Learning, Growing, Thriving…
Is your child's nutrition allowing them to learn, grow, and thrive?
It’s shocking that despite all the medical advances over the last century, today’s children are expected to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents. A big contributor to this problem is poor nutrition, but it doesn’t have to be that way in your house.
Feeding your kids healthier food provides them the nutrients they need to grow, develop, and to be healthier (and have better lives). When they are getting the nutrition they need, they are able to think and learn at a higher capacity. The whole family will reap the benefits.
Yes, taste buds can change...
Back-to-school time is your chance to shop smarter so your children can have their “best foot” forward this school year. I suggest that most parents start this process by slowly, but deliberately, changing the family’s taste buds.
For example, if your kids are eating a lot of processed, packaged snacks filled with artificial flavors, sugars, and high fructose corn syrup ingredients, it will be difficult to serve them a plate of fresh fruit or fresh vegetables and have them be excited about it.
It’s a work in process and it takes some time, but the more you feed your kids something, the more inclined they will be to want it. If you stick with it, they will start to enjoy a natural, unprocessed diet.
Moving in the right direction...
Here are some healthy snacks that will help move your kids’ taste buds in the right direction and provide them with the nutrients they need to thrive:
Healthy Greek Yogurt:
Your best option here is to buy the plain unflavored Greek yogurt and add your own flavor – fresh or frozen berries, a teaspoon of honey, bananas, or chocolate chips. Adding the sweetness at home allows you to control how much sugar is in the yogurt. They’ll be getting the goodness of Greek yogurt without the food engineering of high fructose corn syrup or loads of sugar in the flavored version. Your next best option here would be a pre-packaged brand like Wallaby or Stoneyfield that many times has smaller servings and includes less sugar than other options.
Healthy Fruit Snacks:
If you think of fruit snacks and automatically think of something in a package, we have some work to do. The nutritional punch that fresh fruit has to offer your child’s growth and development cannot be matched. So, your best option is to cut up some fresh fruit: strawberries, kiwis, and cantaloupe (all varieties count!) and leave in the fridge for your child’s next quick nutritious snack. Chopping the fruit and making it readily available in plain site will ensure it is consumed.
Your next-best option would be fruit leather made solely from 100% fruit. This will be a much healthier option than the little bag of sugar-filled fruit impostors. Also, if your kids do drink juice, find 100% juice with no high fructose corn syrup.
Healthy Nut Butters:
All-natural nut butters are a FANTASTIC addition to your child’s healthy nutrition plan. If you grind a nut, you get its butter. The ingredients for these products should consist of only the nut and salt. So peanut butter has peanuts and salt and almond butter has almonds and salt…you get the picture. PB&J will always be a child’s favorite, just make sure the “PB” is the healthiest version.
Elevate their health...
A new school year is a new opportunity evaluate where you’re at with your family’s nutrition and health and be deliberate to make sure you’re heading in the right direction.
If you are overwhelmed by it all, reach out to me and I can guide you with simple nutrition tips and strategies that work for your family and lifestyle.
Do you want personalized guidance to implement any of these strategies for your lifestyle, call my office at 970-444-2122 or email me at [email protected], to book a one on one coaching call with me. We will simplify your starting steps to feeding your family healthier for this school year.
Free Nutritional Guidance Delivered To Your Inbox...
Unlock hidden insights for increased energy, confidence, and better health through our nutrition practical tips and strategies, conveniently delivered to your email.
Simply let us know where you'd like us to send them!
We hate SPAM. We will never sell your information, for any reason.
