While developing a balanced diet for children is not hard, you do have to keep in mind that what works for adults does not work for kids. Children in general are much more active than adults and since they are still growing, they need to eat foods that are highly nutritious. Children develop life long eating habits when they are young as well, so presenting the correct food groups is very important. If a child learns how to eat correctly when they are young, they are twice as likely to eat healthy as they become an adult.
How Nutrition Can Affect Growth
Protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals contribute to different aspects of development including proper bone and teeth growth. It is estimated that approximately 96% of children do not consume the correct amount of these foods as recommended by the food pyramid. This can lead to a host of health problems that could range from dental problems such as cavities and gum disease to bones that are weak and brittle. Iron is also absorbed from these foods and is needed for proper cell transportation of oxygen. For children to develop properly and be healthy, foods from all food groups should be included every day.
How Nutrition Affects Education
Recent studies have shown that children who lack the proper diet often have lower test scores. Improper nutrition is also directly linked to aggressive behavior and problem with attention in class. In order to provide your child with the tools needed to obtain a proper education, you must include a healthy diet.
What Makes a Child's Diet Healthy?
Children need to have foods that are a good source of energy for their daily activities. Each of the major foods groups should be included in a child's daily diet plan. Include starches like bread or pasta, fruits and vegetables, meats and protein sources, and dairy products, such as milk. Fat is another of the food groups but this should include essential fatty acids like those in fish. If you follow the food pyramid, it will explain exactly how many servings of each food group are recommended.
What Your Child is Missing if they Don't Eat These Foods
Your child could be lacking in vitamins A, C, and D if they do not consume the proper quantities of nutritional foods that contain essential vitamins and minerals that are necessary for growth. These vitamins are used for bodily processes that occur in the brain, blood and skeletal structure.
Lose-11-Pounds.com have a FREE report Lose Weight Without Starving Yourself which can be downloaded Here.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stuart_Miles
Monday, 26 October 2009
Nutrition Games For Kids
Getting kids to eat a healthy and balanced diet can be a nightmare sometimes with them refusing to eat anything that even looks as if it could do them some good. Aside from bribing them with sweets and toys there is not that much that you can do to change these fussy eating habits...or is there?
Actually nutrition games for kids are the best ways in which you can try and encourage your little darlings to eat some of the healthy stuff. Coming up with your own ideas for these can be rather difficult so I'm going to save you some of the time and fill you in on a few ideas!
First of all one of the first nutrition games for kids that you should try is to get yourself a little chart and place it in the kitchen or on the wall next to the dining table. On this chart you should have each of your children's names and also have it separated into days and also the three different meals of the day. These charts can be bought from quite a few paces and looking online is a great idea but you can also make them fairly easily at home by making your own on the computer and printing it off. You could always encourage the kids to get out their colouring pencils and do the job themselves!
Once the chart is complete you should get the kids to fill in all the healthy food that they are eating, so for broccoli you could have them draw a picture of the vegetable on the chart and follow this pattern for all of the meals that you present them with. This not only encourages them to get creative but also teaches them about healthy eating and also to be able to identity different food groups. You could always supply the child that manages to eat the most nutritional food with a prize at the end of the week to spur them on even further!
You could play nutritional games for kids when you are shopping for the groceries as well and this can be great fun as long as you can keep an eye on them all running about and driving you mad! One good idea for this is to tell your children to find a vegetable or fruit that is a certain colour and then they can place it in the shopping trolley and then choose the next item. This can be great fun and again provides an education for your kids as well as encouraging them to eat healthier and have fun at the same time.
Teaching the kids how to cook while you are cooking is another great nutrition game for kids and can also prove to be an educational experience for both them and you! Try to encourage them to eat more healthy foods by allowing them to cook alongside you and this can also prove helpful in future when they get older as they will have no excuse not to cook!
Lose-11-Pounds.com have a FREE report Lose Weight Without Starving Yourself which can be downloaded Here.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stuart_Miles
Actually nutrition games for kids are the best ways in which you can try and encourage your little darlings to eat some of the healthy stuff. Coming up with your own ideas for these can be rather difficult so I'm going to save you some of the time and fill you in on a few ideas!
First of all one of the first nutrition games for kids that you should try is to get yourself a little chart and place it in the kitchen or on the wall next to the dining table. On this chart you should have each of your children's names and also have it separated into days and also the three different meals of the day. These charts can be bought from quite a few paces and looking online is a great idea but you can also make them fairly easily at home by making your own on the computer and printing it off. You could always encourage the kids to get out their colouring pencils and do the job themselves!
Once the chart is complete you should get the kids to fill in all the healthy food that they are eating, so for broccoli you could have them draw a picture of the vegetable on the chart and follow this pattern for all of the meals that you present them with. This not only encourages them to get creative but also teaches them about healthy eating and also to be able to identity different food groups. You could always supply the child that manages to eat the most nutritional food with a prize at the end of the week to spur them on even further!
You could play nutritional games for kids when you are shopping for the groceries as well and this can be great fun as long as you can keep an eye on them all running about and driving you mad! One good idea for this is to tell your children to find a vegetable or fruit that is a certain colour and then they can place it in the shopping trolley and then choose the next item. This can be great fun and again provides an education for your kids as well as encouraging them to eat healthier and have fun at the same time.
Teaching the kids how to cook while you are cooking is another great nutrition game for kids and can also prove to be an educational experience for both them and you! Try to encourage them to eat more healthy foods by allowing them to cook alongside you and this can also prove helpful in future when they get older as they will have no excuse not to cook!
Lose-11-Pounds.com have a FREE report Lose Weight Without Starving Yourself which can be downloaded Here.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stuart_Miles
Healthy Snacks For Kids
In the growing up phase, while you are teaching your kids the right habits and manners, the eating habits often stay neglected. A child tends to pick up an extra snack anytime during the day between his regular meals. These snacks, if planned properly, can add to his nutrition and energy value. But if not, it can lead to grave problems, like child obesity.
In the fast paced life, children often pick up cookies, chips, doughnuts and colas with their pocket money or from their parents plate. While a little of these things help him/ her to get adjusted to outside food, a greater intake of these foods could result in health issues including liver malfunction and other digestive system problems. Obesity or overly lean frame is only an aftermath. It is, therefore, the parent's responsibility to keep a check on the snacks habit of their kids and to see to the fact that whatever they eat in off-time snacks should not be crossing approximately 150 calories.
If you are finding it very difficult to restrict your kid's snacks habit, then the alternate way of keeping the calories in check is to check the contents of his plate. A diet full of fibres and proteins will keep him full and reduce his cravings for unhealthy food. You can gradually develop his snacks habit around fruits like apples, oranges and pear. Introduce cereal bars, baked chips, low-fat chips, yogurt and pop corns in his snacks plate. These foods will satisfy his cravings for tasty, trendy foods and at the same time keep him fit and fine.
To know more about healthy snacks for kids you can visit http://www.rainbowfood.com.au
Brenda Jones has been promoting healthy eating habits in children through her work as well as her articles on the internet. She is also a mother of two girls.
http://www.rainbowfood.com.au
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brenda_Jones
In the fast paced life, children often pick up cookies, chips, doughnuts and colas with their pocket money or from their parents plate. While a little of these things help him/ her to get adjusted to outside food, a greater intake of these foods could result in health issues including liver malfunction and other digestive system problems. Obesity or overly lean frame is only an aftermath. It is, therefore, the parent's responsibility to keep a check on the snacks habit of their kids and to see to the fact that whatever they eat in off-time snacks should not be crossing approximately 150 calories.
If you are finding it very difficult to restrict your kid's snacks habit, then the alternate way of keeping the calories in check is to check the contents of his plate. A diet full of fibres and proteins will keep him full and reduce his cravings for unhealthy food. You can gradually develop his snacks habit around fruits like apples, oranges and pear. Introduce cereal bars, baked chips, low-fat chips, yogurt and pop corns in his snacks plate. These foods will satisfy his cravings for tasty, trendy foods and at the same time keep him fit and fine.
To know more about healthy snacks for kids you can visit http://www.rainbowfood.com.au
Brenda Jones has been promoting healthy eating habits in children through her work as well as her articles on the internet. She is also a mother of two girls.
http://www.rainbowfood.com.au
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brenda_Jones
3 Simple, Healthy and Quick Recipes For Kids
Health and nutrition for children can sometime be a bit hard to get by, especially without the right food at hand. Five major food groups (vegetables, grains, fruits, dairy products, proteins) are usually targeted as the best way to keep a child well-nourished and strong. But as any parent knows, it is also hard to make kids eat well - especially when it comes to the vegetables and fruits part.
So to start you and your child off on this fun quest to health, here are 3 simple, quick and deceivingly nutritious recipes (all of the recipes make for 1 serving, so if you need more, just double the quantity of the ingredients):
Pizza Roll. Place 1 8-inch whole wheat flour tortilla on a plate, and spread 2 tablespoons of prepared pizza sauce on it. Put a layer of baby spinach leaves and sprinkle 3 tablespoons worth of shredded part skimmed mozarella cheese. (Note: Any cheese will actually do, but for better results, use this.) Microwave for about 45 seconds or until the cheese has melted. Roll the tortilla up and let cool for about 10 minutes before slicing into pieces. (I sometimes use processed cheese spread for a faster roll, but not so often. When I use that, I cut down the microwave time to just 20 seconds.) This is perfect for inclusion in a child's daily lunch kit (together with other goodies like vegetable dips and what-have-yous).
Egg Salad. Hard-boil 2 eggs for about 8 to 10 minutes. (Tip: After 10 minutes, take out hot water, pour in cold water and let stand for a couple of minutes. This will not only make peeling easier for you - since the egg will now be just warm to the touch - but also, it will stop the cooking process as well.) Peel, chop and mash in a bowl. Stir in 2 tablespoons of finely diced celery, 1 tablespoon of low-fat mayonaise (preferably, but regular mayonaise will do), 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon of minced scallion greens, and salt and pepper to taste.
Chicken Sandwich. This is possibly the easiest chicken sandwich recipe I have come upon. If you have some left-over chicken, then this is perfect. Combine half a cup of shredded cooked chicken, one-fourth cup shredded (and previously blanched) carrots, and 2 tablespoons of barbecue sauce. Spread some ranch dressing on the bun, put in the chicken mixture and top with a piece of romaine lettuce.
It's not difficult to serve healthy food to your child. Just be sure that you don't pressure them by telling them over and over again about the benefits of eating. Trust me, if you start out with these, you may not even need to say anything. Just the look of them eating and enjoying at the same time is usually enough.
Any halloween recipes for kids? Click on the link for more info.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kelly_Sanders
So to start you and your child off on this fun quest to health, here are 3 simple, quick and deceivingly nutritious recipes (all of the recipes make for 1 serving, so if you need more, just double the quantity of the ingredients):
Pizza Roll. Place 1 8-inch whole wheat flour tortilla on a plate, and spread 2 tablespoons of prepared pizza sauce on it. Put a layer of baby spinach leaves and sprinkle 3 tablespoons worth of shredded part skimmed mozarella cheese. (Note: Any cheese will actually do, but for better results, use this.) Microwave for about 45 seconds or until the cheese has melted. Roll the tortilla up and let cool for about 10 minutes before slicing into pieces. (I sometimes use processed cheese spread for a faster roll, but not so often. When I use that, I cut down the microwave time to just 20 seconds.) This is perfect for inclusion in a child's daily lunch kit (together with other goodies like vegetable dips and what-have-yous).
Egg Salad. Hard-boil 2 eggs for about 8 to 10 minutes. (Tip: After 10 minutes, take out hot water, pour in cold water and let stand for a couple of minutes. This will not only make peeling easier for you - since the egg will now be just warm to the touch - but also, it will stop the cooking process as well.) Peel, chop and mash in a bowl. Stir in 2 tablespoons of finely diced celery, 1 tablespoon of low-fat mayonaise (preferably, but regular mayonaise will do), 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon of minced scallion greens, and salt and pepper to taste.
Chicken Sandwich. This is possibly the easiest chicken sandwich recipe I have come upon. If you have some left-over chicken, then this is perfect. Combine half a cup of shredded cooked chicken, one-fourth cup shredded (and previously blanched) carrots, and 2 tablespoons of barbecue sauce. Spread some ranch dressing on the bun, put in the chicken mixture and top with a piece of romaine lettuce.
It's not difficult to serve healthy food to your child. Just be sure that you don't pressure them by telling them over and over again about the benefits of eating. Trust me, if you start out with these, you may not even need to say anything. Just the look of them eating and enjoying at the same time is usually enough.
Any halloween recipes for kids? Click on the link for more info.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kelly_Sanders
School Lunches Made Easy
Good Nutrition should be a key factor when deciding what to put in your child's lunch box. It does not, however, have to be a source of stress for parents. It does require that we get organized and creative. To keep it simple we have created a few handy tips that hopefully will make this easier for you.
Plan lunches before your weekly grocery shop. Make out a list of what you will prepare for lunches in the up and coming week. Organization goes a long way in making your life easier.
Freeze it or dump it!
I don't know about you but I do not always make the best of my left over's. It is understandable that your children don't want to eat the same thing day after day. But you can cook a bit more of what you are preparing and freeze it in small containers that will fit in your kids lunch boxes. Then you can rotate what you are giving them to keep it healthy and interesting, while simplifying things for yourself.
Capitalise while preparing dinner by incorporating tomorrow's lunch.
While in the kitchen preparing your family's dinner, use the time to get tomorrows lunch underway.
Make a double batch of meals that taste just as good "the morning after," like; pasta, fried chicken or quiche. Plenty of kids like cold chicken. You can peel carrots and cut them up and leave them in water over night to keep them fresh.
There are a number of easy meal plans that you can find for free on the internet, Watch this space and we will advise you.
Chicken Soup for the soul
There is nothing nicer then feeling a tummy with nice warm soup from a thermos on a cold day. You can make minestrone, vegetable or chicken soup. Again when you prepare soup make extra and freeze it. Then defrost the night before, heat in the morning and wa-lah!
Let the kids participate in preparing their lunches. It goes a long way when you can teach your child a life skill to be self sufficient while making your life easier and less stressful. Don't you agree? Your children can prepare their own lunch or help you prepare by putting things in their lunch box, the evening, before that do not require refrigeration. They can also choose their own snacks. This will also teach your children about making healthy choices for themselves.
Fast Food
It can be tempting to buy your kids fast food and once in a while it is okay if it gets you out of a bind. Surely they will consider it a nice treat. For the most part it is usually fattening and unhealthy. The amount of sodium, fat and preservatives used to keep down the price and guarantee and long shelf life is not what you want your children eating when you can avoid it.
Pat is the creator of the 'I Can Do It' family planner. She is a mother of four.
The program/planner is a fun and interactive family & school management solution which uses tried and trusted practical strategies and tools to teach your children life-skills, as well as social values.
I Can Do It! is the only practical, flexible and diverse program that infuses self esteem in your children while teaching responsibility and self-sufficiency on a daily basis .To receive a FREE copy of The 9 Tough Parenting Problems & How To Solve Them report go to http://icandoitlifeskills.com/ezine
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patricia_Lieberman_Baker
Plan lunches before your weekly grocery shop. Make out a list of what you will prepare for lunches in the up and coming week. Organization goes a long way in making your life easier.
Freeze it or dump it!
I don't know about you but I do not always make the best of my left over's. It is understandable that your children don't want to eat the same thing day after day. But you can cook a bit more of what you are preparing and freeze it in small containers that will fit in your kids lunch boxes. Then you can rotate what you are giving them to keep it healthy and interesting, while simplifying things for yourself.
Capitalise while preparing dinner by incorporating tomorrow's lunch.
While in the kitchen preparing your family's dinner, use the time to get tomorrows lunch underway.
Make a double batch of meals that taste just as good "the morning after," like; pasta, fried chicken or quiche. Plenty of kids like cold chicken. You can peel carrots and cut them up and leave them in water over night to keep them fresh.
There are a number of easy meal plans that you can find for free on the internet, Watch this space and we will advise you.
Chicken Soup for the soul
There is nothing nicer then feeling a tummy with nice warm soup from a thermos on a cold day. You can make minestrone, vegetable or chicken soup. Again when you prepare soup make extra and freeze it. Then defrost the night before, heat in the morning and wa-lah!
Let the kids participate in preparing their lunches. It goes a long way when you can teach your child a life skill to be self sufficient while making your life easier and less stressful. Don't you agree? Your children can prepare their own lunch or help you prepare by putting things in their lunch box, the evening, before that do not require refrigeration. They can also choose their own snacks. This will also teach your children about making healthy choices for themselves.
Fast Food
It can be tempting to buy your kids fast food and once in a while it is okay if it gets you out of a bind. Surely they will consider it a nice treat. For the most part it is usually fattening and unhealthy. The amount of sodium, fat and preservatives used to keep down the price and guarantee and long shelf life is not what you want your children eating when you can avoid it.
Pat is the creator of the 'I Can Do It' family planner. She is a mother of four.
