Are fruit juices the healthy way to go?
When you think of fruit juice one automatically think of a healthy drink however, here we are referring to factory manufactured concentrate juice. This is what some parents are purchasing for their children under the notion that is the best drink available for children. But, don’t be fooled by pretty packaging and words like natural or fruit juice. Read the label and see how much percentage of it is juice and how much straight up sugar.
Fruit juice consumption has been reduced in the last few years. They are great to drink and are usually sweet but, are they as healthy to drink?
Here are a few healthy snacks for children that are filled with nutrients as well as healthy fats that will feed their growing brains. Don’t forget it is a great idea having you children help to make these snacks.
The Goodness of Water for children
Over the several years several beverages have gotten the lime light with consumers and have gone on to become stars in there own right. Beverages like coke and milk are still popular today due to the advertising concept that were used to promote them. In the 1970’s it was the gingle perfect harmony and in today’s day it is celebrities with milky moustache.
Are your kids safe in a shopping cart?
shopping cart kids
Healthy Bran Muffins and ideas of healthy snacks
Candies are not healthy snacks
It is the holiday season and children are giddy with excitement and parents are not so giddy with frustration. The indulgence of children includes less sleep and consuming too much sugar at this time of the year. You don’t want to be the big bad parent and deny them from enjoying the delicacies of the holiday. But, what parents can do is limit home much unhealthy snacks their children are having.
Are your children sleeping enough to keep obesity away?
In an article I found rather interesting on Shine, uncovered what most parents have known for years that, sufficient sleep helps keep obesity away in most young children. Researchers have found that children getting 10 hours of sleep were less likely to become obese in their toddler and tween years.
High fiber diet for both adult and children
Children are not happy when they hear about fiber, it is not one of their favorite topics to discuss. Having a high fiber diet can be a preventable measure for many chronic diseases and obesity.
I am sure their thoughts are more on sweeter, more delicious food than fiber rich foods. Many delicious appétitzing foods are filled with fiber despite the taste. If you are feeding your family a balanced diet then your kids are eating many of those fibers.
Fiber rich foods are beneficial to the body and in itself have no calories however, the things that are added will contribute to the added calories. Drinking sufficient water will help food pass through the digestive tract and can prevent cancer and constipation. It may also help prevent diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Fiber has been known as a broom for the body.
Knowing your fiber
It is important to check labels for the amount of fiber in a product. Fiber can found in various foods including:
Apricots
Plums
Apples
Oranges
Mangoes
Berries
Whole grain breads and cereal
Vegetables
Beans and legumes will be met.
It is important that both adult and children to get the recommended amount of fiber. Dietitians recommend calculating the amount of fiber by age+five. Take the child’s age and add five to get the recommend grams daily.
Children should not consume too much fiber for fear of not getting their daily required nutrients. Adults should be getting 30 grams daily.
Ideas to incorporate fiber in the diet
Add one cup of pureed kidney beans to one pound of ground beef, use to make hamburger or lasagna. Add ground flax seed to hot cereal. Add pureed beets or carrots to tomato sauce. Add pureed broccoli or cauliflower to soups and sauces. Granola is great on yogurt and cold cereal.
Ensure that children are eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables by having them readily available.
Tasty but, healthy hamburger casserole
1/2 lb lean ground beef, browned
6 cups whole wheat macaroni, cooked
1 cup American cheese
1cup mozzarella cheese
1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
1 cup pureed beans or a cup of pureed beets
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. onion powder
salt to taste
In a large bowl combine browned ground beef with macaroni and add cheese leaving 1/4 cup of each aside. Add tomato sauce, garlic powder, onion powder and salt. Pour into a greased casserole bowl, sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Serve with a garden salad.
Snacks for healthy eating habits
These are everyday idea and tips on providing for your family the things nutritious what they need. The proper nutrition will improve on child’s immunity which in turn will give good health. Practice healthy eating habits so, your family will emulate what you do, ‘children do what they see’.It is good to ensure refreshments are not sugar laden but, made of fruits and as little added sugar as possible. Read the labels of containers before serving, it is important to knowwhat you are eating.
Here is a list of items that can be used for snacks or added to regular meals.
Healthy Snacks:
Fresh fruits
Oranges, tangerines
Apples are great served with peanut butter
Bananas are great frozen or served with peanut butter
Peaches, plums and pears
A variety of dried or canned fruits
