Good Eating Habits for Children
Children and parents throughout Houston now are getting in the back-to-school groove. What better time to discuss good nutrition! Suzy Berryman, a registered dietician with Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, has a few nutritional "back-to-school" tips.
Good nutrition now is described by the food pyramid. Its foundation is the breads/cereals group which provide B vitamin, iron and fiber. Most of our total calorie intake should come from this group.
The next largest level of the pyramid represents fruits and vegetables which provide vitamins A and C and fiber. A protein level features high calcium foods; a high-protein level includes meat.
The final level includes foods which contain sugars and additional fats.
What do you think about the "5-A-Day" campaign encouraging individuals to eat at least five servings of vegetables and fruits daily?
Parents can use "5-A-Day" to encourage healthy eating by first demonstrating to their child that they eat five servings of fruits and vegetables daily. If your child asks for a snack from the high sugar/fat group, ask the child to count how many fruits and vegetables he has eaten that day. If it is less than five, he can choose a fruit or vegetable for a snack.
Why is it important for children to eat breakfast daily?
Research has shown that children who eat breakfast perform better. Not hungry at breakfast time? Avoid late dinners and before bedtime snacks. No time in the morning? Get up 10 to 15 minutes earlier. The time spent with your kids will be well worth it. Remember, breakfast can just as easily be a peanut butter and jelly sandwich as cereal and a few slices of fruit. Couple either with milk or juice.
What are some examples of some healthy lunches to pack for kids?
The trusted sandwich is always a good choice. Try sliced meat with cheese and trimmings of choice - lettuce, tomato, onion. For variety, stuff these items in pita bread or a tortilla. A side of tortilla chips or baked potato chips and an apple round off the meal.
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