The program/planner is a fun and interactive family & school management solution which uses tried and trusted practical strategies and tools to teach your children life-skills, as well as social values.
I Can Do It! is the only practical, flexible and diverse program that infuses self esteem in your children while teaching responsibility and self-sufficiency on a daily basis .To receive a FREE copy of The 9 Tough Parenting Problems & How To Solve Them report go to http://icandoitlifeskills.com/ezine
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patricia_Lieberman_Baker
Nutrition - An Essential Component of Health
A good Nutritional value of our body system helps in determining our power to sustain. Nutrition is vital for the growth and development of your body and mind. Better amount of nutrition gives sound immune system to your body which helps in preventing disease and other disorders. According to WHO, daily intake of good nutrients provides a healthy living that makes you more productive to fight hunger and poverty.
Classification of nutrients
Nutrients can be broadly classified into two groups: macro- nutrients and micro- nutrients.
Macro- Nutrients - Carbohydrates, Fats and Protein
Micro- Nutrients - Minerals and Vitamins
Macro- nutrients provides structural material to the body. This includes amino acids and lipids that help in building protein and cell membranes respectively. Molecules of carbohydrates and fats contain atoms of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen. But a protein has nitrogen in addition to carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.
And micro- nutrient provides protection to your body system as it consists of antioxidants. Deficiency in vitamins can cause several diseases like goitre, scurvy, pre-mature aging, poor psychological health and impaired immune system.
It is been noticed that no single food can compliment our basic diet, hence it is essential that we intake a variety of food items. It is said to be five main food groups:
Fruits
Vegetables
Cereal and pulses
Dairy
Poultry, fish and meat products
You can balance your nutrients with such assorted items of food. The adequate amount of nutrition always ensures a proper health to you. They play vital role in building the mental strength as well. Therefore many nutritional awareness campaigns emphasize on food that gives apt amount of nutrients to your child.
Nutrients affected diseases
Over nutrition- Consuming excessive nutrients and less exercise results in accumulation of fats. This cause obesity which is the paramount problem of many countries. It can also lead to diabetes and cardiovascular problems. Apart from this, overly high storage of vitamins which is known as vitamin poisoning also results in toxic symptoms. Similarly iron overloaded disorders are caused by over- accumulation of iron in body.
Deficit nutrition- Disease like kwashiorkor, malnutrition, metal retardation and marasmus occurs due to deficiency of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. In addition, deficiency in following nutrients results in certain diseases-
Calcium- Osteoporosis, rickets and tetany.
Vitamin B1 ( thiamine)- beriberi
Vitamin C- scurvy
Iron- iron deficiency anaemia
Zinc- growth retardation
Iodine- iodine deficiency
The necessity of adequate nutrients has risen as our children seem to lack concentration nowadays. You may notice their poor performance and obtuse respond in school activities. Many child health problems are rooted in their basic diet which is normally full of junk and canned food. Since we give up for taste and overlook the nutritional value of a food, we tend to set examples for our kids who imitate our eating habits. Hence it has become imperative to teach your child the healthy eating habits. This will not only help him to develop but also provide resistance for many diseases.
For any help on Nutrition, check out the info available online; these will help you learn to find the nutrients!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michel_Disusa
Classification of nutrients
Nutrients can be broadly classified into two groups: macro- nutrients and micro- nutrients.
Macro- Nutrients - Carbohydrates, Fats and Protein
Micro- Nutrients - Minerals and Vitamins
Macro- nutrients provides structural material to the body. This includes amino acids and lipids that help in building protein and cell membranes respectively. Molecules of carbohydrates and fats contain atoms of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen. But a protein has nitrogen in addition to carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.
And micro- nutrient provides protection to your body system as it consists of antioxidants. Deficiency in vitamins can cause several diseases like goitre, scurvy, pre-mature aging, poor psychological health and impaired immune system.
It is been noticed that no single food can compliment our basic diet, hence it is essential that we intake a variety of food items. It is said to be five main food groups:
Fruits
Vegetables
Cereal and pulses
Dairy
Poultry, fish and meat products
You can balance your nutrients with such assorted items of food. The adequate amount of nutrition always ensures a proper health to you. They play vital role in building the mental strength as well. Therefore many nutritional awareness campaigns emphasize on food that gives apt amount of nutrients to your child.
Nutrients affected diseases
Over nutrition- Consuming excessive nutrients and less exercise results in accumulation of fats. This cause obesity which is the paramount problem of many countries. It can also lead to diabetes and cardiovascular problems. Apart from this, overly high storage of vitamins which is known as vitamin poisoning also results in toxic symptoms. Similarly iron overloaded disorders are caused by over- accumulation of iron in body.
Deficit nutrition- Disease like kwashiorkor, malnutrition, metal retardation and marasmus occurs due to deficiency of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. In addition, deficiency in following nutrients results in certain diseases-
Calcium- Osteoporosis, rickets and tetany.
Vitamin B1 ( thiamine)- beriberi
Vitamin C- scurvy
Iron- iron deficiency anaemia
Zinc- growth retardation
Iodine- iodine deficiency
The necessity of adequate nutrients has risen as our children seem to lack concentration nowadays. You may notice their poor performance and obtuse respond in school activities. Many child health problems are rooted in their basic diet which is normally full of junk and canned food. Since we give up for taste and overlook the nutritional value of a food, we tend to set examples for our kids who imitate our eating habits. Hence it has become imperative to teach your child the healthy eating habits. This will not only help him to develop but also provide resistance for many diseases.
For any help on Nutrition, check out the info available online; these will help you learn to find the nutrients!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michel_Disusa
Children's Nutrition Starts With Regular Mealtimes
Children will eat at different times of the day if we allow them to. But should we schedule meals throughout the day, or is it better to eat on demand?
The answer depends on the age of the child. Newborns don't have their time clock set in any direction yet. Their sleeping cycle is not established and their eating time is erratic. At this age it is important to feed on demand; with time the baby will be able to go a number of hours without food and feedings become more predictable by about 3 months of age. Some baby care books advise to offer food to newborns every 3 hours around-the-clock, but if the baby feels hungry before the 3 hour limit you will end up with a crying baby, and a crying mother.
During the newborn period my advice is to pay attention to feeding/hunger cues and offer breast milk or formula on demand. After a few months, the baby will develop a semi-schedule of feeding, and the time in between feedings will be approximately 3 hours.
When the baby starts getting some sense of circadian rhythm, that is, when he/she becomes aware of the difference between day and night, he may cluster-feed in the evening while he gets used to transitioning to the night. This is a normal occurrence and does not in any way signify that the baby is not learning; to the contrary, it means the newborn is now able to sense a change and his/her brain is ready to transition to the night.
By about 3 months of age most babies eat every 3 hours during the day and they cluster feed in the evening, from about 5 PM to 9 PM. They then are capable of sleeping 10 to 12 hours with an early morning feeding between 6 AM and 8 AM. It all has to do with the process of brain development created by the exposure to sunlight and the absence of sunlight.
When babies become toddlers, they are capable of going without food for hours. At this point many of them learn to test the rules and manipulate them to their advantage. This too is part of a natural, healthy process of learning. It is very tempting to offer the child food without much of a schedule with the purpose of assuring enough calorie intake for the day. It is more tempting when you are dealing with a picky eater: parents spend their days chasing poor meals by offering food right afterwards in order to make up for it. This technique does work for the most part. At the end of the day parents feel as if they have done their best at trying to feed this picky eater. But when we look at the quality of the food ingested the results may not be so healthy.
By offering food without a schedule we end up giving too many snacks of poor nutritional quality. Since the snacks taste good, they reinforce the child's desire to avoid the regular meal in favor of the snack. Very soon the toddler ends up eating what he wants and never gets the opportunity to learn to eat good food.
We all learn to eat quality food when we are hungry and we don't have many choices. In order to make the child hungry, we must allow a number of hours in between meals and we must make sure we are not loading on crackers, gold fish and juice.
My advice is to offer food 4 times per day: breakfast, lunch, after-school snack and dinner. If we place breakfast as close as possible to waking up and dinner as near as feasible to going to bed, we then can situate lunch at about noon and a snack after school - or after the afternoon nap, for younger children. We now have our 4 meals with enough time in between them to become hungry.
Our body is designed to function better this way. We know that the production of Growth Hormone is important for children's growth and development. This hormone is secreted by a gland inside the brain, the anterior pituitary. The secretion of Growth Hormone is not continuous but pulsatile; it does increase by certain stimuli. One of the stimuli for Growth Hormone secretion is a substance called Ghrelin, which is secreted by the stomach when we are hungry. So, we are programmed to be hungry at certain times and being hungry is not bad for us.
In our society we have learned to avoid the sensation of hunger at all cost. Food is readily available and, for the most part, it is socially acceptable to eat anywhere at any time.
Snacking too much creates another negative accomplishment: it gives us the opportunity to teach the child to associate food and emotions. At this is not a good association, especially in toddlers, who are emotional and ready to let us know when things don't go their way.
When a parent gets into the habit of carrying food with them and giving snacks to the child, they end up offering those snacks when the toddler is upset and about to throw a temper tantrum; the child then eats while going to the grocery store and when in the doctor's office. They eat while driving in the car and while going for a ride in their stroller... You get the picture.
The association of food and emotions is not a good one to acquire. When these children become adults they are going to have a hard time staying away from food and this bad habit may contribute to the development of health problems.
As the mother of 3 children I learned my lesson early on. I have to say I had the advantage of having grown up in a society with very strict rules when it came to eating etiquette. Although looking back I find some of those rules a little too strict, they did help me do the right thing when my children were growing up.
Today's mothers are constantly receiving conflicting information about nutrition, as some of the food manufacturer's point out the benefits of vegetable puffs or vitamin-enhanced crackers. As a rule of thumb, if it doesn't look or taste like a vegetable or a fruit, it is not likely to be a vegetable or a fruit.
Another word that sells these days is "natural", and I do like this word. Let's go back to the "natural" way of eating: offer the real thing at mealtime only. You are going to end up ahead when it comes to assuring good nutrition for your children.
Pediatrician Dr. Marta Katalenas is on a crusade against childhood obesity. Children are not responsible for buying or preparing their own food, and Dr. Katalenas believes the cooperation of the entire family is essential in the fight against childhood obesity. She is available for public speaking engagements and is located in the Austin, Texas area. Pediatric Center of Round Rock.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Marta_Katalenas
The answer depends on the age of the child. Newborns don't have their time clock set in any direction yet. Their sleeping cycle is not established and their eating time is erratic. At this age it is important to feed on demand; with time the baby will be able to go a number of hours without food and feedings become more predictable by about 3 months of age. Some baby care books advise to offer food to newborns every 3 hours around-the-clock, but if the baby feels hungry before the 3 hour limit you will end up with a crying baby, and a crying mother.
During the newborn period my advice is to pay attention to feeding/hunger cues and offer breast milk or formula on demand. After a few months, the baby will develop a semi-schedule of feeding, and the time in between feedings will be approximately 3 hours.
When the baby starts getting some sense of circadian rhythm, that is, when he/she becomes aware of the difference between day and night, he may cluster-feed in the evening while he gets used to transitioning to the night. This is a normal occurrence and does not in any way signify that the baby is not learning; to the contrary, it means the newborn is now able to sense a change and his/her brain is ready to transition to the night.
By about 3 months of age most babies eat every 3 hours during the day and they cluster feed in the evening, from about 5 PM to 9 PM. They then are capable of sleeping 10 to 12 hours with an early morning feeding between 6 AM and 8 AM. It all has to do with the process of brain development created by the exposure to sunlight and the absence of sunlight.
When babies become toddlers, they are capable of going without food for hours. At this point many of them learn to test the rules and manipulate them to their advantage. This too is part of a natural, healthy process of learning. It is very tempting to offer the child food without much of a schedule with the purpose of assuring enough calorie intake for the day. It is more tempting when you are dealing with a picky eater: parents spend their days chasing poor meals by offering food right afterwards in order to make up for it. This technique does work for the most part. At the end of the day parents feel as if they have done their best at trying to feed this picky eater. But when we look at the quality of the food ingested the results may not be so healthy.
By offering food without a schedule we end up giving too many snacks of poor nutritional quality. Since the snacks taste good, they reinforce the child's desire to avoid the regular meal in favor of the snack. Very soon the toddler ends up eating what he wants and never gets the opportunity to learn to eat good food.
We all learn to eat quality food when we are hungry and we don't have many choices. In order to make the child hungry, we must allow a number of hours in between meals and we must make sure we are not loading on crackers, gold fish and juice.
My advice is to offer food 4 times per day: breakfast, lunch, after-school snack and dinner. If we place breakfast as close as possible to waking up and dinner as near as feasible to going to bed, we then can situate lunch at about noon and a snack after school - or after the afternoon nap, for younger children. We now have our 4 meals with enough time in between them to become hungry.
Our body is designed to function better this way. We know that the production of Growth Hormone is important for children's growth and development. This hormone is secreted by a gland inside the brain, the anterior pituitary. The secretion of Growth Hormone is not continuous but pulsatile; it does increase by certain stimuli. One of the stimuli for Growth Hormone secretion is a substance called Ghrelin, which is secreted by the stomach when we are hungry. So, we are programmed to be hungry at certain times and being hungry is not bad for us.
In our society we have learned to avoid the sensation of hunger at all cost. Food is readily available and, for the most part, it is socially acceptable to eat anywhere at any time.
Snacking too much creates another negative accomplishment: it gives us the opportunity to teach the child to associate food and emotions. At this is not a good association, especially in toddlers, who are emotional and ready to let us know when things don't go their way.
When a parent gets into the habit of carrying food with them and giving snacks to the child, they end up offering those snacks when the toddler is upset and about to throw a temper tantrum; the child then eats while going to the grocery store and when in the doctor's office. They eat while driving in the car and while going for a ride in their stroller... You get the picture.
The association of food and emotions is not a good one to acquire. When these children become adults they are going to have a hard time staying away from food and this bad habit may contribute to the development of health problems.
As the mother of 3 children I learned my lesson early on. I have to say I had the advantage of having grown up in a society with very strict rules when it came to eating etiquette. Although looking back I find some of those rules a little too strict, they did help me do the right thing when my children were growing up.
Today's mothers are constantly receiving conflicting information about nutrition, as some of the food manufacturer's point out the benefits of vegetable puffs or vitamin-enhanced crackers. As a rule of thumb, if it doesn't look or taste like a vegetable or a fruit, it is not likely to be a vegetable or a fruit.
Another word that sells these days is "natural", and I do like this word. Let's go back to the "natural" way of eating: offer the real thing at mealtime only. You are going to end up ahead when it comes to assuring good nutrition for your children.
Pediatrician Dr. Marta Katalenas is on a crusade against childhood obesity. Children are not responsible for buying or preparing their own food, and Dr. Katalenas believes the cooperation of the entire family is essential in the fight against childhood obesity. She is available for public speaking engagements and is located in the Austin, Texas area. Pediatric Center of Round Rock.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Marta_Katalenas
Nutrition-in-a-Glass For Increased Brainpower
As kids head back to school, there's no better time than now to bone up on what can help them be more bright and alert. Brains need a lot of energy. In fact, the brain uses from 20 to 30 percent of our total energy needs. But the brain can only store a little energy at a time. That's why it's important to eat meals regularly and never skip breakfast.
Breakfast may be the most important meal of the day for increasing brainpower. The night long fast means that blood sugar is low in the morning. This can make your child (or you) irritable and less able to concentrate. Numerous studies have shown that a good breakfast helps children perform better in school, compared to those who don't eat breakfast. The British Nutrition Foundation found that eating breakfast could improve a child's problem solving ability, memory, concentration, visual perception, and creative thinking.
What you and your child have for breakfast can make a big difference in mental performance throughout the day. For example, acetylcholine is the most important neurotransmitter for memory and intelligence, and the body makes it from choline, a B vitamin. Studies show that choline has improved memory dramatically in healthy young adults. The nervous system relies on neurotransmitters to communicate messages within the brain, such as those that regulate mood, hunger, and sleep. There is some evidence that choline can improve mental functioning and thought transmission by strengthening neurons in the brain's memory centers. Choline is found in lecithin, egg, brewer's yeast, oatmeal, and orange juice.
Try a brainpower breakfast that's quick and easy. Blend up nutritionist Cherie Calbom's "Brain Power Smoothie" (The Ultimate Smoothie Book), which includes yogurt, orange juice, frozen strawberries, lecithin, vanilla, and ice. And listen up! Research studies have shown that strawberry eaters may have a higher learning capacity and better motor skills than non-strawberry eaters. Or try Cherie's Morning Energizer juice that combines carrots, beet, lemon, and gingerroot (The Juice Lady's Guide to Juicing for Health).
