Teaching our children to make better food choices has become one
of today’s challenges. The advertising market place is powerfully driven to psychologically magnetize our children to junk food by using creative, colorful images and characters.
It is important to teach children early how to make sensible
food choices and portion control, however it is never too
late.
If your children prepare their own snacks purchase small ¼ cup containers. This way they know when the container is full that is the acceptable portion.
I dedicate a shelf to healthy snacks and put my small containers there for
convenience. Some of the snacks I find popular are dried fruits, apples,
raisins, bananas, cranberries, mangoes, mixed nuts with carobs chips and baked
veggie chips. Refrigerated snacks include edamame beans, fresh fruit, sliced
cucumber dipped in peanut butter or hummus and organic low fat Greek yogurts.
One of my most popular snacks is a berry smoothie with a few
spinach leaves, chia seeds, turmeric and granola. I always have a volunteer
ready to turn on the blender. It is filling, has the sweetness, greens and
anti-oxidants.
I teach my daughter to read product labels so she understands
what she is eating. If we can’t pronounce an ingredient the chances are it is
probably not healthy so we stay away from it.
It is about showing children healthy can taste good too.
