To Your Health
September, 2010 (Vol. 04, Issue 09) |
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Going Organic
Organically grown foods are slightly more expensive, but worth it. Providing foods that are free of pesticides, growth hormones, hydrogenated oils and artificial additives and preservatives is worth the price.
Non-organic foods are generally less expensive, but in many cases they also lack nutrition. You're paying less, but you're also getting less in return.
Create a Menu
No one knows better than your own child what they're going to eat, so let them help you prepare their lunches. Remember that if they like what they're eating, they will bring home an empty lunch box. The best way to accomplish this is to ensure that they have a variety of healthy choices. This can be accomplished by creating a mix-and-match menu. Using a white board, poster board or similar display, draw out five columns and label them for each day of the week. Then, using color-coded Post-it notes, index cards or by printing on colored paper, create a square for each lunch option. For example, their protein options would be on blue, vegetables would be on green and fruits would be on yellow.
Every Sunday, let your child help you prepare their menu by picking the appropriate cards and placing them in the column for each day. You and your child can then begin prepackaging those options that can be frozen or stored for a few days. Remember, children love to participate, so let them in on the lunch-making fun and you'll increase their chances of eating the food they bring to school.
It's important that your children like their lunches, but it's more important that their bodies get the vitamins, minerals and nutrients they need to develop and grow properly. A balanced diet is more than just a healthy recommendation; it is the building blocks of your child's body. The food they are given is what their bodies will use to make new cells, membranes, muscles and tissue.
Don't Assume They Won't Like It
While children can certainly be picky about food, particularly at certain developmental stages, too many parents assume that their children won't eat something that's healthy compared to something that's not. That might be the case the first, second or even third time around, but gentle persistence can definitely have an impact.
Remember, children (and people in general) learn from what they are exposed to over time - expose them to healthier food options and eventually, they'll embrace a healthier diet. Keep in mind that the longer they've been exposed to less-healthy choices, the harder it could be to change their eating habits, so start making small changes today. Introduce new foods to the family diet as often as possible and don't give up just because they react negatively at first. Find a few good foods they do like and recognize that the more healthy foods they consume, the less room they've have for the unhealthy ones!
Claudia Anrig, DC, practices in Fresno, Calif., and is on the board of directors of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, an organization that can answer your questions regarding the value of chiropractic care during and after pregnancy.