Spinach has been shown to protect the brain from oxidative stress while reducing the risk of suffering from an age-related decline in function. Researchers found that feeding aging rats spinach-rich diets significantly improved their learning capacity and motor skills. You can juice it up with carrot, apple, and lemon for a great afternoon pick me up. In fact, all those ingredients are good sources of potassium. Fatigue and exhaustion, which we often experience in the afternoon, are associated with low potassium levels. That's where fresh juice can make a big difference. Because it's already broken down into an easy-to-digest form, it can be at work in the system in about 30 minutes. That's quick energy that won't let you down unlike caffeine or sugar, which causes spikes in blood sugar and then big dips that often leave you more fatigued than before you swallowed them. Fresh veggie juice on the other hand is very sustaining and doesn't cause the big spikes and dips in blood sugar. Whether you need more energy midday at work, or your child needs energy and brainpower after school for homework, a potassium-rich juice or smoothie can energize not only the brain but also the entire body.
Antioxidant nutrients, such as vitamins C and E and beta-carotene, help protect brain cells from free-radical damage caused by environmental pollution. Try Cherie's antioxidant rich smoothie--the Anti-Aging Smoothie, which blends up orange juice, papaya, blueberries, and ice. Or, juiceup a beta-carotene-rich drink called The Ginger Hopper made with carrots, apple, and gingerroot.
Whether at school or work, we could all use a little brainpower boost. As the saying goes: "You are what you eat. (or drink)." Make your brainpower food nutrient rich with delicious smoothies and fresh juices. And get the kids involved in preparing them; they'll be more excited about drinking them. You'll give the whole family a big brain boost and your children a great start for the school year.
Cherie Calbom, M.S. is the author of sixteen books including the best-selling Juice Lady's Guide to Juicing for Health, Juicing, Fasting, and Detoxing for Life, and The Ultimate Smoothie Book . Cherie earned a masters degree in nutrition from Bastyr University, where she serves on the Board of Regents. Known as "The Juice Lady" for her work with juicing and health, her juice therapy and cleansing programs have been popular for a decade. Get more free tips at http://juiceladyinfo.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cherie_Calbom
Breakfast may be the most important meal of the day for increasing brainpower. The night long fast means that blood sugar is low in the morning. This can make your child (or you) irritable and less able to concentrate. Numerous studies have shown that a good breakfast helps children perform better in school, compared to those who don't eat breakfast. The British Nutrition Foundation found that eating breakfast could improve a child's problem solving ability, memory, concentration, visual perception, and creative thinking.
What you and your child have for breakfast can make a big difference in mental performance throughout the day. For example, acetylcholine is the most important neurotransmitter for memory and intelligence, and the body makes it from choline, a B vitamin. Studies show that choline has improved memory dramatically in healthy young adults. The nervous system relies on neurotransmitters to communicate messages within the brain, such as those that regulate mood, hunger, and sleep. There is some evidence that choline can improve mental functioning and thought transmission by strengthening neurons in the brain's memory centers. Choline is found in lecithin, egg, brewer's yeast, oatmeal, and orange juice.
Try a brainpower breakfast that's quick and easy. Blend up nutritionist Cherie Calbom's "Brain Power Smoothie" (The Ultimate Smoothie Book), which includes yogurt, orange juice, frozen strawberries, lecithin, vanilla, and ice. And listen up! Research studies have shown that strawberry eaters may have a higher learning capacity and better motor skills than non-strawberry eaters. Or try Cherie's Morning Energizer juice that combines carrots, beet, lemon, and gingerroot (The Juice Lady's Guide to Juicing for Health).
Spinach has been shown to protect the brain from oxidative stress while reducing the risk of suffering from an age-related decline in function. Researchers found that feeding aging rats spinach-rich diets significantly improved their learning capacity and motor skills. You can juice it up with carrot, apple, and lemon for a great afternoon pick me up. In fact, all those ingredients are good sources of potassium. Fatigue and exhaustion, which we often experience in the afternoon, are associated with low potassium levels. That's where fresh juice can make a big difference. Because it's already broken down into an easy-to-digest form, it can be at work in the system in about 30 minutes. That's quick energy that won't let you down unlike caffeine or sugar, which causes spikes in blood sugar and then big dips that often leave you more fatigued than before you swallowed them. Fresh veggie juice on the other hand is very sustaining and doesn't cause the big spikes and dips in blood sugar. Whether you need more energy midday at work, or your child needs energy and brainpower after school for homework, a potassium-rich juice or smoothie can energize not only the brain but also the entire body.
Antioxidant nutrients, such as vitamins C and E and beta-carotene, help protect brain cells from free-radical damage caused by environmental pollution. Try Cherie's antioxidant rich smoothie--the Anti-Aging Smoothie, which blends up orange juice, papaya, blueberries, and ice. Or, juiceup a beta-carotene-rich drink called The Ginger Hopper made with carrots, apple, and gingerroot.
Whether at school or work, we could all use a little brainpower boost. As the saying goes: "You are what you eat. (or drink)." Make your brainpower food nutrient rich with delicious smoothies and fresh juices. And get the kids involved in preparing them; they'll be more excited about drinking them. You'll give the whole family a big brain boost and your children a great start for the school year.
Cherie Calbom, M.S. is the author of sixteen books including the best-selling Juice Lady's Guide to Juicing for Health, Juicing, Fasting, and Detoxing for Life, and The Ultimate Smoothie Book . Cherie earned a masters degree in nutrition from Bastyr University, where she serves on the Board of Regents. Known as "The Juice Lady" for her work with juicing and health, her juice therapy and cleansing programs have been popular for a decade. Get more free tips at http://juiceladyinfo.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cherie_Calbom
How to Make Sure Your Child's Heart Stays Healthy
A healthy heart is paramount for overall good health and a long life. As adults, we tend to think that the condition of children's hearts will be fine as they are young. However, this is not always the case and with today's sedentary lifestyles parents need to pay attention to a few important factors that could help their children live a long and illness-free life.
Increasing physical exercise is a must and with obesity on the increase, developing healthy eating patterns are even more essential than in the past.
Exercise will help to control your child's weight and can reduce blood pressure (stressed children is an increasing problem). Also, regular exercise can prevent the onset of diabetes and other illnesses, as well as increasing good cholesterol.
Guidelines from the American Heart Association suggest that kids should take part in about 30 minutes of strenuous activity every day. This can be in one go, or in two or three sessions.
Getting the right nutrition into children can be difficult in today's fast food culture, but they need the following:
1. Fruit and vegetables
2. Whole grains
3. Lots of fiber and protein
4. Low fat dairy foods
They don't need lots of:
1. Sodium
2. Trans fats
If obesity is a problem, then a strict count on calories consumed each day will be necessary. It's a pain, but young kids need about 900 calories each day and teens need 1800 calories (girls) and 2200 (boys). Much more than this (and combined with a lack of exercise) and kids will start to put on weight.
So, once these measures are in place, just remember that the number one factor that will keep your kids' hearts strong and healthy is to avoid over-eating. That's it - eat less food!
Maybe you could switch off the TV more, hide the computer games and perhaps encourage your child to engage in a spot of gardening. I know it might sound unlikely, but if this process is started at a young age and encouraged then you are less likely to encounter problems.
You've probably noticed how teens seem to slow down a lot when compared to when they were very young. Here lies the root of the problem.
So, to keep your child's heart healthy and strong, try to encourage the whole family to engage in some daily exercise. Keep it varied and remember that even housework can count as exercise.
Now, can you get your kids to clean their bedrooms? If it's messy, it could take a good 30 minutes of lifting, bending and moving around.
Perfect!
Washington has been writing articles online for 5 years. Not only does he specialize in health, travel and music, but you can also check out his latest website at http://www.radiocontrolledwallclock.com which helps people to find the best radio controlled wall clock for their home.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Washington_Stoker
Increasing physical exercise is a must and with obesity on the increase, developing healthy eating patterns are even more essential than in the past.
Exercise will help to control your child's weight and can reduce blood pressure (stressed children is an increasing problem). Also, regular exercise can prevent the onset of diabetes and other illnesses, as well as increasing good cholesterol.
Guidelines from the American Heart Association suggest that kids should take part in about 30 minutes of strenuous activity every day. This can be in one go, or in two or three sessions.
Getting the right nutrition into children can be difficult in today's fast food culture, but they need the following:
1. Fruit and vegetables
2. Whole grains
3. Lots of fiber and protein
4. Low fat dairy foods
They don't need lots of:
1. Sodium
2. Trans fats
If obesity is a problem, then a strict count on calories consumed each day will be necessary. It's a pain, but young kids need about 900 calories each day and teens need 1800 calories (girls) and 2200 (boys). Much more than this (and combined with a lack of exercise) and kids will start to put on weight.
So, once these measures are in place, just remember that the number one factor that will keep your kids' hearts strong and healthy is to avoid over-eating. That's it - eat less food!
Maybe you could switch off the TV more, hide the computer games and perhaps encourage your child to engage in a spot of gardening. I know it might sound unlikely, but if this process is started at a young age and encouraged then you are less likely to encounter problems.
You've probably noticed how teens seem to slow down a lot when compared to when they were very young. Here lies the root of the problem.
So, to keep your child's heart healthy and strong, try to encourage the whole family to engage in some daily exercise. Keep it varied and remember that even housework can count as exercise.
Now, can you get your kids to clean their bedrooms? If it's messy, it could take a good 30 minutes of lifting, bending and moving around.
Perfect!
Washington has been writing articles online for 5 years. Not only does he specialize in health, travel and music, but you can also check out his latest website at http://www.radiocontrolledwallclock.com which helps people to find the best radio controlled wall clock for their home.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Washington_Stoker
3 Causes of Obesity in Young Children
Obesity in young children is a major health problem in our society today. It not only affects young children but teens and adults too. Statistics show that one out of every five children is obese. Within the last thirty years this has doubled and seems to be getting worse. This article will look at three causes of obesity in young children and explore some treatments and preventions.
- Lack of Parental Education - Nutrition
How well would you pass on a test about healthy and nutritional eating? Information is the most powerful weapon you can have against obesity and that can be passed onto your child each day. The truth is many adults simply don't know the facts. If you don't know the factors about nutrition first for your own health how can you teach your child about it? This leads onto another serious cause, lack of physical activity.
- Lack of Physical Activity
Children do not play outdoor games like football, rugby, cricket, basketball etc. as much as they used to in the past. Computer games, video games and television to name a few "robbers" have replaced healthy physical activity time. Associated to this serious issue is the consumption of unhealthy foods.
- Fast Food Consumption
One in three children (from age 4 to 19) eats fast food daily. This is causing children to put on extra weight while increasing the risk of obesity. This is alarming news for doctors, parents, teachers and researchers because of the serious health risks related to obesity. Fast foods include higher fats, carbohydrates, sugars and calories than any other food products.
OK now that we know what some of the causes are we need to think about possible treatments.
Treatments and Preventions
- Adequate Parental education
As a parent, you need to know all about nutrition first and foremost for your own health so you are able to look after your child and so you can teach your child about healthy eating. Talk to heath specialists, search online, attend nutrition courses, visit the library and talk to your friends about what is healthy eating.
- Regular Exercise
Encourage your kids to be involved with outdoor activities including the playing of games, riding of bikes, shooting a ball etc. Discourage them from playing computer games and watching television etc. The watching of TV programs and playing of computer games should be timetabled. If you able to, encourage your child to play a weekend sport.
Child obesity is a serous problem today but there is hope for this situation to improve. Health professionals such as doctors have available plenty of healthy recommendations for parents that will ensure that their kids stay in good shape. Parents should make the effort to lead by example instead of forcing their kids to do regular exercise. If parents have good eating habits, so will their kids.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Dobson
- Lack of Parental Education - Nutrition
How well would you pass on a test about healthy and nutritional eating? Information is the most powerful weapon you can have against obesity and that can be passed onto your child each day. The truth is many adults simply don't know the facts. If you don't know the factors about nutrition first for your own health how can you teach your child about it? This leads onto another serious cause, lack of physical activity.
- Lack of Physical Activity
Children do not play outdoor games like football, rugby, cricket, basketball etc. as much as they used to in the past. Computer games, video games and television to name a few "robbers" have replaced healthy physical activity time. Associated to this serious issue is the consumption of unhealthy foods.
- Fast Food Consumption
One in three children (from age 4 to 19) eats fast food daily. This is causing children to put on extra weight while increasing the risk of obesity. This is alarming news for doctors, parents, teachers and researchers because of the serious health risks related to obesity. Fast foods include higher fats, carbohydrates, sugars and calories than any other food products.
OK now that we know what some of the causes are we need to think about possible treatments.
Treatments and Preventions
- Adequate Parental education
As a parent, you need to know all about nutrition first and foremost for your own health so you are able to look after your child and so you can teach your child about healthy eating. Talk to heath specialists, search online, attend nutrition courses, visit the library and talk to your friends about what is healthy eating.
- Regular Exercise
Encourage your kids to be involved with outdoor activities including the playing of games, riding of bikes, shooting a ball etc. Discourage them from playing computer games and watching television etc. The watching of TV programs and playing of computer games should be timetabled. If you able to, encourage your child to play a weekend sport.
Child obesity is a serous problem today but there is hope for this situation to improve. Health professionals such as doctors have available plenty of healthy recommendations for parents that will ensure that their kids stay in good shape. Parents should make the effort to lead by example instead of forcing their kids to do regular exercise. If parents have good eating habits, so will their kids.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Dobson
Kids' Nutrition - Where Has All the Color Gone
Lately, I've had several opportunities to get up close and personal with children's meals and snacks. It has been an awakening!
I have two young children. I understand the challenge of consistently providing them with healthy, nutritious foods. Foods that they will actually eat, that is! It's a challenge, yes. But, it's a worthy cause.
We have innate genetic requirements for health. We require purity and sufficiency in the way we eat, move and think. Without this, we cannot create optimal health, function and performance.
Therefore, when it comes to what we're eating, it's got to be nutrient-dense and the least toxic we can find. Those are the simple requirements for health.
This is not what I'm seeing lately! I'm seeing kids that are eating what passes as food simply to fill up, rather than to "fuel up". Food is being selected based on taste, rather than nutritional benefit. I've seen kids taking over the role of nutritional decision maker in many families - frightening!
Sure, it may temporarily ease the battles within the household, but it certainly doesn't provide kids with any chance of building a solid, healthy foundation.
Again, I'm a parent. I know those battles and how they wear us down. However, until my kids are old enough, wise enough, responsible enough and educated enough regarding the true pathway to optimal health and function, I plan on being the one that wears the nutritional pants in our family!
I don't believe that providing healthier foods requires a complete overhaul of our entire diet and lifestyle. Not at all. Many families don't have the time, energy or finances for that anyhow. I believe that simple tweaks here and there can make tremendous differences in our children's health, happiness and performance.
One thing I've noticed when sharing meals with other kids is the lack of natural vibrant color in their meals. I used to call it the "Brown Food Diet", but it has now been upgraded to the "White, Tan, Yellow, Beige, Brown Food Diet"!
I'm seeing an overwhelming amount of cereal, bread, pasta (mac 'n cheese), crackers, chips, pizza, cookies, pastries, bagels, donuts, corn, French fries, cheese sticks and all sorts of fake food concoctions. The drink of choice? Pop, or maybe a 'sports' drink or a juice box. All loaded with sugar, high fructose corn syrup and artificial colors, sweeteners and flavors. Then there's conventional cow's milk... I'll save that for another article!
Where is the color? Where is the life in these foods? Oh, wait. For color, I've seen plenty of M & M's, Skittles, neon drinks and brightly colored breakfast cereal! Not exactly what I had in mind.
We can't possibly be building healthy little people with these ingredients! Once in awhile a tasty toxin probably won't do much harm. But I'm not seeing this stuff only go into the average kid only once in awhile. No wonder kids are now the sickest they've ever been. Chronic illness that was once reserved for adults, like cancer, diabetes, obesity, depression, anxiety and so on, is now growing at epidemic proportions in our children.
In all fairness, I completely understand how parents end up making these choices. These "foods" are usually cheaper, more convenient, more readily available, faster, AND your kids are telling you it's what they want! We get sucked into feeling OK about it because our kids are eating it... we think they're filling up, so they must be OK. They don't look sick, so they must be OK. It's all understandable, but I think we can do better... and it doesn't need to rock our family boat too much!
One of the easiest things we can do to help improve the nutritional health of our children is to add some fresh, natural color to their meals and snacks. Add some live food! Even just adding one serving of fresh fruit or vegetables is a tremendous improvement. The unhealthiest meal instantly becomes healthier with a little fresh fiber added!
Another simple improvement to make is to add more water as the beverage of choice. We require it for health. If your child is not much of a water drinker, even adding one little glass each day is a big step toward better health.
We don't have to take away any of the things they enjoy in order to improve their health. Nor do we need to break the bank. Begin with adding some purity and sufficiency... add the "good stuff" first. If you really want to see dramatic health improvements, of course, we'd all benefit by reducing our toxic intake as well. But, I did say there's no need for an overhaul to see improvements! I'll keep my word! Start off by keeping it simple, comfortable and gradual.
Every choice we make has consequences. Some will be readily apparent right away; some will not reveal themselves for many years. That doesn't make the consequences any less significant. Help teach your children the positive consequences of making healthier nutrition choices.
