ENJOY YOUR HEALTHY MEALS WITH YOUR KIDS AND KEEP THEM HEALTHY ALL LIFE

Who doesn’t love kids, everyone one does right?

Well we have a whole new interesting article for all the lovely kids out there, and yes even the parents can be a part of it..

Nothing feels better than watching your children polish off a healthy home cooked meal.
At times feeding children can be one of the most satisfying and stressful parts of parenting. But we come up with some cooked up sneaky ideas for the kids and the food they love.
Right from the breakfast to dinner – time meals the package has to look good and attractive.
Children who eat right amount of nutritious foods and are sufficiently active lay the foundations for a healthy life and enjoy lower risks of long-term health problems.
Childhood is a critical period for growth and development hence it is essential that foods supply the energy, protein, vitamins that the child needs.
What kind of foods the kids should have?
A variety of foods will provide the range of nutrients required and encourage long- term good eating habits.

QUALITY & QUANTITY MATTERS:

The appetite younger children often varies, but this is generally cause for concern. Children need enough to satisfy hunger and ensure optimal growth and often eat accordingly.
The appetite can increase dramatically during growth spurts.
And if you are worried that they are not eating good enough , then do visit your doctor or dietician who will asses your child’s growth rate.

BRING IN THE VARIETY:

•  Encourage children to taste new foods, even if they don’t like it or they don’t eat all of it..
•  Remember they learn from watching and understanding what you teach them.
•  This includes their habits on eating and drinking.
•  A range of different foods are important to balance nutrient intake, cereals, whole grains, pulses that will give whole one nutrition.
•  Try to include, milk yogurt, fish leafy vegetables that are rich in iron and calcium.

Always offer plenty of water. Limit canned juices and sweetened drinks.
Do not add extra salts in the meals, look for oils with mono saturated fats rather than high saturated ones. Eg: olive oil, veg oil etc.
Physical activity is a must.
For strong bones encourage daily weight- bearing activities like ball games and running.
Boost their self – esteem, and educate them with the importance of fitness, strong bones and maintaining a healthy body weight.

THROW AWAY THE JUNKIES…

Not enough nourishing foods are eaten.
Children become overweight or obese.
Spending a lot of money – its much cheaper to provide junk food for your children.
In this case you would miss a chance to teach your child about healthy eating.
School junkies should be avoided like, fruit color bars, candies, fried food stuff, processed meat , cordials soft drinks majorly.
SNACK IT UP FOR UR KIDS:
A sandwich with a glass of milk.
A cereal bowl and fruits freshly cut.
A bowl of soup and toast.
Bring in some grilled vegetables or steamed meal for the kids.
Decorate it smartly so as to attract your child to have these great snack time meals.

FAMILY TIME WITH KIDS:
For schoolchildren, family mealtimes are a chance to share and talk about the day’s activities and events. The evening meal together is an important time to do this.
Family mealtime suggestions include:

• Allow talk and sharing of daytime activities.
• Avoid distractions such as the television, radio or the telephone.
• Let your child decide when they are full – don’t argue about food.
• Allow children to help with preparing meals and shopping.
• Teach some simple nutrition facts such as ‘milk keeps your bones strong’.

THINGS TO REMEMBER:

Snacks are an important factor for a healthy diet for children,.
Let children help with food preparation and meal planning.
Its important to encourage breakfast, because a good night sleep followed by food in the morning helps your child stay active and concentrate at school.
Limit screen time tv time and aim for some physical activity everyday.