|
Offer Kids Summer’s Colorful Produce |
|
|
|
Thursday, 09 August 2007 |
 Dr. Ernest Levister, Jr.
With more than 50 percent of U.S. children considered
overweight, adding fruits and vegetables to your children's diet is a perfect
way to teach them the ABC's of good nutrition. Children who learn to make
healthy food choices early in life are more likely to avoid the obesity
trap. Young children should eat at least
five servings of fruits and vegetables per day as should teenagers and adults.
There are dozens of ways to add fresh fruits and vegetables
to your kid's diet. Serve berries over cereal or give them a fruit salad for
lunch. For dinner, compliment lean meats and fish with lightly grilled
vegetables. Try steaming a variety of vegetables or make vegetable soup. Bring
lightly seasoned chicken broth to a rolling boil - add vegetables simmer two
minutes. Don't over cook. For a cool summer dessert, serve chunks of chilled
melon, peaches, plums, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries topped with
non-fat whipped topping. Carrots, broccoli and cucumber served with a ranch
dressing makes a tasty nutritious snack. Prepare a variety of colorful
nutritious snacks and refrigerate them.
Think color. Studies have shown that red, orange or green
vegetables contain the most nutrients. Eating a diet rich in fruits and
vegetables may help lower the risk for some cancers, high blood pressure and
eye disease. Eating at least 50 grams of fiber, which is abundant in fruits and
vegetables, each day can lower insulin levels for diabetes.
Most children are finicky eaters. Don't force them to eat
food they don't like. If they reject a certain vegetable or fruit, simply offer
them other choices. Eventually they will settle on a few favorites.
Children can also get 5 a day from 100 percent juice. Spice
up their juice by adding a few drops of hot sauce to V-8 or other vegetable
juices. Avoid sugary fruit drinks. Invest in a juicer and encourage children to
create a ‘juice of the day'. Frozen juices from concentrate are as nutritious
as fresh fruits, as long as the label says "100 percent juice."
|
|
BVN Calendar Events
 |
January 2009 |
 |
|
|