Dr. Colleen Trombley ("Dr Mom Online") is a leading expert in Natural Health & Wellness. Discover why health-seekers turn to Dr. Mom for practical tips regarding healthy lifestyle, nutrition, exercise, weight loss, parenting, life balance and more. Check out the Healthy School Days Menu for great kids' nutrition ideas! nutrition and health
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Colleen_Trombley-VanHoogstraat
I have two young children. I understand the challenge of consistently providing them with healthy, nutritious foods. Foods that they will actually eat, that is! It's a challenge, yes. But, it's a worthy cause.
We have innate genetic requirements for health. We require purity and sufficiency in the way we eat, move and think. Without this, we cannot create optimal health, function and performance.
Therefore, when it comes to what we're eating, it's got to be nutrient-dense and the least toxic we can find. Those are the simple requirements for health.
This is not what I'm seeing lately! I'm seeing kids that are eating what passes as food simply to fill up, rather than to "fuel up". Food is being selected based on taste, rather than nutritional benefit. I've seen kids taking over the role of nutritional decision maker in many families - frightening!
Sure, it may temporarily ease the battles within the household, but it certainly doesn't provide kids with any chance of building a solid, healthy foundation.
Again, I'm a parent. I know those battles and how they wear us down. However, until my kids are old enough, wise enough, responsible enough and educated enough regarding the true pathway to optimal health and function, I plan on being the one that wears the nutritional pants in our family!
I don't believe that providing healthier foods requires a complete overhaul of our entire diet and lifestyle. Not at all. Many families don't have the time, energy or finances for that anyhow. I believe that simple tweaks here and there can make tremendous differences in our children's health, happiness and performance.
One thing I've noticed when sharing meals with other kids is the lack of natural vibrant color in their meals. I used to call it the "Brown Food Diet", but it has now been upgraded to the "White, Tan, Yellow, Beige, Brown Food Diet"!
I'm seeing an overwhelming amount of cereal, bread, pasta (mac 'n cheese), crackers, chips, pizza, cookies, pastries, bagels, donuts, corn, French fries, cheese sticks and all sorts of fake food concoctions. The drink of choice? Pop, or maybe a 'sports' drink or a juice box. All loaded with sugar, high fructose corn syrup and artificial colors, sweeteners and flavors. Then there's conventional cow's milk... I'll save that for another article!
Where is the color? Where is the life in these foods? Oh, wait. For color, I've seen plenty of M & M's, Skittles, neon drinks and brightly colored breakfast cereal! Not exactly what I had in mind.
We can't possibly be building healthy little people with these ingredients! Once in awhile a tasty toxin probably won't do much harm. But I'm not seeing this stuff only go into the average kid only once in awhile. No wonder kids are now the sickest they've ever been. Chronic illness that was once reserved for adults, like cancer, diabetes, obesity, depression, anxiety and so on, is now growing at epidemic proportions in our children.
In all fairness, I completely understand how parents end up making these choices. These "foods" are usually cheaper, more convenient, more readily available, faster, AND your kids are telling you it's what they want! We get sucked into feeling OK about it because our kids are eating it... we think they're filling up, so they must be OK. They don't look sick, so they must be OK. It's all understandable, but I think we can do better... and it doesn't need to rock our family boat too much!
One of the easiest things we can do to help improve the nutritional health of our children is to add some fresh, natural color to their meals and snacks. Add some live food! Even just adding one serving of fresh fruit or vegetables is a tremendous improvement. The unhealthiest meal instantly becomes healthier with a little fresh fiber added!
Another simple improvement to make is to add more water as the beverage of choice. We require it for health. If your child is not much of a water drinker, even adding one little glass each day is a big step toward better health.
We don't have to take away any of the things they enjoy in order to improve their health. Nor do we need to break the bank. Begin with adding some purity and sufficiency... add the "good stuff" first. If you really want to see dramatic health improvements, of course, we'd all benefit by reducing our toxic intake as well. But, I did say there's no need for an overhaul to see improvements! I'll keep my word! Start off by keeping it simple, comfortable and gradual.
Every choice we make has consequences. Some will be readily apparent right away; some will not reveal themselves for many years. That doesn't make the consequences any less significant. Help teach your children the positive consequences of making healthier nutrition choices.
Dr. Colleen Trombley ("Dr Mom Online") is a leading expert in Natural Health & Wellness. Discover why health-seekers turn to Dr. Mom for practical tips regarding healthy lifestyle, nutrition, exercise, weight loss, parenting, life balance and more. Check out the Healthy School Days Menu for great kids' nutrition ideas! nutrition and health
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Colleen_Trombley-VanHoogstraat
Nutrition and Your Child
The number of children who are overweight or obese continues to increase and while many of these children struggle with weight problems they are not getting the proper nutrients in their diet. They are consuming too much junk food and not enough of the nutritious food required for health and growth. So parents should check to see that their children are getting adequate portions of healthy foods.
Children need sixteen ounces or two cups daily of milk and milk products. These include fat-free milk, various cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, custard, ice cream, pudding, whole milk or milkshakes. If your child is overweight, they should opt for low-fat and fat-free products. Normal weight children can enjoy ice cream and milkshakes.
Children should also eat twelve ounces of fruit each day. One portion of fruit is equal to eight ounces or one cup. A portion of dried fruit is one half cup or four ounces. A serving of juice would be an eight-ounce glass. One apple, one banana or pear counts as a serving.
Vegetables are another necessary part of a child's diet. They need to eat twelve ounces or one and one half cups a day of fresh, frozen or canned vegetables. These can include vegetable juices and vegetable soups. While baked potatoes are fine, french fries and hash browns should be limited.
Grains are also important in a child's diet. They need at least five ounces a day and half of this should be whole grains. One slice of bread is equal to one ounce. In addition to various breads, crackers and cereals, grains also include rice cakes, pancakes, pizza crust, polenta, waffles and ramen noodles. Children need only four ounces a day of meat and beans. Two ounces of cooked meat, poultry or fish is equivalent to one child's portion. Included in the meat and beans group are eggs, nuts, seeds, and peanut butter.
Foods that are mostly fat and sugar such as cake, chips, candy, cream cheese, cream sauces, doughnut, gravy, pies, and whipped cream should be limited, as should most oils. But plant oils can be served in small quantities. Since children have small stomachs they need snacks as well as the conventional three meals a day. But parents should ensure that healthy foods are part of the snack.
Breakfast is also important, as studies have proven that children who eat breakfast do better academically in school. Many schools have a breakfast program for parents who are too busy to serve breakfast at home. However, breakfast doesn't have to be elaborate. A peanut butter sandwich with an apple or banana can suffice.
While you should not try to force your children to eat foods they don't like, you shouldn't limit your menus to the foods they will eat. Continue to offer new foods in smaller portions and remember children often have to try new foods several times before they finally learn to enjoy them, so parents need to be patient and pleasant when coping with picky eaters. Parents also need to be good role models by eating the foods they want their children to eat. Children respond to what they see not to what they are told to do.
Alcohol Rehab Women Arlington
Alcohol Rehab Women Austin
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brenda_Williams
Children need sixteen ounces or two cups daily of milk and milk products. These include fat-free milk, various cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, custard, ice cream, pudding, whole milk or milkshakes. If your child is overweight, they should opt for low-fat and fat-free products. Normal weight children can enjoy ice cream and milkshakes.
Children should also eat twelve ounces of fruit each day. One portion of fruit is equal to eight ounces or one cup. A portion of dried fruit is one half cup or four ounces. A serving of juice would be an eight-ounce glass. One apple, one banana or pear counts as a serving.
Vegetables are another necessary part of a child's diet. They need to eat twelve ounces or one and one half cups a day of fresh, frozen or canned vegetables. These can include vegetable juices and vegetable soups. While baked potatoes are fine, french fries and hash browns should be limited.
Grains are also important in a child's diet. They need at least five ounces a day and half of this should be whole grains. One slice of bread is equal to one ounce. In addition to various breads, crackers and cereals, grains also include rice cakes, pancakes, pizza crust, polenta, waffles and ramen noodles. Children need only four ounces a day of meat and beans. Two ounces of cooked meat, poultry or fish is equivalent to one child's portion. Included in the meat and beans group are eggs, nuts, seeds, and peanut butter.
Foods that are mostly fat and sugar such as cake, chips, candy, cream cheese, cream sauces, doughnut, gravy, pies, and whipped cream should be limited, as should most oils. But plant oils can be served in small quantities. Since children have small stomachs they need snacks as well as the conventional three meals a day. But parents should ensure that healthy foods are part of the snack.
Breakfast is also important, as studies have proven that children who eat breakfast do better academically in school. Many schools have a breakfast program for parents who are too busy to serve breakfast at home. However, breakfast doesn't have to be elaborate. A peanut butter sandwich with an apple or banana can suffice.
While you should not try to force your children to eat foods they don't like, you shouldn't limit your menus to the foods they will eat. Continue to offer new foods in smaller portions and remember children often have to try new foods several times before they finally learn to enjoy them, so parents need to be patient and pleasant when coping with picky eaters. Parents also need to be good role models by eating the foods they want their children to eat. Children respond to what they see not to what they are told to do.
Alcohol Rehab Women Arlington
Alcohol Rehab Women Austin
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brenda_Williams
Raising a Healthy and Fit Child in the Ultra Competitive World of Youth Sports - 7 House Rules
In this report we outline 7 steps for parents to follow in order to encourage proper physical development and emotional well-being that will give your child the best chance for success.
Everyone needs to be a champion at something. They need to have peace of mind and self-satisfaction as an integral part of their life. Parents should not push their children to be great. They need to guide and direct their children to reach their true potential. They need to give them the means for chasing, and hopefully reaching, their goals. The very tools you give your child to use in striving to become sports or music or academic champions are the very same life lessons he or she will need to survive-and thrive-in any endeavor. These tools include goal setting, daily scheduling, knowing and planning the steps to reach your dreams, and overcoming tough times. In addition, your child, in striving to excel, will acquire the important character traits of dedication, perseverance, problem solving, and self-confidence.
When a child is focused on becoming a champion, focused on striving for excellence and trying to become the best he or she is capable of being, they will not have an inclination or time to take a negative path. While striving to reach their goals, they will find themselves coming in contact with other young people who are also heading onward and upward. The key is, you want your child focusing his/her energies on self-improvement, not self-destruction.
Let's take a few steps back from the mindset of raising a "champion athlete," and let's focus on raising "Great Kids" first. Proper physical development, otherwise known as coordination development, is a process that takes years to evolve and is based on diversity and adaptability. Young athletes should not be restricted to sport-specific skill training, or one solo sport for that matter, with the expectation of becoming the next "champion" athlete.
Parents must understand that their youngsters need to first conquer the physical, emotional and psychological challenges of living in this ultra competitive society. These traits are critical to establish in order to enjoy any type of competition whether it is on the field or in the concert hall. Far too often, parents, coaches or teammates see exceptional sport skill in a young athlete and mistakenly push full throttle ahead into developing a young champion of the sport. But the true nature of a champion and the longevity of their success hinge more so on the simple "house rules" that surround their personal development, lifestyle, self-image and athletic experiences.
7 House Rules:
1. Start Young
Get out and play. Free play or discovery play for mind and body awareness, can start in the toddler years as youngsters begin to gather and process information within their environment. Developing coordination through various experiences in gross motor movement will provide the necessary stimulation to allow young bodies to begin the critical steps of eventually perfecting a variety of movement skills throughout their developmental years. This process lays the groundwork and stores the necessary information to begin the development of sport specific skills in the early teenage years. Whether it the closest toddler gym program, the YMCA or your own back yard - let them twist, tumble, roll, run and even stumble. They will learn valuable information about their bodies that no one else can ever teach them.
2. Provide Encouragement and Opportunity.
Between the ages of 7 and 14 coordination development is critical and is most significant during the ages of 10 and 13. Don't wait until then!! In the earlier years between birth and 6 years old parents have the responsibility to provide a rich, nurturing and engaging environment for their children that will help stimulate the physical and cognitive abilities their kids will count on later in their childhood. This involves climbing, running, hopping, throwing, catching and kicking, playing an instrument or working on a puzzle. It does not mean young children need to have an overflowing weekly agenda with structured activities. Quite the contrary. It means you need to free up time to stop at the park, go for a hike, swing on a swing, bounce a basketball, race to the biggest tree in the yard or try out those new in-line skates. Encouraging young kids to explore fun activities which promote balance, rhythm and spatial orientation will provide a strong foundation for coordination development. Giving them the time and opportunity to explore is priceless.
3. Be a Role Model
Reward physical activity by giving children your full attention, time and praise. Get out and play with them! For young children, teach them games like tag, duck-duck-goose, kick-the-can and hide-and-go- seek. Let them experience how much fun it is to be active. For older grade school kids and young teenagers, go bike riding, kayaking or swimming. Train for a family 5K walk-run together. Young children have the capacity to learn quickly. Challenge them with experience that stimulates them cognitively and physically. Even children within the same family will develop differently. The key to successful parenting is to determine which element that child needs the most help with, (i.e.: balance, rhythm, or spatial awareness) and provide fun interactive games that stimulate the senses.
4. Change is Good - Support it
As children become exposed to recreational sports, have them participate in as many activities as possible (..but not at the same time!!!). When the season's change, change the sport or activity. Around the age of sixteen the ability to optimally develop coordination begins to regress. Between the ages of 7-14 is a critical time when the body's ability to develop coordination and learn new skills is at its prime. This validates early exposure to a variety of sport and activities are the solution from an athlete development perspective. Adolescence is not the time to introduce elements of coordination training. As a young athletes body begins to take shape, height body weight and body mass strength and speed are significantly changing during these years. It is much more difficult for the nervous system to accept new movement patterns rather than trying to refine what has been put on the hard drive in the earlier years. The refinement of previously in learn skills should take precedence Over landing new movement base skills.
Parent's coaches and trainers must understand and accept the fact that developing a healthy and successful athlete is a process that takes years encompassing varying degrees of processed information all which continue to build upon one another. If this process is followed coordination development in the post at adolescent years can be taken to new and exciting levels.
5. Expect Respect
Aside from teaching and exposing young children to stimulus that will foster the development of coordinated movement patterns, the introduction and the reinforcement to the importance of values, family and home is just as critical.
This will give your young athletes the reassurance that they have all the support necessary to be successful not just in sport but it life.
In the early years of sharing taking turns and playing fair, young people must learn to respect their elders, coaches, teammates/classmates teachers and parents. Teaching the values of winning and losing, proper etiquette and self respect for a healthy mind body and soul will instill an aura of confidence. In a time where society is applying the pressure to succeed at such a young age we have seemed to forgot to instill values of sportsmanship and respect not only in the name of sport but in humanity. As parents we must not lose sight of this.
6. Follow Sound Principles not Fads
When athletes begin to show signs (like asking you or suggesting how they can get better at what ever it is that they are doing) it may be time to explore performance or sport specific coaching. Keep in mind the child must have the desire to do this. Typically performance based training, meaning there is a focus on strength speed and power, doesn't begin until the age of 13. However, there are great programs available in your area that will focus on the foundational principles of physical development, such as gymnastics and martial arts. Some fitness companies are beginning to specialize in "Youth Fitness." Just make certain that the individual or company that will be working with your youngster sticks to the principles of not only proper skill development and physical conditioning, but self-esteem, leadership and teamwork.
7. Appreciate the Value of Rest
Athletes must understand and respect the importance of recovery and regeneration. Cumulative Physical and mental stress at a young age can have a profound negative impact on the quality of life in the home in the classroom and on the field. Quiet time for naps, homework and studying are critical for young children. Parents must take the necessary steps to provide the adequate amount of rest and quality nutrition to nurture their kids and keep their mind and bodies as strong as possible.
Stephen & Tina Conca are the creators of www.Raisefitkids.com
a resource for parents in helping them promote a healthy and active lifestyle with their children while building and maintaining a "Fit Family."
Stephen and Tina have been helping families with their children for decades. Stephen has an undergraduate degree in Exercise and Sports Science from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and a graduate degree in Athletic Development and Injury Prevention from California University of PA. In addition, Stephen earned his Strength and Conditioning Specialist certification from the National Strength & Conditioning association. He also is a Level I Certified U.S. Olympic Weightlifting Coach and a Level 2 Youth Conditioning Specialists with the International Youth Conditioning Association.
Tina, is a licensed physical therapist, an NCSA-certified strength and conditioning specialist, a certified ergonomic analyst, and a former Division One collegiate softball player and multi-sports athlete. In addition to receiving her Biology/Pre-Med undergraduate degree from The College of the Holy Cross, she also completed her graduate degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Rhode Island.
Stephen & Tina Conca are the creators of http://www.Raisefitkids.com a resource for parents in helping them promote a healthy and active lifestyle with their children while building and maintaining a fit family.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephen_Conca
Everyone needs to be a champion at something. They need to have peace of mind and self-satisfaction as an integral part of their life. Parents should not push their children to be great. They need to guide and direct their children to reach their true potential. They need to give them the means for chasing, and hopefully reaching, their goals. The very tools you give your child to use in striving to become sports or music or academic champions are the very same life lessons he or she will need to survive-and thrive-in any endeavor. These tools include goal setting, daily scheduling, knowing and planning the steps to reach your dreams, and overcoming tough times. In addition, your child, in striving to excel, will acquire the important character traits of dedication, perseverance, problem solving, and self-confidence.
