A big challenge for many parents is getting kids to eat veggies, especially when they reach that lovely “I won’t eat anything green or red or…” phase. But before you get desperate and succumb to serving French fries and justifying ketchup as a vegetable, here is some good news! Researchers from the University of Alberta found that the best way to get children to eat (and enjoy!) healthier foods is to have them help with meal preparation; you may have heart it before—but here is the research! According to the study, children involved in the cooking process had a greater preference for vegetables than children who were not. So pull out those aprons and let’s get our mini chefs in the kitchen!
NLT: Birds Eye has taken the initiative to develop kid-friendly recipes that are reminiscent of familiar “kid food,” and you’re kids will be excited to make them. Get your little ones energized about Green Monster Pizza Night, or together design Veggie Martians that will make your kids want to dig in!
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A big challenge for many parents is getting kids to eat veggies, especially when they reach that lovely “I won’t eat anything green or red or…” phase. But before you get desperate and succumb to serving French fries and justifying ketchup as a vegetable, here is some good news! Researchers from the University of Alberta found that the best way to get children to eat (and enjoy!) healthier foods is to have them help with meal preparation; you may have heart it before—but here is the research! According to the study, children involved in the cooking process had a greater preference for vegetables than children who were not. So pull out those aprons and let’s get our mini chefs in the kitchen!
NLT: Birds Eye has taken the initiative to develop kid-friendly recipes that are reminiscent of familiar “kid food,” and you’re kids will be excited to make them. Get your little ones energized about Green Monster Pizza Night, or together design Veggie Martians that will make your kids want to dig in!
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INGREDIENTS
- Popsicle sticks
- Ripe bananas
- Dark chocolate
- Sprinkles or chopped nuts
DIRECTIONS
- Peel bananas and cut in half (horizontally).
- Put popsicle stick in one end and freeze for a few hours or over night.
- Melt dark chocolate in microwave or over a double boiler.
- Dip banana in melted chocolate, then roll in sprinkles or chopped nuts.
- Freeze for at least 30 minutes.
Why we love this recipe:
Bananas, chocolate and nuts, oh my! Sounds almost too good to be good for you, but the banana is an oldie but goodie! With all kinds of antioxidant powerhouses competing for our attention, we may overlook the wonderful banana. Bananas are full of potassium, which is essential for proper nerve and muscle function. Ever wonder why marathon runners are handed bananas during a race? Potassium in bananas is an electrolyte that keeps essential fluids in the body and plays a vital role in nerve stimulation and muscle contraction. Dark chocolate contains flavonoids that prevent the buildup of coronary arterial plaque, making it good for your heart and your soul. Sprinkled with some nuts, which are a great source of vitamin E and protein, these treats give you a satisfying snack guaranteed to please–and they are fun to make with the kids, too!
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Leaving for a holiday getaway with your family? Start your vacation off on the right foot by prepping some healthy snacks in your bag. There is sure to be better places to indulge than airports or rest stops!
Instead of relying on airplane/airport food and fast-food chains, take 10 extra minutes to pack non-perishable, healthy snacks for the flight or car ride.
Healthy snacking is good for everyone—especially kids! Most kids need to eat every 2-3 hours to get in all the nutrients and calories they need to sustain adequate growth. Think of your kids’ snacks as mini meals. This means they should be just as nutritious as the rest of the food you give them throughout the day. Think real food, not “snack” food.
Maizy loves trail mix, so I throw a mixture of pistachios, 2 dried apricots, and whole grain cereal like Barbara’s Puffins in a Ziploc bag. And Rex loves oatmeal, so I toss in a few oatmeal packets for the trip- I’ve never been on a plane where I couldn’t get him hot water! Some other healthy snacks that your kids will be sure to love are FruitaBu Organic Fruit Flats, (of course the real thing like an apple or banana is better, but these are good as back-ups,) green apples with Barney Butter Peanut Butter 90 Calorie Squeeze Packs, Tribe Hummus Snackers with sliced carrots (yes, a tiny bit of prep work) or Annie’s Whole Wheat Bunny Crackers.
A good general rule: When choosing snacks for your kids, look for foods that have no trans fat or saturated fat, are low in sugar, high in fiber, and provide some protein or healthy fat.
Safe travels everyone, and happy healthy holidays!
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Since I’m from Boston, and still a Boston girl at heart, I couldn’t resist posting this pic of my kids in their fave Celtics jerseys!
Go Celts!
Getting kids involved in after school sports is key in building happy, healthy, confident kids! And while my kids love b-ball, any after school sport is a great choice.
With sports we aren’t just helping our kids build healthy, strong, bodies; we are teaching them about hard work, self-confidence, and teamwork, while having fun!
Get your kids involved; help them learn and grow through sports.
Go my little Celtics fans, go!
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Even though Maizy is not turning 4 until August, we just celebrated her birthday with all of her school friends since New York City becomes a little bit of a ghost town the last week of August.
Having spent WAY too many hours in a gym growing up (the smell of chalk still makes me smile and gives me anxiety at the same time) I wasn’t sure I even wanted to begin the gymnastics “thing” with Maizy. Then again, I also didn’t want to do the pink thing but little girls do have their own minds as I have learned. And, this little girl does LOVE gymnastics.
I was happy to read about a new study in The Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM,) that said young girls who are involved in long-term gymnastics training may be at less risk for osteoporosis as they age!
Researchers studied the bone health of 49 girls between the ages of 9 and 13. Twenty six of the girls were elite rhythmic gymnasts who trained for at least 2 years, and twenty three girls had only taken part in physical-education related activities. The group of girls that were elite rhythmic gymnasts for at least 2 years showed a marked improvement in bone density, bone mineral content, and the thickness in the outer shell of the bone. In other words, their bones were healthier than those who didn’t.
Go Maizy!!!
*The study, ”Effect of rhythmic gymnastics on volumetric bone mineral density and bone geometry in premenarcheal female athletes and controls,” appears in the June 2010 issue of JCEM.
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