With all of the sugary products and commercials available to children now days, it’s hard to keep your kids focused on nutrition and good eating habits. You can encourage healthy eating habits by changing a few ingredients and looking for healthier choices. Kids love dip and it’s a great way to get them to eat their vegetables. Try preparing ranch dip with low-fat plain yogurt for a healthier version. Nutritious bean dip, salsa or homemade hummus can also be used depending on your kids taste. Try flavors such as cumin and garlic powder in hummus to add flavor and make it more appealing.
Kids love pizza and there are many healthy ways to enjoy it. One way is to use whole-grain English muffins, whole-wheat pitas or tortillas and let your kids top them with sauce, vegetables and their favorite low-fat cheese. Pizza doesn’t always have to be unhealthy, just focus on the food items that you are using. Kids also love celery and peanut butter and it can be turned into “ants on a log”, by adding raisins or craisins. Trail mix is another healthy snack and it travels well. Keep this on hand to avoid the fast food joints when the kids get hungry.
When all else fails, pick up some of your kids favorites such as string cheese or a pear and apple. Cheese is a great source of calcium and is vital to bone health. It’s recommended to incorporate 3 to 5 fruits into your diet a day, so this would be a good start to your children maintaining a healthier diet. Try to stay away from fast food such as burgers and fries, which contribute to over half of you daily calorie intake, and stick to fresh fruits and vegetables to snack on.
Comments (0):