When a child is focused on becoming a champion, focused on striving for excellence and trying to become the best he or she is capable of being, they will not have an inclination or time to take a negative path. While striving to reach their goals, they will find themselves coming in contact with other young people who are also heading onward and upward. The key is, you want your child focusing his/her energies on self-improvement, not self-destruction.
Let's take a few steps back from the mindset of raising a "champion athlete," and let's focus on raising "Great Kids" first. Proper physical development, otherwise known as coordination development, is a process that takes years to evolve and is based on diversity and adaptability. Young athletes should not be restricted to sport-specific skill training, or one solo sport for that matter, with the expectation of becoming the next "champion" athlete.
Parents must understand that their youngsters need to first conquer the physical, emotional and psychological challenges of living in this ultra competitive society. These traits are critical to establish in order to enjoy any type of competition whether it is on the field or in the concert hall. Far too often, parents, coaches or teammates see exceptional sport skill in a young athlete and mistakenly push full throttle ahead into developing a young champion of the sport. But the true nature of a champion and the longevity of their success hinge more so on the simple "house rules" that surround their personal development, lifestyle, self-image and athletic experiences.
7 House Rules:
1. Start Young
Get out and play. Free play or discovery play for mind and body awareness, can start in the toddler years as youngsters begin to gather and process information within their environment. Developing coordination through various experiences in gross motor movement will provide the necessary stimulation to allow young bodies to begin the critical steps of eventually perfecting a variety of movement skills throughout their developmental years. This process lays the groundwork and stores the necessary information to begin the development of sport specific skills in the early teenage years. Whether it the closest toddler gym program, the YMCA or your own back yard - let them twist, tumble, roll, run and even stumble. They will learn valuable information about their bodies that no one else can ever teach them.
2. Provide Encouragement and Opportunity.
Between the ages of 7 and 14 coordination development is critical and is most significant during the ages of 10 and 13. Don't wait until then!! In the earlier years between birth and 6 years old parents have the responsibility to provide a rich, nurturing and engaging environment for their children that will help stimulate the physical and cognitive abilities their kids will count on later in their childhood. This involves climbing, running, hopping, throwing, catching and kicking, playing an instrument or working on a puzzle. It does not mean young children need to have an overflowing weekly agenda with structured activities. Quite the contrary. It means you need to free up time to stop at the park, go for a hike, swing on a swing, bounce a basketball, race to the biggest tree in the yard or try out those new in-line skates. Encouraging young kids to explore fun activities which promote balance, rhythm and spatial orientation will provide a strong foundation for coordination development. Giving them the time and opportunity to explore is priceless.
3. Be a Role Model
Reward physical activity by giving children your full attention, time and praise. Get out and play with them! For young children, teach them games like tag, duck-duck-goose, kick-the-can and hide-and-go- seek. Let them experience how much fun it is to be active. For older grade school kids and young teenagers, go bike riding, kayaking or swimming. Train for a family 5K walk-run together. Young children have the capacity to learn quickly. Challenge them with experience that stimulates them cognitively and physically. Even children within the same family will develop differently. The key to successful parenting is to determine which element that child needs the most help with, (i.e.: balance, rhythm, or spatial awareness) and provide fun interactive games that stimulate the senses.
4. Change is Good - Support it
As children become exposed to recreational sports, have them participate in as many activities as possible (..but not at the same time!!!). When the season's change, change the sport or activity. Around the age of sixteen the ability to optimally develop coordination begins to regress. Between the ages of 7-14 is a critical time when the body's ability to develop coordination and learn new skills is at its prime. This validates early exposure to a variety of sport and activities are the solution from an athlete development perspective. Adolescence is not the time to introduce elements of coordination training. As a young athletes body begins to take shape, height body weight and body mass strength and speed are significantly changing during these years. It is much more difficult for the nervous system to accept new movement patterns rather than trying to refine what has been put on the hard drive in the earlier years. The refinement of previously in learn skills should take precedence Over landing new movement base skills.
Parent's coaches and trainers must understand and accept the fact that developing a healthy and successful athlete is a process that takes years encompassing varying degrees of processed information all which continue to build upon one another. If this process is followed coordination development in the post at adolescent years can be taken to new and exciting levels.
5. Expect Respect
Aside from teaching and exposing young children to stimulus that will foster the development of coordinated movement patterns, the introduction and the reinforcement to the importance of values, family and home is just as critical.
This will give your young athletes the reassurance that they have all the support necessary to be successful not just in sport but it life.
In the early years of sharing taking turns and playing fair, young people must learn to respect their elders, coaches, teammates/classmates teachers and parents. Teaching the values of winning and losing, proper etiquette and self respect for a healthy mind body and soul will instill an aura of confidence. In a time where society is applying the pressure to succeed at such a young age we have seemed to forgot to instill values of sportsmanship and respect not only in the name of sport but in humanity. As parents we must not lose sight of this.
6. Follow Sound Principles not Fads
When athletes begin to show signs (like asking you or suggesting how they can get better at what ever it is that they are doing) it may be time to explore performance or sport specific coaching. Keep in mind the child must have the desire to do this. Typically performance based training, meaning there is a focus on strength speed and power, doesn't begin until the age of 13. However, there are great programs available in your area that will focus on the foundational principles of physical development, such as gymnastics and martial arts. Some fitness companies are beginning to specialize in "Youth Fitness." Just make certain that the individual or company that will be working with your youngster sticks to the principles of not only proper skill development and physical conditioning, but self-esteem, leadership and teamwork.
7. Appreciate the Value of Rest
Athletes must understand and respect the importance of recovery and regeneration. Cumulative Physical and mental stress at a young age can have a profound negative impact on the quality of life in the home in the classroom and on the field. Quiet time for naps, homework and studying are critical for young children. Parents must take the necessary steps to provide the adequate amount of rest and quality nutrition to nurture their kids and keep their mind and bodies as strong as possible.
Stephen & Tina Conca are the creators of www.Raisefitkids.com
a resource for parents in helping them promote a healthy and active lifestyle with their children while building and maintaining a "Fit Family."
Stephen and Tina have been helping families with their children for decades. Stephen has an undergraduate degree in Exercise and Sports Science from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and a graduate degree in Athletic Development and Injury Prevention from California University of PA. In addition, Stephen earned his Strength and Conditioning Specialist certification from the National Strength & Conditioning association. He also is a Level I Certified U.S. Olympic Weightlifting Coach and a Level 2 Youth Conditioning Specialists with the International Youth Conditioning Association.
Tina, is a licensed physical therapist, an NCSA-certified strength and conditioning specialist, a certified ergonomic analyst, and a former Division One collegiate softball player and multi-sports athlete. In addition to receiving her Biology/Pre-Med undergraduate degree from The College of the Holy Cross, she also completed her graduate degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Rhode Island.
Stephen & Tina Conca are the creators of http://www.Raisefitkids.com a resource for parents in helping them promote a healthy and active lifestyle with their children while building and maintaining a fit family.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephen_Conca
Fighting Youth Obesity in the Preschool Years With "Respect" - Before It's Too Late
The problem with youth obesity is not the food industry, it's not the slick marketing of junk food, it's not the lack of physical education in our schools, it's not the internet and it's not TV. It's PARENTS! Starting in the pre-schools years and building a foundation for life skills and dealing with authority and interacting with peers is or should be taught by parents. Social interaction at this age is a key during this developmental stage. Children are learning how to use words to express themselves and speak kindly to friends.
They are learning how to take turns and what it means to be a friend. They are also learning how to deal with adversity. By teaching respect, and expecting respect, your child will learn the fundamental skills necessary to follow instructions in both school and life. In addition, you will set the stage for enhanced self-control and the ability to follow your house rules such as TV time, video game time, active play time and rest time.
Early self-esteem and physical health education is nourished through respect for their body. Healthy eating, proper rest, and plenty of active play, as well as being proud of their unique appearance, ideas, and emotions, will build a strong, confident child. Children should also learn to respect their feelings and know their boundaries.
Example: "It's okay to be angry sometimes. It's okay that something is hard to do, and to be anxious about a new experience. But it is not okay to lie."
Offering a world that clarifies your family's rules, values, and expectations, minimizes harsh judgment, and respects individuality will open many doors for exploration and responsibility. This is critically important when you begin to talk with your child about the benefits of healthy foods and physical activity.
What does respect look like from a preschooler?
• Respect for us as parents
• Respect for each other, siblings, friends
• Respect for classmates
• Respect for teachers and family
• Respect for neighbors, property, belongings
• Respect for themselves, their bodies, minds, and spirits
Make teaching and modeling respect a consistent part of your daily activity. Whether it is at home, at the library, at preschool, or over at Grandma and Grandpa's, expect respectful behavior. What does this look like? Here are a few practice drills that exemplify how to talk and walk the road to respect:
• Expect respect from your children by giving it to them. Squat down and look them in their eyes when speaking to them. Be quiet and listen to what they have to say. Answer their questions, as many as those may be, with a purposeful and legitimate answer. At the very least, give them a truthful explanation of why you might be too busy to give them your full attention.
• Use a loving and respectful tone of voice to encourage them to do the same. Give them respect for their ideas even if they may seem repetitive or absurd at times.
• Acknowledge them as their own person - with their own valuable thoughts, feelings, fears, interests. Validate their emotions even if you don't always agree with or understand them.
• Praise respectful behaviors and have consequences for disrespect. Consistency is a must. You will EARN their respect by clearly describing your expectations in terms of behaviors and sticking to them. Do not be fooled into thinking respect is something children are born with and will have for you forever more. Inconsistency, such as allowing bad behavior when out at a store or a friend's house, yields uncertainty and opens the door for a preschooler's interpretation of rules and respect. You are the parent - take charge of this core value. Instill its importance early.
• At this age, children are like sponges - talk and act the way you want them to behave. Model behaviors that you want to see in your children.
As parents be sure to say "please" and "thank you" to each other and your children.
Use proper tone, body language, and eye contact when conversing with your children. Avoid sarcasm, yelling, or shameful words. Don't talk with your back turned or holler up the stairs to get their attention.
Squat down to their level to talk and give them time to think about and convey their replies.
Give a yes or no answer to questions and properly acknowledge requests.
Repetition is monotonous, but also the key to success.
Respect rest. Our children already know that to have a fun-filled day of play and exploring, they need to give their bodies great food to fuel their engines. Same goes for rest and sleep. Try to make sure there is quiet time each day. For the younger kids, this is usually once in the late morning and then again in the late afternoon, maybe when dinner is being prepared. For those going to preschool, this is usually right after school as an unwind time. A consistent bedtime routine for the kids, as well as the adults, is crucial for development. Suffice it to say that respect for rest emphasizes its importance.
Stick with one behavior all week and be fair and consistent, not angry or sporadic with your praise or consequences. Set up a Respect chart for the week and post it in a visible location. Let the whole family help with putting stars on the chart for every positive, respectful behavior witnessed or performed. Offer a family prize as a reward (such as family movie night, picnic at the park, family game night) at the end of the week if your family gets 10 stars per day. Use different color stars for different family members to encourage all to participate.
Stephen and Tina Conca have been helping families with their children for decades. Stephen has an undergraduate degree in Exercise and Sports Science from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and a graduate degree in Athletic Development and Injury Prevention from California University of PA. In addition, Stephen earned his Strength and Conditioning Specialist certification from the National Strength & Conditioning association. He also is a Level I Certified U.S. Olympic Weightlifting Coach and a Level 2 Youth Conditioning Specialists with the International Youth Conditioning Association.
Tina, is a licensed physical therapist, an NCSA-certified strength and conditioning specialist, a certified ergonomic analyst, and a former Division One collegiate softball player and multi-sports athlete. In addition to receiving her Biology/Pre-Med undergraduate degree from The College of the Holy Cross, she also completed her graduate degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Rhode Island.
Stephen & Tina Conca are the creators of http://www.Raisefitkids.com a resource for parents in helping them promote a healthy and active lifestyle with their children while building and maintaining a fit family.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephen_Conca
They are learning how to take turns and what it means to be a friend. They are also learning how to deal with adversity. By teaching respect, and expecting respect, your child will learn the fundamental skills necessary to follow instructions in both school and life. In addition, you will set the stage for enhanced self-control and the ability to follow your house rules such as TV time, video game time, active play time and rest time.
Early self-esteem and physical health education is nourished through respect for their body. Healthy eating, proper rest, and plenty of active play, as well as being proud of their unique appearance, ideas, and emotions, will build a strong, confident child. Children should also learn to respect their feelings and know their boundaries.
Example: "It's okay to be angry sometimes. It's okay that something is hard to do, and to be anxious about a new experience. But it is not okay to lie."
Offering a world that clarifies your family's rules, values, and expectations, minimizes harsh judgment, and respects individuality will open many doors for exploration and responsibility. This is critically important when you begin to talk with your child about the benefits of healthy foods and physical activity.
What does respect look like from a preschooler?
• Respect for us as parents
• Respect for each other, siblings, friends
• Respect for classmates
• Respect for teachers and family
• Respect for neighbors, property, belongings
• Respect for themselves, their bodies, minds, and spirits
Make teaching and modeling respect a consistent part of your daily activity. Whether it is at home, at the library, at preschool, or over at Grandma and Grandpa's, expect respectful behavior. What does this look like? Here are a few practice drills that exemplify how to talk and walk the road to respect:
• Expect respect from your children by giving it to them. Squat down and look them in their eyes when speaking to them. Be quiet and listen to what they have to say. Answer their questions, as many as those may be, with a purposeful and legitimate answer. At the very least, give them a truthful explanation of why you might be too busy to give them your full attention.
• Use a loving and respectful tone of voice to encourage them to do the same. Give them respect for their ideas even if they may seem repetitive or absurd at times.
• Acknowledge them as their own person - with their own valuable thoughts, feelings, fears, interests. Validate their emotions even if you don't always agree with or understand them.
• Praise respectful behaviors and have consequences for disrespect. Consistency is a must. You will EARN their respect by clearly describing your expectations in terms of behaviors and sticking to them. Do not be fooled into thinking respect is something children are born with and will have for you forever more. Inconsistency, such as allowing bad behavior when out at a store or a friend's house, yields uncertainty and opens the door for a preschooler's interpretation of rules and respect. You are the parent - take charge of this core value. Instill its importance early.
• At this age, children are like sponges - talk and act the way you want them to behave. Model behaviors that you want to see in your children.
As parents be sure to say "please" and "thank you" to each other and your children.
Use proper tone, body language, and eye contact when conversing with your children. Avoid sarcasm, yelling, or shameful words. Don't talk with your back turned or holler up the stairs to get their attention.
Squat down to their level to talk and give them time to think about and convey their replies.
Give a yes or no answer to questions and properly acknowledge requests.
Repetition is monotonous, but also the key to success.
Respect rest. Our children already know that to have a fun-filled day of play and exploring, they need to give their bodies great food to fuel their engines. Same goes for rest and sleep. Try to make sure there is quiet time each day. For the younger kids, this is usually once in the late morning and then again in the late afternoon, maybe when dinner is being prepared. For those going to preschool, this is usually right after school as an unwind time. A consistent bedtime routine for the kids, as well as the adults, is crucial for development. Suffice it to say that respect for rest emphasizes its importance.
Stick with one behavior all week and be fair and consistent, not angry or sporadic with your praise or consequences. Set up a Respect chart for the week and post it in a visible location. Let the whole family help with putting stars on the chart for every positive, respectful behavior witnessed or performed. Offer a family prize as a reward (such as family movie night, picnic at the park, family game night) at the end of the week if your family gets 10 stars per day. Use different color stars for different family members to encourage all to participate.
Stephen and Tina Conca have been helping families with their children for decades. Stephen has an undergraduate degree in Exercise and Sports Science from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and a graduate degree in Athletic Development and Injury Prevention from California University of PA. In addition, Stephen earned his Strength and Conditioning Specialist certification from the National Strength & Conditioning association. He also is a Level I Certified U.S. Olympic Weightlifting Coach and a Level 2 Youth Conditioning Specialists with the International Youth Conditioning Association.
Tina, is a licensed physical therapist, an NCSA-certified strength and conditioning specialist, a certified ergonomic analyst, and a former Division One collegiate softball player and multi-sports athlete. In addition to receiving her Biology/Pre-Med undergraduate degree from The College of the Holy Cross, she also completed her graduate degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Rhode Island.
Stephen & Tina Conca are the creators of http://www.Raisefitkids.com a resource for parents in helping them promote a healthy and active lifestyle with their children while building and maintaining a fit family.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephen_Conca
Picky Eaters - Why Your Child Might Say No to the Foods You Offer
At times, nothing can be more frustrating for a parent than having a child who is a picky eater. Especially when the child's health or weight is in question. Getting him to eat the foods that provide the nutrition necessary to be healthy can be an exercise in futility.
