of water in them. The grapes will keep you feeling fuller, longer.
Healthy fast foods – Eat healthy when you eat fast food. Order a tasty grilled chicken sandwich with extra lettuce, tomato, and pickles. Have apple slices instead of French fries. If you order pizza, skip the pepperoni and sausage. Get your pizza loaded with veggies like broccoli, mushrooms, and olives. Then order water or 2% milk instead of yur favourite fizzy drink.
Go for protein – If you’re hungry, don’t grab a cookie. Your body digests sugary foods quickly. When you eat a cookie you’ll be hungry again soon. Instead, eat foods that have a lot of protein, like chicken, peanut butter or cheese with crackers, yogurt, or scrambled eggs. These foods keep you full because your body digests them slowly.
Fill up before you eat – Thats not me being silly…When you’re really hungry, you may want to eat and eat until you eat way too much. Before scoffing down a meal, try having a piece of fruit, a cup of soup, or a small salad. These foods have a lot of water. That means they’ll start to fill your stomach so you won’t feel like you’re starving. Then when you eat your meal, you won’t end up eating too much.
Choose the healthier version of food you like – It’s not difficult to pick foods that are better for your body. Some of your favorites come in tasty, healthier versions. Just make a few changes. Have leaner bacon for breakfast instead of regular bacon. Drink reduced-fat milk instead of whole chocolate milk. Eat spaghetti with tomato sauce and a little bit of cheese instead of gobs of cheese and butter.
And what about dessert? – Dessert can be yummy and healthy. Instead of eating two scoops of ice cream, eat one scoop of frozen yogurt and put lots of berries on top. Or make a sundae out of chocolate pudding, raspberries, and a sprinkle of almonds. Put pineapple chunks, strawberries, and grapes on skewers to make fruit kebabs. Then dip them in reduced-fat vanilla yogurt.
Get your friends to do the same – Now that you know more about healthy eating, get your friends eating healthy, too. When they come over to hang out, ask your parents to serve sliced apples or carrots instead of chips and cookies. Fill bowls with whole grain tortilla chips and salsa. Or make trail mix from nuts, whole-grain cereal, and dried fruits like raisins. Show your friends that healthy food can taste great!