Some tips to get your kids on a healthy path... and a nutrition boost!
- Practice what you preach- You better be eating your veggies if you want your kids to.
-Don't give up-It may take up to ten tries for someone to really get a taste for something so don't give up. Keep serving those veggies they'll get used to them and even start to like um- sneak em in if you have to!
-Have fruit- like grapes, apples, tangerines, cut up melon out on the counter, when they beg for a snack it's handy!
-Make it fun- chop veggies and put out some "dippy dippy" for them. Hummus and light ranch dressing are a good start... if you have to, use chocolate sauce.
-Packing lunches -replace the normal snack with some fruit or cut up veggies... when your at school and really hungry you'll eat it! Check out my Pre- Sports Smoothie the kids love it!
-Plant some seeds- Don't panic if your not a gardner... Simple things like herbs in a small flower pot or a cherry tomato plant on the back porch is enough to get them excited! Have them plant the seeds, water, love and a voilà' they get to harvest which is the best part! Betcha they'll want to try it!
-Get them involved- Cooking in the kitchen with you doing easy things like Pizza and taco's-lots of topping's so they create their own masterpiece -When they helped make it they want to eat and be proud. Bonus they learn some kitchen skills and bonding time! (great family night activity)
-Race-One of my first races was with my daughter, in a borrowed Jogger stroller... Whether it's a mile fun walk or a child's triathlon- Get them moving and hopefully raise some money for a good cause... a great family activity (tradition) once or even a few times a year! (my 10yr old daughter now runs a 5k every Thanksgiving morning with her father rain or shine)
-Visit the farmers market and the local Farms- get in the habit of stopping at farmers markets and local farms to do some seasonal picking, they learn where their food comes from and your shopping local. Trust me after you pick your own fruit and veggies the kids can't wait to get home and try it!
Click here To Find a Farmers Market in your area
-Tell them why it's good for them or bad- by teaching kids how to read labels (mostly ingredients) helps them to make better choices. This really seemed to work with my kids at any age... a good book to start with if your interested is Jonny Bowden's 150 most healthiest foods on earth- each food he writes about has a big picture and a few paragraphs!
-Check out our Nutrition in the Schools Facebook Page Serving healthy foods in our schools has to be a priority. The time for change is now!
Click Here to check out "Growing My Greens Blog"
"One of our favorite summer activities Blueberry Picking!"
My Handsome Helper!