It is the last thing they're interested in. They're happy with the foods they like and trying to convince them otherwise only seems to make them more steadfast in their decision to say no.
When you think about it, all of us like to make our own decisions about what we like and don't like. The more someone tries to tell us we're wrong, the more we want to defend our decision, unless we are asking. When we ask we are open to another's perspective -- we want input.
Children are no different. Forcing children to eat something they don't like only makes them hate it all the more, and so all you can do is give in to whatever they're willing to eat that closely relates to a fruit, vegetable, or protein. You see it's one of the few areas where they can demonstrate control over their own lives.
That is why, whenever possible, it's important to let the final choice be theirs after you've provided the things they can choose from. It's a little like taking them to shop for the clothes they like that you are willing to pay for, and then on any given day they can go to their closet and pick out whatever they want to wear and everyone is happy.
In the same way, you can involve your child in grocery shopping and helping to choose meals, even allowing him to help prepare meals. This not only fulfills a need to make choices, but also teaches him about food preparation and feeling comfortable in the kitchen, not to mention the quality time spent together and the pride he would take in his own accomplishments.
You can make a grocery list together before going to the store so you can avoid arguments in the store. Leave a few foods that are negotiable open to decide on once you're there. You can talk about how much money you would like to spend so that you don't go over your budget. This will help minimize begging, which can lead to compulsive purchases or having to continually say no.
Allowing your children, whenever possible, to take part in the decisions that involve them will result in more cooperation. It also teaches them how to make responsible decisions for themselves in the future and to take responsibility for their own health. And what you will probably find is that they have some pretty good ideas to contribute.
Being a picky eater can be a good thing. It just depends upon what your picky about. If your particular about the quality of the food you eat, then it is a good thing. Today it's more important than ever to get as much nutrition per calorie and per dollar that you can. And eating healthier doesn't mean you have to sacrifice flavor either. Flavor is the most important component of the eating experience.
If you use a little butter or oil (some polyunsaturated oils are essential) along with herb, spices, and sea salt to cook your food you end up with a more nutritious flavorful meal that is better tasting than fast food, which is loaded with saturated fats, sugars, and salts that do more harm than good.
Remember, eating should be an enjoyable experience. Changes made slowly are more successful and lasting. Let your children lead the way by observing what works for them and what doesn't. Have a default plan in case things aren't going as you hoped, so there is no pressure and you don't feel defeated. When you feel good, they feel good, and they will be more open and willing the next time.
Eating doesn't have to be a battle of willpower, instead it can be a wonderful cooperative experience where you both learn and grow together. The body is genius. It knows what to do with the nutrition you provide. Have fun and you will be successful.
Julie M Rose has created NaturalNutritionGuide.com for the purpose of providing information in support of children's health. Her goal is to give parents an edge in making their own decisions about the well being of their children. Visit http://www.naturalnutritionguide.com for more information on children's nutrition, 7 tips on influencing your child's food choices, and other ways to support the health of your child.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julie_M_Rose
It is the last thing they're interested in. They're happy with the foods they like and trying to convince them otherwise only seems to make them more steadfast in their decision to say no.
When you think about it, all of us like to make our own decisions about what we like and don't like. The more someone tries to tell us we're wrong, the more we want to defend our decision, unless we are asking. When we ask we are open to another's perspective -- we want input.
Children are no different. Forcing children to eat something they don't like only makes them hate it all the more, and so all you can do is give in to whatever they're willing to eat that closely relates to a fruit, vegetable, or protein. You see it's one of the few areas where they can demonstrate control over their own lives.
That is why, whenever possible, it's important to let the final choice be theirs after you've provided the things they can choose from. It's a little like taking them to shop for the clothes they like that you are willing to pay for, and then on any given day they can go to their closet and pick out whatever they want to wear and everyone is happy.
In the same way, you can involve your child in grocery shopping and helping to choose meals, even allowing him to help prepare meals. This not only fulfills a need to make choices, but also teaches him about food preparation and feeling comfortable in the kitchen, not to mention the quality time spent together and the pride he would take in his own accomplishments.
You can make a grocery list together before going to the store so you can avoid arguments in the store. Leave a few foods that are negotiable open to decide on once you're there. You can talk about how much money you would like to spend so that you don't go over your budget. This will help minimize begging, which can lead to compulsive purchases or having to continually say no.
Allowing your children, whenever possible, to take part in the decisions that involve them will result in more cooperation. It also teaches them how to make responsible decisions for themselves in the future and to take responsibility for their own health. And what you will probably find is that they have some pretty good ideas to contribute.
Being a picky eater can be a good thing. It just depends upon what your picky about. If your particular about the quality of the food you eat, then it is a good thing. Today it's more important than ever to get as much nutrition per calorie and per dollar that you can. And eating healthier doesn't mean you have to sacrifice flavor either. Flavor is the most important component of the eating experience.
If you use a little butter or oil (some polyunsaturated oils are essential) along with herb, spices, and sea salt to cook your food you end up with a more nutritious flavorful meal that is better tasting than fast food, which is loaded with saturated fats, sugars, and salts that do more harm than good.
Remember, eating should be an enjoyable experience. Changes made slowly are more successful and lasting. Let your children lead the way by observing what works for them and what doesn't. Have a default plan in case things aren't going as you hoped, so there is no pressure and you don't feel defeated. When you feel good, they feel good, and they will be more open and willing the next time.
Eating doesn't have to be a battle of willpower, instead it can be a wonderful cooperative experience where you both learn and grow together. The body is genius. It knows what to do with the nutrition you provide. Have fun and you will be successful.
Julie M Rose has created NaturalNutritionGuide.com for the purpose of providing information in support of children's health. Her goal is to give parents an edge in making their own decisions about the well being of their children. Visit http://www.naturalnutritionguide.com for more information on children's nutrition, 7 tips on influencing your child's food choices, and other ways to support the health of your child.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julie_M_Rose
2 Ways to Protect Your Baby From Allergies
Allergies, What a scary word. When I think of this word I sometimes think of peanut allergies or egg allergies. They say that more kids are getting allergic to certain things now more than ever. Some say it is because of the mother's nutrition when the baby is in the womb. I am not certain one way or the other all I know is our baby is getting all sorts of nutrition in the womb, especially protein.
Okay, so when we are sleeping and we can't stop sneezing or our eyes are watering like crazy what is going on? Well it is possible we are having an allergic reaction to something in our bedding or in our room somewhere. We all know one of the most common causes of allergies is unclean bedding. What happens is when we sleep we actually are shedding skin and these teeny, tiny bugs called dust mites feed on our skin. I know its gross but it happens. This "feeding" may cause us to develop a rash during the night. On a side not it is entirely possible that allergies are mis-diagnosed by a doctor. I have seen many people who wake up with bites all over their body get treated as if they are allergic to something in their bedding but in the end they had a little feeding friend with them in bed, it was none only than the bed bug, yes they do exist.
There are many good ways to help someone who suffers from allergies. For example, if your baby is suffering from allergies you can get them a product from Allersafe. This company makes bedding, a baby sleeping bag, and other materials for your baby out of an antifungal and antibacterial material that makes it impossible for the dust mite to survive.
Along with the proper bedding it is important to get a good vacuum cleaner with a heap filter and vacuum your carpet and furniture on a weekly basis to make sure that the dust mite is not developing and thriving in your carpet. This is especially true if you have a little one that has a lot of tummy time.
You want to give your child the best you can offer. We know we can't protect our baby from everything out there but these are just a few tips to help protect your child from allergies and from developing allergic reactions to certain types of irritants.
I made sure that my baby sleeping bag was made out of allersafe material. I think it is important to give my little one the best chance he has to have a great life. Making sure that my baby sleeping bag for him was safe and fitted properly and also the right thickness are also very important considerations.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_R_Crawford
Okay, so when we are sleeping and we can't stop sneezing or our eyes are watering like crazy what is going on? Well it is possible we are having an allergic reaction to something in our bedding or in our room somewhere. We all know one of the most common causes of allergies is unclean bedding. What happens is when we sleep we actually are shedding skin and these teeny, tiny bugs called dust mites feed on our skin. I know its gross but it happens. This "feeding" may cause us to develop a rash during the night. On a side not it is entirely possible that allergies are mis-diagnosed by a doctor. I have seen many people who wake up with bites all over their body get treated as if they are allergic to something in their bedding but in the end they had a little feeding friend with them in bed, it was none only than the bed bug, yes they do exist.
There are many good ways to help someone who suffers from allergies. For example, if your baby is suffering from allergies you can get them a product from Allersafe. This company makes bedding, a baby sleeping bag, and other materials for your baby out of an antifungal and antibacterial material that makes it impossible for the dust mite to survive.
Along with the proper bedding it is important to get a good vacuum cleaner with a heap filter and vacuum your carpet and furniture on a weekly basis to make sure that the dust mite is not developing and thriving in your carpet. This is especially true if you have a little one that has a lot of tummy time.
You want to give your child the best you can offer. We know we can't protect our baby from everything out there but these are just a few tips to help protect your child from allergies and from developing allergic reactions to certain types of irritants.
I made sure that my baby sleeping bag was made out of allersafe material. I think it is important to give my little one the best chance he has to have a great life. Making sure that my baby sleeping bag for him was safe and fitted properly and also the right thickness are also very important considerations.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_R_Crawford
Kid's Vitamins
As you may know, taking supplements can be a great addition to a healthy lifestyle. There are also some specifically designed for young people people. These kids vitamins are great for a youthful body and comes with many benefits. From Vitamin A to K, each of them contributes to the well being of a child.
Vitamin A improves vision, just like an adult. It works more efficiently though for them because they are still developing their eyesight, even at the older age of seventeen. Vitamin B1 can improve their digestive system, and the function of the gall bladder and liver to eliminate toxins that may enter the body.
Vitamin B2 and B3 work together in the immune system of the human body. They help in the protection of premature red blood cells and prevent infection of them. This can be very important for a kid because you do not want them to suffer from any deficiencies at such an early age.
B4, B5 and B7 regulate the nervous system. It is important that a child has good motor skills when growing up. You want to prevent any sort of handicap such as wheelchairs in later years.
B9 and B12 work generally at the beginning of a human life. They help in the encoding and creation of DNA and RNA protein molecules. This can be vital for genetics and prevent mutation in a life.
Vitamin C helps in providing the body with citric acid. This is the most easy to find as it is found in most fruits and orange juices. Make sure your kid drinks a lot of these substances instead of taking supplements as an alternative.
Vitamin D and E regulate both skin creation and skin protection. Everyone knows a person needs at least fifteen minutes a day of sunshine. A child can develop a deficiency if he or she gets too much sun, or too little of it. Taking supplements specifically designed for kids helps in the creation of new skin cells.
Finally, Vitamin K helps in the creation of bones and bone marrow. Having healthy ones are essential for growth. Take these supplements wisely though, as they are hard to find and have many deficiencies. These include mutation of growth, and the kid can actually in some rare cases stop growing, even in adulthood.
Now you know why kids vitamins are important for their health. As long as you feed them the recommended daily allowance and do not overdose, they should grow up to be very healthy adults.
Michael Reyes is a health professional and writer who loves to teach people the benefits of keeping a good, healthy lifestyle. He loves running, walking, and playing tennis on the weekends.
http://www.onesourcevitamins.net
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_P_Reyes
Vitamin A improves vision, just like an adult. It works more efficiently though for them because they are still developing their eyesight, even at the older age of seventeen. Vitamin B1 can improve their digestive system, and the function of the gall bladder and liver to eliminate toxins that may enter the body.
Vitamin B2 and B3 work together in the immune system of the human body. They help in the protection of premature red blood cells and prevent infection of them. This can be very important for a kid because you do not want them to suffer from any deficiencies at such an early age.
B4, B5 and B7 regulate the nervous system. It is important that a child has good motor skills when growing up. You want to prevent any sort of handicap such as wheelchairs in later years.
B9 and B12 work generally at the beginning of a human life. They help in the encoding and creation of DNA and RNA protein molecules. This can be vital for genetics and prevent mutation in a life.
Vitamin C helps in providing the body with citric acid. This is the most easy to find as it is found in most fruits and orange juices. Make sure your kid drinks a lot of these substances instead of taking supplements as an alternative.
Vitamin D and E regulate both skin creation and skin protection. Everyone knows a person needs at least fifteen minutes a day of sunshine. A child can develop a deficiency if he or she gets too much sun, or too little of it. Taking supplements specifically designed for kids helps in the creation of new skin cells.
Finally, Vitamin K helps in the creation of bones and bone marrow. Having healthy ones are essential for growth. Take these supplements wisely though, as they are hard to find and have many deficiencies. These include mutation of growth, and the kid can actually in some rare cases stop growing, even in adulthood.
Now you know why kids vitamins are important for their health. As long as you feed them the recommended daily allowance and do not overdose, they should grow up to be very healthy adults.
Michael Reyes is a health professional and writer who loves to teach people the benefits of keeping a good, healthy lifestyle. He loves running, walking, and playing tennis on the weekends.
http://www.onesourcevitamins.net
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_P_Reyes
Children and Nutrition - Other Reasons Why Eating Healthy is a Must
Healthy eating articles sometimes fail to emphasize why you should eat certain foods. But most of them agree that healthy and nutritious eating is very important, and is the best thing that we could impart to our children as a healthy intake of life-giving food becomes a habit that will eventually be second nature to them as they grow older. It is a preventive measure for possible illnesses they may have as they go through this thing called life. Plus, we won't be there for the rest of their lives (yes, we grow old, too) so we might as well prepare them for proper food intake that they can eventually impart on their offspring.
Here are some other reasons why these fruits and vegetables - though distasteful to kids (and sometimes even adults) - can be very helpful and beneficial when it comes to your children's health:
Mango. Seen almost always as a tropical fruit, the common mango is aptly called "the King of Asiatic fruits". And rightly so. I mean, who doesn't love the sweetness and the smell of ripe mangoes, right? But aside from being perfect for smoothies and stuff, the raw, untarnished mango is rife in vitamin C. it also has calcium, phosphorus, iron, niacin and small amounts of vitamin B complex. It also has medicinal benefits. The unripe mango can be used for treatment of heat strokes, gastro-intestinal disorders, blood disorders (because of high vitamin C content), and scurvy. The ripe mango on the other hand, helps in treating eye disorders, common infections (such as colds, sinusitis or rhinitis), diarrhea, throat disorders and first aid treatments (such as for a bee sting or a scorpion bite).
Raisins. Raisins are dried grapes that are rich in carbohydrates, phosphorus, calcium, iron, proteins, fiber, vitamin C and small amounts of B complex vitamins. This is also used for treatment of acidosis (the acidity of bodily fluid is abnormally high), constipation, anemia, under weight cases (raisins are good for those who wish their child to gain a few extra pounds), and an extract can be taken for fever.
Potato. Possibly the most widely used vegetable in the world, the humble potato is highly nutritious. It is rich in proteins, starch, calcium, phosphorus, iron, carbohydrates, alkaline salts, vitamin C and some B complex vitamins. Always cook a potato with its skin intact as most of the nutrition lies just beneath the skin. It is helpful in the treatment of digestive system disorders (such as gastritis), scurvy, uric acid diseases, and chronic constipation.
Some kids (when fully aware of the benefits) try to eat healthy food for their benefit, especially if they have encountered a dire sickness in the family. These benefits can be explained to older kids so that you don't have to force the food on them and they would come to terms with it on their own.
Learn how to prepare healthy children snacks in a snap. Click on the link for more info.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kelly_Sanders
Here are some other reasons why these fruits and vegetables - though distasteful to kids (and sometimes even adults) - can be very helpful and beneficial when it comes to your children's health:
Mango. Seen almost always as a tropical fruit, the common mango is aptly called "the King of Asiatic fruits". And rightly so. I mean, who doesn't love the sweetness and the smell of ripe mangoes, right? But aside from being perfect for smoothies and stuff, the raw, untarnished mango is rife in vitamin C. it also has calcium, phosphorus, iron, niacin and small amounts of vitamin B complex. It also has medicinal benefits. The unripe mango can be used for treatment of heat strokes, gastro-intestinal disorders, blood disorders (because of high vitamin C content), and scurvy. The ripe mango on the other hand, helps in treating eye disorders, common infections (such as colds, sinusitis or rhinitis), diarrhea, throat disorders and first aid treatments (such as for a bee sting or a scorpion bite).
Raisins. Raisins are dried grapes that are rich in carbohydrates, phosphorus, calcium, iron, proteins, fiber, vitamin C and small amounts of B complex vitamins. This is also used for treatment of acidosis (the acidity of bodily fluid is abnormally high), constipation, anemia, under weight cases (raisins are good for those who wish their child to gain a few extra pounds), and an extract can be taken for fever.
Potato. Possibly the most widely used vegetable in the world, the humble potato is highly nutritious. It is rich in proteins, starch, calcium, phosphorus, iron, carbohydrates, alkaline salts, vitamin C and some B complex vitamins. Always cook a potato with its skin intact as most of the nutrition lies just beneath the skin. It is helpful in the treatment of digestive system disorders (such as gastritis), scurvy, uric acid diseases, and chronic constipation.
