Kids - What Are You Feeding Them?
Meals are being eaten on the run. Fast food is commonplace and 'going out to play' has been replaced with video games and movie rentals. Is it any wonder we are in this situation? Most adults would rather not deal with it, it is easier to pretend everything is all right and just put some chicken nuggets in the microwave and call it dinner. It's easier to let the kids stare at a movie than to take them outside to a park.
Change needs to happen and it needs to start at home with nourishing food and physicalactivity. So where do we begin? Let's talk about feeding our kids. What is healthy for kids is basically what is healthy for all of us. A diet rich in nutrients from whole grains, vegetables, fruits, lean proteins and a healthy amount of fat. A goal is to feed your children 'real' food for the majority of the time (a pop-tart is NOT real food!). You want to choose foods as close to their natural state as possible. Fruits and vegetables are an obvious choice. Have you ever noticed the way kids will eat fruit and raw vegetables when they are sitting in front of them all cut up? Keep some around and watch what happens. Breakfast is very important! Serve whole grain cereals instead of sugary ones, a bagel with peanut butter or oatmeal. Use skim milk versus whole. When eating meat, choose chicken and fish over beef and pork. Make sure that the meat is not the center of the meal, but more of an accompaniment served with vegetables and a whole grain pasta or rice. Serve a salad with dinner to really boost the nutrition of the meal. Choose vinaigrette type dressings over creamy ones. When using lunchmeat, choose turkey and avoid the processed meats like salami or bologna and avoid white bread.
One very big step in the right direction is to clean out the home environment. If there are cookies and ice cream in the house, the kids are going to eat it. Now, I'm not saying that you and your kids should never have a treat like cookies or ice cream, but there is no reason for unhealthy, sugary and fatty foods to be in the house on a regular basis. There are many better choices out there, like yogurt, whole grain pretzels, whole grain bagel or celery with peanut butter, air popped popcorn, baked tortilla chips and salsa, frozen yogurt, fruit dipped in cool whip just to name a very few. Use the changes you make in the kitchen as a learning experience for the whole family. Educate your kids on the difference between healthy food and empty calories (junk food). Teach them how to read food labels and what to look for. Get them involved and make it fun! Kids love to learn and this is a lesson that they will take with them and use throughout their lifetime.
Remember that you are your child's role model. They hear what you say and they watch what you do. Set the example you wish for them to follow.
Next week we will discuss physical fitness for kids, see you then!
Related Tags: fitness, exercise, nutrition, food, diet, children, kids, juice, snacks
Barry Lovelace is creator of Exercise4 Every Body circuit training DVD's. co-owner of FitQuest Fitness in Allentown, Pa.. a personal trainer, speaker and all around fitness enthusiast. Barry Lovelace is creator of Exercise4 Every Body circuit training DVD's, Co-Host of Workout Wednesday's on CNN Headline news, Host of Body Smart Fit Tips, Co-owner of FitQuest Fitness in Allentown, Pa.. a personal trainer, speaker and all around fitness enthusiast. Visit Barry's website: http://www.fitquestlv.com Email Barry at: barry@wegetufit.comisit
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- Choosing Food To Eat To Lower Cholesterol
There are two types of cholesterol that circulate through the body's blood stream; LDL or low densit - Does Fast Food Mean Fat Food?
Women say that it is difficult to lose weight, because they do not have time to prepare healthy mea - Free Colon Cleanse Recipes
Over the period of time toxins get accumulated in our body and it is necessary to get rid of it. Col - Choosing Food to Eat to Lower Cholesterol
There are two types of cholesterol that circulate through the body's blood stream; LDL or low densi - How to Turn Thanksgiving Turkey Into Fat Blasting Fuel
Can you believe it? Thanksgiving is here...AGAIN! Don't you just love the traditions? For me, I lo - 4 Nutrition Tips to Burn Belly Fat for Ripped Abs
A point that you first must understand is that you do not need to jump on the fad diet of the momen - Facts About Cholesterol
Fact #1: Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in cell membranes in the body. Essentially, choles - Top 5 Ways to Lose That Belly Fat
There are a number of ways of losing belly fat from your stomach. Belly fat can increase for a numb - 2 Exotic Super Fruits
When it comes down to improving our health, there are numerous diet alterations we can undergo. Con - Food Poisoning Symptoms, How To Prevent Food Poisoning
Food poisoning results when you eat food contaminated with bacteria or other pathogens such as paras
Most viewed articles in this category:
- The Amazingly Simple Solution to Malnutrition
Moringa leaves could wipe out malnutrition in the world. Malnutrition is caused by an improper or in - Preschool Nutrition
The guidelines that are set by the USDA "MyPyramid" provide a detailed nutrition program for prescho - Calcium Carbide-the Illuminating Chemical Compound
Just like with other calcium compounds that contains the suffix -ide in their names, calcium carbide - 6 Benefits of Low Carbohydrate Diets
Low carbohydrate diets are one of the easiest and simplest ways to trim down and have a sexy healthy - Cheese and Migraine Dilemma
Cheese is one of many people favorite's food. Cheese can be eaten alone, or in the mixing with other - Supplements: Do We Really Need Them?
People who wish they can just take a "magical pill" and all their health problems will be solved see - Why Crohn's Disease And Nutrition Go Hand In Hand
The biggest problem caused by Crohn's disease the impaired function of the digestive system. Because - Steakhouse Manhattan Will Give you a Taste of Real Steak
Manhattan is the commercial and the financial centre of the world, and several leading companies and - 5 Warning Signs Your Diet Isn't Working
Let me ask you a simple question: do you feel you're getting the best results from your current food - Stay Loose With Exercise And High-Fiber Foods
Are you miserable due to constipation? Don't want to talk about it? No one can blame you. It cert