Some kids (when fully aware of the benefits) try to eat healthy food for their benefit, especially if they have encountered a dire sickness in the family. These benefits can be explained to older kids so that you don't have to force the food on them and they would come to terms with it on their own.
Learn how to prepare healthy children snacks in a snap. Click on the link for more info.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kelly_Sanders
Children and Nutrition - Why Eating Healthy is a Must
Recently, there are reports about kids suffering from malnutrition - and this isn't from a third world country, mind you. It is creepy, scary, but above all, it's horrifying. Caring for the health and nutrition for young children is a primary concern that we, as parents, must accept full responsibility for. The fact that it happens in a first world country means that we must rethink of what we give our children.
A basic fact of life is that kids must always eat healthy - but how, you ask. The simplest answer would be having them eat fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately for us, those two food groups are always the farthest from their minds when they come to the table to eat.
Here are examples of some food and their health benefits - things your kids may miss should they continue to reject eating them:
Apple. Called as the "Food of Gods" by the Scandinavians, the apple is a highly nutritious food. It is abundant in vitamins and minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin A and small amounts of vitamins E, H and B complex. If eaten raw, the skin of the apple should not be discarded for the flesh just below the skin contains more vitamin C compared to any other part of the apple. It also has natural benefits and curative properties. It is often used in the treatment of anemia, constipation and diarrhea (2 apples a day should be eaten), headaches, high blood pressure, dry cough, kidney stones, and dental disorders.
Carrot. Kids may have become familiar with carrots through cartoon characters like Bugs Bunny. But when it comes to nutrition, it's not lacking. The carrot is a rich source of vitamin A and is good for the eyes. Carotene (a type of pro-vitamin) gives the carrot its usual orange color and is converted into vitamin A by the liver. These are also rich in sodium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and sulfur, small amounts of vitamin B complex and traces of iodine. The popular carrot also has other benefits like preventing tooth decay, helps treat digestive disorders (such as constipation, diarrhea, peptic ulcer, appendicitis, intestinal colic, colitis and dyspepsia), and eliminates thread worms (since carrots are naturally offensive to all parasites).
Cucumber. Cucumber slices are good for soothing tired eyes - your kids may have seen that from TV programs. But this wonderful vegetable also has a high mineral content, provided that it is not peeled (for most of the nutritive values are in and near the skin). It contains potassium, magnesium, sodium, silicon, chlorine, fluorine, sulphur, calcium, iron, vitamin C and small amounts of vitamin B complex. It also has medicinal properties, beneficial to those suffering from constipation and other stomach disorders, urinary problems, cholera, and yes, can be taken as a beauty aid.
So start to help your child eat right by being creative in the menu you prepare. Sometimes, food presentation is the key to your child's nutrition.
Cooking healthy for kids has never been so much fun. Click on the link for easy kids recipes.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kelly_Sanders
A basic fact of life is that kids must always eat healthy - but how, you ask. The simplest answer would be having them eat fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately for us, those two food groups are always the farthest from their minds when they come to the table to eat.
Here are examples of some food and their health benefits - things your kids may miss should they continue to reject eating them:
Apple. Called as the "Food of Gods" by the Scandinavians, the apple is a highly nutritious food. It is abundant in vitamins and minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin A and small amounts of vitamins E, H and B complex. If eaten raw, the skin of the apple should not be discarded for the flesh just below the skin contains more vitamin C compared to any other part of the apple. It also has natural benefits and curative properties. It is often used in the treatment of anemia, constipation and diarrhea (2 apples a day should be eaten), headaches, high blood pressure, dry cough, kidney stones, and dental disorders.
Carrot. Kids may have become familiar with carrots through cartoon characters like Bugs Bunny. But when it comes to nutrition, it's not lacking. The carrot is a rich source of vitamin A and is good for the eyes. Carotene (a type of pro-vitamin) gives the carrot its usual orange color and is converted into vitamin A by the liver. These are also rich in sodium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and sulfur, small amounts of vitamin B complex and traces of iodine. The popular carrot also has other benefits like preventing tooth decay, helps treat digestive disorders (such as constipation, diarrhea, peptic ulcer, appendicitis, intestinal colic, colitis and dyspepsia), and eliminates thread worms (since carrots are naturally offensive to all parasites).
Cucumber. Cucumber slices are good for soothing tired eyes - your kids may have seen that from TV programs. But this wonderful vegetable also has a high mineral content, provided that it is not peeled (for most of the nutritive values are in and near the skin). It contains potassium, magnesium, sodium, silicon, chlorine, fluorine, sulphur, calcium, iron, vitamin C and small amounts of vitamin B complex. It also has medicinal properties, beneficial to those suffering from constipation and other stomach disorders, urinary problems, cholera, and yes, can be taken as a beauty aid.
So start to help your child eat right by being creative in the menu you prepare. Sometimes, food presentation is the key to your child's nutrition.
Cooking healthy for kids has never been so much fun. Click on the link for easy kids recipes.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kelly_Sanders
Child Nutrition - Of Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and veggies are the perfect food to give your child, and nutrition for him becomes less of a worry. Why? For me, as a mother, I believe when Socrates said "Your food shall be your medicine" that he meant healthy eating of vegetation. Unfortunately though, most children have an innate distrust of anything vegetative. They usually take to meats such as chicken, beef or fish, saying that they are much tastier than their organically grown complements.
And unfortunately for us, it is up to us as their parents to change their minds.
People of ancient times have considered fruits to be magical, endowed with supernatural healing abilities and special godly attributes. And why shouldn't they have? Fruits have a special facility, a talent for healing people of their illnesses - gastrointestinal diseases, the common flu, the more common cold, coughs, wounds, etc. Aside from that, their natural sweetness is a joy to taste, enrapturement to the fullest.
Vegetables on the other hand, are highly regarded for the ability to maintain the health and well-being of an individual. It also helps prevent diseases. Like fruits, they are valued for their vitamin and mineral content, specifically vitamins A, B and C.
But both food groups should be consumed as fresh and as raw as possible. It is best not to cook fruits and vegetables for them not to lose their natural nutrients. Cooking or heating kills the nutrients and medicinal value that they should have, so overcooked and careless storage of such will just be a waste. It is recommended that fruits be taken and eaten raw. For vegetables, if needs be cooked, then it is advised to steam or boil them in their own juices on a slow fire. Do not discard the liquid, for nutrients are present there.
It is best not to peel them. The nutrients of most fruits and vegetables are found just beneath the skin. Peeling the skin off would be like peeling the benefits away. Also, do not soak them for too long in water. Clean them under running tap water and pat them dry so as not to lose any more taste, nutrients and vitamins. And never cook them in aluminum cooking utensils. Aluminum acts on acids and alkalis - both fruits and vegetables have them. Scientific research shows that small, sometimes microscopic pieces of aluminum peel away from the cookware and enter the stomach via food, which could eventually lead to serious digestive problems in the future.
Fruits and vegetables can be introduced to your children in a lot of different ways. It is up to you to release your creative mind from its barriers to encourage your kids to eat healthy.
Healthy children snacks, anyone? Click on the link for more info.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kelly_Sanders
And unfortunately for us, it is up to us as their parents to change their minds.
People of ancient times have considered fruits to be magical, endowed with supernatural healing abilities and special godly attributes. And why shouldn't they have? Fruits have a special facility, a talent for healing people of their illnesses - gastrointestinal diseases, the common flu, the more common cold, coughs, wounds, etc. Aside from that, their natural sweetness is a joy to taste, enrapturement to the fullest.
Vegetables on the other hand, are highly regarded for the ability to maintain the health and well-being of an individual. It also helps prevent diseases. Like fruits, they are valued for their vitamin and mineral content, specifically vitamins A, B and C.
But both food groups should be consumed as fresh and as raw as possible. It is best not to cook fruits and vegetables for them not to lose their natural nutrients. Cooking or heating kills the nutrients and medicinal value that they should have, so overcooked and careless storage of such will just be a waste. It is recommended that fruits be taken and eaten raw. For vegetables, if needs be cooked, then it is advised to steam or boil them in their own juices on a slow fire. Do not discard the liquid, for nutrients are present there.
It is best not to peel them. The nutrients of most fruits and vegetables are found just beneath the skin. Peeling the skin off would be like peeling the benefits away. Also, do not soak them for too long in water. Clean them under running tap water and pat them dry so as not to lose any more taste, nutrients and vitamins. And never cook them in aluminum cooking utensils. Aluminum acts on acids and alkalis - both fruits and vegetables have them. Scientific research shows that small, sometimes microscopic pieces of aluminum peel away from the cookware and enter the stomach via food, which could eventually lead to serious digestive problems in the future.
Fruits and vegetables can be introduced to your children in a lot of different ways. It is up to you to release your creative mind from its barriers to encourage your kids to eat healthy.
Healthy children snacks, anyone? Click on the link for more info.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kelly_Sanders
Kids Health and Well-Being
Making sure your children eat properly, get enough rest and ensure they have enough energy to learn and play can be challenging at the best of times but it is important to ensure your kids health and wellbeing is the best it can be to cope with today's busy lifestyles. It is quite challenging to focus on every aspect of your child's health and well being on a daily basis.
There are some great ways to influence your child's health and well being however.
It is a great idea to offer your children lots of different choices when it comes to food. Let them try all different types of fruit and vegetables, whole grains and other foods even if they don't eat one thing completely, let them have a little try of everything to tantalise their tastebuds and experiment with taste.
Create lots of opportunities on a daily basis to be active outside and stay away from the TV and Computer as much as possible. Limit the television and computer activities to just a small time set aside in the afternoon and encourage outdoor adventures. This is good for mum and dad too!
Encourage a good bedtime routine that ensures quality sleep and rest. Follow the same ritual every night. For example, bath time, story time and bedtime.
Encourage your children to be positive from a young age and build their self esteem to form a positive body image. When you set up lifestyle habits that support health and well being from an early age, you are giving your kids a great start to life!
Joanne McMahon is dedicated to holistic health and natural simple choices to achieve wellness and positive lifestyles. You can read more at http://www.weightlosssecret.info
She has a keen interest also in working from home for mums and dads who are trying to juggle children, family and finances. You can read more at http://www.workathome247.info
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joanne_McMahon
There are some great ways to influence your child's health and well being however.
It is a great idea to offer your children lots of different choices when it comes to food. Let them try all different types of fruit and vegetables, whole grains and other foods even if they don't eat one thing completely, let them have a little try of everything to tantalise their tastebuds and experiment with taste.
Create lots of opportunities on a daily basis to be active outside and stay away from the TV and Computer as much as possible. Limit the television and computer activities to just a small time set aside in the afternoon and encourage outdoor adventures. This is good for mum and dad too!
Encourage a good bedtime routine that ensures quality sleep and rest. Follow the same ritual every night. For example, bath time, story time and bedtime.
Encourage your children to be positive from a young age and build their self esteem to form a positive body image. When you set up lifestyle habits that support health and well being from an early age, you are giving your kids a great start to life!
Joanne McMahon is dedicated to holistic health and natural simple choices to achieve wellness and positive lifestyles. You can read more at http://www.weightlosssecret.info
She has a keen interest also in working from home for mums and dads who are trying to juggle children, family and finances. You can read more at http://www.workathome247.info
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joanne_McMahon
Weaning Baby From Breastfeeding For a Happy Baby and an Equally Happy Mommy
The time will come when you will eventually be taking care of a child who is weaning from breastfeeding. And it would be hypocritical to say that you won't be having any qualms about it. Many nursing mothers are unsure when to stop breastfeeding so this will not just be a time of change for the baby, but will also be a very confusing time for mommy.
The reality is that since all babies are not created equal, there are no set rules for weaning from breastfeeding. There is no time indicated either. All we have are recommendations, and via books, other reading materials and the internet, we are actually fortunate that we have these at our disposal for easy reference should things go awry.
Breastfeeding is highly encouraged as the main source of baby's nutrition from birth to at least 6 months of age. At this time, your baby needs nothing else but your breast milk - full of vitamins and nutrients that are of high quality as it helps your child fight off infections and other harmless-to-us-but-possibly-debilitating-to-a-child diseases. (Note: If your child has a medical condition or is born prematurely though, your doctor or health care provider may advise you and your baby to something more than just milk, so we are mostly discussing full-term, declared healthy, a-okay babies here.)
When you breastfeed, you should be happy or contented. Anything less than that (or anything negative) will be felt by the baby. The result is a not-so-happy feeding and possibly a distressed baby. If you don't want to breastfeed your child and aren't happy with the situation, your baby will most likely feel that he isn't wanted too. While there is no specific scientific data backing up any evidence of vibe-transference, many moms have experienced this - enough of them actually, that this positive-negative feeling transfer should not be disregarded.
If you have grown tired of breastfeeding (yes, some moms, though they won't easily admit that), then you can try weaning your child to bottle feeding. As much as possible (especially if your baby is less than 6 months old), try to give him breast milk - express milk in your free time if having sore nipples become too bothersome.
When solids are introduced, it would follow that breastfeeding would usually drop or lessen. Some babies would take to the solid food easily, while others may take their time getting used to it. The important thing is not to force it.
Happiness is the key to a happy, healthy breastfeeding session. So make sure to be free of troubles and worries. This is crucial for the health and well-being of your baby - physically and emotionally.
Stop lactation. Click on the link for more info.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Winnie_Brown
The reality is that since all babies are not created equal, there are no set rules for weaning from breastfeeding. There is no time indicated either. All we have are recommendations, and via books, other reading materials and the internet, we are actually fortunate that we have these at our disposal for easy reference should things go awry.
Breastfeeding is highly encouraged as the main source of baby's nutrition from birth to at least 6 months of age. At this time, your baby needs nothing else but your breast milk - full of vitamins and nutrients that are of high quality as it helps your child fight off infections and other harmless-to-us-but-possibly-debilitating-to-a-child diseases. (Note: If your child has a medical condition or is born prematurely though, your doctor or health care provider may advise you and your baby to something more than just milk, so we are mostly discussing full-term, declared healthy, a-okay babies here.)
When you breastfeed, you should be happy or contented. Anything less than that (or anything negative) will be felt by the baby. The result is a not-so-happy feeding and possibly a distressed baby. If you don't want to breastfeed your child and aren't happy with the situation, your baby will most likely feel that he isn't wanted too. While there is no specific scientific data backing up any evidence of vibe-transference, many moms have experienced this - enough of them actually, that this positive-negative feeling transfer should not be disregarded.
If you have grown tired of breastfeeding (yes, some moms, though they won't easily admit that), then you can try weaning your child to bottle feeding. As much as possible (especially if your baby is less than 6 months old), try to give him breast milk - express milk in your free time if having sore nipples become too bothersome.
When solids are introduced, it would follow that breastfeeding would usually drop or lessen. Some babies would take to the solid food easily, while others may take their time getting used to it. The important thing is not to force it.
Happiness is the key to a happy, healthy breastfeeding session. So make sure to be free of troubles and worries. This is crucial for the health and well-being of your baby - physically and emotionally.
Stop lactation. Click on the link for more info.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Winnie_Brown
What Are You Feeding Your Kids
Following in the footsteps of their parents, kids develop the same eating habits for better or for worse. Overall, both adults and children consume far too much saturated fat and trans fatty acids in their diets. In addition to not getting enough fiber, our diets are loaded with sodium. Sugar is another component in our diets that we get way too much of. It is important for the development of your children to insure you pay attention to what they put into our mouths.
Another nutrient that is seriously lacking in the average American diet is iron. Even if the level of iron consumption is not low enough to cause anemia, low iron intake can be seen in a child's inability to concentrate on her studies as well as a general lack of energy. It is important for you to start your child's day off right with iron fortified cereals and breads every day. Vitamin C in the form of orange juice will aid in the ability of your child's body to more effectively use that iron. In addition, a serving of lean red meat a couple of times a week will help to boost your child's iron levels.
While it is important not to restrict the fat intake of children under two years of age, most health professionals seem to feel that for active kids older than two, limiting the intake of unsaturated fats to 40 percent of the child's caloric intake should be appropriate. Saturated fats and trans fatty acids should be avoided. Of course, if your child would rather sit and watch TV or play video games than go out and run around, you may need to drop that percentage to keep him from gaining weight.
When dealing with the eating habits of teenage girls, we must keep in mind that body image is everything to them. Adolescent and teenage girls tend to seriously limit the amount of food they eat as a way to reach that perceived ideal body weight. This can have severe ramifications when it comes to depriving themselves of much needed nutrients to keep them healthy. The most notable nutrients found lacking in the diets of many teenage girls is calcium and iron.
Teaching your children good eating habits should start early in life. Begun at an early age, healthy eating becomes a habit and you will find that it will be carried on into teenage and adult years. Providing your children with healthy meals every day at an early age will help you to avoid having to fight with them about their eating habits later on. A great place to start learning how to keep your kids healthy is "www dot keepkidshealthy dot com."
Debbie Parkinson is a free lance writer researching and writing on various topics. Debbie's passions are varied and include health, pets, and woodworking. Learn more about some of Debbie's favorite woodworking tools by visiting her website spotlighting the Makita Miter Saw and the Makita Circular Saw.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Debbie_Parkinson
Another nutrient that is seriously lacking in the average American diet is iron. Even if the level of iron consumption is not low enough to cause anemia, low iron intake can be seen in a child's inability to concentrate on her studies as well as a general lack of energy. It is important for you to start your child's day off right with iron fortified cereals and breads every day. Vitamin C in the form of orange juice will aid in the ability of your child's body to more effectively use that iron. In addition, a serving of lean red meat a couple of times a week will help to boost your child's iron levels.
While it is important not to restrict the fat intake of children under two years of age, most health professionals seem to feel that for active kids older than two, limiting the intake of unsaturated fats to 40 percent of the child's caloric intake should be appropriate. Saturated fats and trans fatty acids should be avoided. Of course, if your child would rather sit and watch TV or play video games than go out and run around, you may need to drop that percentage to keep him from gaining weight.
When dealing with the eating habits of teenage girls, we must keep in mind that body image is everything to them. Adolescent and teenage girls tend to seriously limit the amount of food they eat as a way to reach that perceived ideal body weight. This can have severe ramifications when it comes to depriving themselves of much needed nutrients to keep them healthy. The most notable nutrients found lacking in the diets of many teenage girls is calcium and iron.
Teaching your children good eating habits should start early in life. Begun at an early age, healthy eating becomes a habit and you will find that it will be carried on into teenage and adult years. Providing your children with healthy meals every day at an early age will help you to avoid having to fight with them about their eating habits later on. A great place to start learning how to keep your kids healthy is "www dot keepkidshealthy dot com."
Debbie Parkinson is a free lance writer researching and writing on various topics. Debbie's passions are varied and include health, pets, and woodworking. Learn more about some of Debbie's favorite woodworking tools by visiting her website spotlighting the Makita Miter Saw and the Makita Circular Saw.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Debbie_Parkinson
Wednesday, 21 October 2009
Childhood Nutrition Tips
Many families today lead incredibly busy lives. Amid the hustle and bustle of a chaotic lifestyle, parents may begin to worry about whether or not their children are receiving adequate nutrition. Since adequate nutrition is so important to a child and the child's ability to grow healthy and strong, it is not surprising to find parents seeking out innovative methods of ensuring that children get the right amount of vitamins and nutrients. While giving a child a daily vitamin supplement is certainly a positive measure, there are other things that parents can do to ensure that their child is getting adequate vitamins and nutrients.
Some children are super picky when it comes to eating and this can cause a parent great concern. How does a parent get a child to diversify his or her diet without struggling with the child? The key is to stick to it and to continue to introduce healthy foods into the child's regular diet. Even if a child seems to prefer the same foods time and time again, introducing new foods will eventually help the child in identifying things that he or she enjoys eating. If choosing to introduce new, healthy meals and snacks a parent should refrain from overwhelming the child with too many new or strange foods as well. Children are more apt to appreciate new food introductions if they are not constantly seeing something different appear on their plates.
To encourage a desire for new foods, the parent may want to ask the child to help with creating meals; when a child feels like they have control over what they are eating, they can begin to feel better about new food introductions. Children might also enjoy developing a weekly or monthly meal plan; this will help the child develop a sense of stability and meal expectancy, and will further promote quality family time together with parents. While developing meals and meal plans the parent can take special time to teach the child about cooking, nutritional facts, and the parent can also teach the child about super healthy food choices and selections. To make meal preparation a complete lesson, the child should also be encouraged to shop for foods, to cut coupons, and to learn how to save money on food buying endeavors as well if the child is old enough to do so. In addition, children can be taught about healthy snack food selections and how to make their own healthy snacks.
Parents concerned about a child's food intake should also make every effort to eat together on a consistent basis. Researchers have proven that family meals and gatherings are a positive time for children as well as parents. Sit down meals encourage the intake of adequate nutrition and families get a better chance to communicate with one another during meals as well. What's more, when a family takes the time to eat meals together, the parent can monitor what foods a child is eating better, the child develops excellent manners, and the child is encouraged to openly socialize with parents and siblings.
Robin Reichert is an AFPA Certified Nutrition and Wellness Consultant. She has been studying natural health, wellness, nutrition, and physical fitness for over 10 years and holds an MS in Natural Health from Clayton College. She is also pursuing a personal trainer certification through American Fitness Professionals and Associates. Her passion is to educate and empower people to take charge of their health and fitness. To learn more, please visit Robin's Wellness Resource Center at http://www.wellness-bee.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robin_Reichert
Some children are super picky when it comes to eating and this can cause a parent great concern. How does a parent get a child to diversify his or her diet without struggling with the child? The key is to stick to it and to continue to introduce healthy foods into the child's regular diet. Even if a child seems to prefer the same foods time and time again, introducing new foods will eventually help the child in identifying things that he or she enjoys eating. If choosing to introduce new, healthy meals and snacks a parent should refrain from overwhelming the child with too many new or strange foods as well. Children are more apt to appreciate new food introductions if they are not constantly seeing something different appear on their plates.
To encourage a desire for new foods, the parent may want to ask the child to help with creating meals; when a child feels like they have control over what they are eating, they can begin to feel better about new food introductions. Children might also enjoy developing a weekly or monthly meal plan; this will help the child develop a sense of stability and meal expectancy, and will further promote quality family time together with parents. While developing meals and meal plans the parent can take special time to teach the child about cooking, nutritional facts, and the parent can also teach the child about super healthy food choices and selections. To make meal preparation a complete lesson, the child should also be encouraged to shop for foods, to cut coupons, and to learn how to save money on food buying endeavors as well if the child is old enough to do so. In addition, children can be taught about healthy snack food selections and how to make their own healthy snacks.
Parents concerned about a child's food intake should also make every effort to eat together on a consistent basis. Researchers have proven that family meals and gatherings are a positive time for children as well as parents. Sit down meals encourage the intake of adequate nutrition and families get a better chance to communicate with one another during meals as well. What's more, when a family takes the time to eat meals together, the parent can monitor what foods a child is eating better, the child develops excellent manners, and the child is encouraged to openly socialize with parents and siblings.
Robin Reichert is an AFPA Certified Nutrition and Wellness Consultant. She has been studying natural health, wellness, nutrition, and physical fitness for over 10 years and holds an MS in Natural Health from Clayton College. She is also pursuing a personal trainer certification through American Fitness Professionals and Associates. Her passion is to educate and empower people to take charge of their health and fitness. To learn more, please visit Robin's Wellness Resource Center at http://www.wellness-bee.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robin_Reichert
Childhood Nutrition - Taking a Closer Look at the Mixed Messages We Send Our Kids
Children's nutrition is a loaded subject. At no other time in our lives is building a solid foundation for health more important. Yet, at no other time in our lives are we so completely at the mercy of others making decisions for us.
That means it's up to the grown-ups in a child's life to understand the importance of healthy food (and beverage) choices in order to introduce healthy habits to their children.
Easier said than done! It seems as though, in the case of children's nutrition specifically, the simplicity of healthy choices becomes muddled with strange connotations of what a "happy childhood" should be and what our oftentimes skewed views of food are as adults.
Our society is familiar with the concept of an early window of opportunity to teach children things like foreign languages or a skill, like playing a musical instrument. We've heard that children are at peak developmental stages very early in life, and therefore we should maximize their opportunities by teaching them these advanced concepts at early ages.
Whether you agree or not, have applied it with your children or not, it's a socially acceptable concept that seems to make sense to most people. It's peculiar that, as a society, we don't yet understand that the very same principles apply to the health of a child.
The early developmental years are a critical time for creating a solid foundation for nutritional health, as well as movement and mindset. What we feed our children (or what we passively allow them to eat or others to feed them), and what we teach our children about nutrition NOW will impact their health for the rest of their lives.
Our family is certainly not perfect in any way, including our nutritional choices. But, we stick to a few basic principles overall in an ongoing, concerted effort to make the healthiest choices possible. We apply the simple Wellness Formula to all of our lifestyle choices, including the nutritional ones.
The Wellness Formula describes how health is created and how sickness is allowed to develop. In order to create optimal health and function, we must make pure and sufficient choices. As described by Wellness expert, Dr. James Chestnut, these are things that meet our body's innate genetic requirements for health. The two types of choices that move us unequivocally away from health are toxic and deficient ones. Toxic choices are things that work against our body's efforts to create health - they are not requirements for health.
In applying this to children's nutrition, we simply talk about what food choices the body truly needs in order to build a strong, healthy body and a brilliant mind, as opposed to which choices are interfering with our body's efforts and are leading to a loss of health. Kids get this. There are building blocks for health, and then there are things that come by and destroy what you've been building. You get to choose.
Another concept that works around here is, "fill up with health first". It's not about saying you can "never" have that cookie or that birthday cake or that less-than-healthy food choice. It's about making sure you've given your body what it needs first - the raw materials for building health. If you know you're going to be eating something more toxic later in the day, then make sure you fuel up with lots of healthy choices first, that's all.
It's also about teaching responsibility and accountability to kids when it comes to their health. There are limitations to matter! They can't fill up with health first, then choose toxic garbage every single day. That's too much for our physiology to overcome. A toxin is a toxin, no matter how much broccoli preceded it!
As grown-ups, we sure do pass on some odd beliefs and customs to our younger generation regarding food. One example is how we talk about food. When a food choice obviously doesn't create any health, and in fact moves us away from health, should we really be calling it a "treat"? Isn't that completely mixed messaging we're sending our children (and ourselves)? It's not a treat if it's contributing to chronic illness!
Let's call it like it is. How about a "tasty toxin"! (Thanks to Dr. Chestnut for that little gem!) Sure, it tastes great... and you should go ahead and enjoy it in that moment once you've made the choice. But let's be perfectly clear - it's not good for you and making that choice with any regularity has devastating consequences over time.
That's the crux right there. If we truly understood the consequences of the choices we're making on behalf of our children, we'd choose differently. If we clearly understood the consequences of that toxic choice, maybe we'd pass on it. If we clearly understood the consequences of making that pure and sufficient choice, maybe we'd make it more often.
Another odd ritual that we're passing along to our children is that every gathering or social event seemingly must revolve around food. And, all too often, it's not the healthiest food we provide a group of children. In all fairness, maybe it's just where we live... maybe this doesn't happen where you live. Sadly, I doubt it.
At school, it always shocked me that the powers-that-be found it necessary to dole out completely toxic food for every "special" event or activity. Returned all your library books? Here's a toxic piece of garbage. Learning do math with manipulatives? Let's use toxic candy to count with then, of course, eat afterward! Pizza for this, candy or cupcakes for that... it was never ending! Poisoning someone should never be a reward!
At a recent after school group activity for my daughter, I saw this strange messaging being passed along from the grown-ups again. The message that everything involves food... "treats". The kids met an hour after classes were over to do a one-hour walk with the intention of picking up trash. One hour.
In that tiny bit of time, the kids had been fed snack crackers and juice boxes - both completely laden with high fructose corn syrup, sugar, artificial colors, and a variety of toxins. I thought, "Seriously! Was that really necessary?" Would anyone have starved in that one hour? How about teaching them something about health and giving them water to hydrate their bodies while they walked. That's the equivalent of an adult going to the gym for an hour and not being able to get through it without a junk food snack! How ridiculous!
They had plenty of time to eat their after school snacks before the walk, and dinner was just around the corner. Why did they even need any food, let alone a group feeding of toxins? We wonder why childhood obesity is sky rocketing like we've never seen before! We're teaching kids that even a healthy activity involves being "rewarded" with garbage! I see the same thing at every sporting, athletic, team event or class I've taken the kids to. There's always a grown-up waiting to "reward" with junk. Strange.
We somehow think we're depriving children of some rich experience of childhood if we don't provide them with these tasty toxins. We think, "But they're kids... they're supposed to have cake and ice cream and candy and treats... it's part of their world, it's part of childhood... every kid has it!" It's a dangerous mindset to pass along.
I'm certainly in favor of allowing children to have those tasty toxins once in awhile. But let's get real. The frequency of these toxic feedings is insane! We're not depriving a child of anything but a healthy future and their full potential when we allow this type of thinking to prevail.
We're kidding ourselves if we think this doesn't set the stage for every chronic illness we suffer from today. It gives me absolutely no peace of mind when I hear people say, "We had all that stuff when we were kids, and look at us now!" Exactly. Look at us now. Chronic illness is pandemic. Our lifestyle choices are destroying us.
Again, we don't have to say "never" to our children. But, we can help them make better choices that are still fun and enjoyable. In addition to making healthier choices, like making homemade, less-toxic sweets or buying non-toxic ice cream and snacks, we could also teach kids that something as simple as fruit is really actually pretty good. It's amazing how delicious a bowl of mixed, fresh fruit can be when there's no junk around to scarf down! We could also teach them they don't actually require food at every turn!
Depriving a child. Give me a break! (Maybe it helps us justify eating our junk!)
Another component to the childhood nutrition issue that I find completely strange is that we allow other parents to make nutritional choices for our children. (Like the coaches, teachers, and the various leaders I referred to above.)
We wouldn't allow other adults to just hand out a round of antibiotics or pain relievers to a group of children, would we? Of course not, that's absurd! Whether or not we give drugs to our children is a choice left up to the parents. What we fail to realize when it comes to food is that food choices have a very real effect on our physiology, just like a drug does. Food will either move us toward health, or away from it.
Until my children are old enough and responsible enough to make healthy choices on their own, consistently, their health and safety is still MY responsibility as a parent. I'm not sure why we've crossed that line in our culture, with grown-ups freely passing out toxins to other people's children, for the sake of "childhood privileges"! How very strange.
Even more strange, and shameful, is that a child trying to make healthier choices is often made fun of and ostracized for not choosing the junk... not just by peers, but by grown-ups, no less! What's a kid to do when everything revolves around food... and the food's not healthy? It's a tough world we're bringing them up in!
Now, if a child has a diagnosed allergy or food sensitivity of some sort, suddenly grown-ups all stand at attention and handle that situation seriously and with respect. Unfortunately, we fail to recognize that ALL children have food sensitivities. We all have negative responses to toxins like artificial sweeteners and colors, high fructose corn syrup, refined white sugar and flour, and so on. We just don't show the outward signs quite as quickly. Those sensitivities to toxins are not being taken seriously.
Until we take a closer look at the real consequences of our children's food choices, and clear up our own distorted beliefs about food and childhood experiences, our children will continue to develop the same devastating chronic illnesses that were once reserved only for adults.
Childhood is the ideal time to begin a journey of healthy choices and a healthy mindset. As a parent, it's part of our job to teach our children to make healthy choices and to keep them safe. No more excuses. This is too important. It's time to wear the nutritional pants in your family!
If we keep doing what we've been doing, we'll keep getting what we've been getting... sicker kids. That can change. All it takes is adding healthier choices, one simple choice at a time.
Are you confused by the overwhelming, often contradictory health information these days? Concerned that your family may not be as healthy as they could be? So you feel stressed out and exhausted... and just too darn tired to make positive, healthy lifestyle changes? I'm here to help! My name is Dr. Colleen Trombley, also known as Dr. Mom Online. I have a knack for simplifying Health and helping busy women restore balance to their lives. (Of course, nearly every single thing I teach also applies to men! Don't worry, guys!)
I've written a FREE special report called "The Busy Mom's Secret Formula for Becoming Vibrantly Healthy, Happy & Fit While Raising a Naturally Healthy Family... The Stress Free Approach To Overcoming The 4 Major Roadblocks That Sabotage Every Mom's Best Intentions!" The simple strategy and tips revealed in this report could be just what the doctor ordered... Dr. Mom Online, that is!
To request your free report, and to start creating the healthy and happy life you deserve, go to http://www.OptimalHealthReport.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Colleen_Trombley
That means it's up to the grown-ups in a child's life to understand the importance of healthy food (and beverage) choices in order to introduce healthy habits to their children.
Easier said than done! It seems as though, in the case of children's nutrition specifically, the simplicity of healthy choices becomes muddled with strange connotations of what a "happy childhood" should be and what our oftentimes skewed views of food are as adults.
Our society is familiar with the concept of an early window of opportunity to teach children things like foreign languages or a skill, like playing a musical instrument. We've heard that children are at peak developmental stages very early in life, and therefore we should maximize their opportunities by teaching them these advanced concepts at early ages.
Whether you agree or not, have applied it with your children or not, it's a socially acceptable concept that seems to make sense to most people. It's peculiar that, as a society, we don't yet understand that the very same principles apply to the health of a child.
The early developmental years are a critical time for creating a solid foundation for nutritional health, as well as movement and mindset. What we feed our children (or what we passively allow them to eat or others to feed them), and what we teach our children about nutrition NOW will impact their health for the rest of their lives.
Our family is certainly not perfect in any way, including our nutritional choices. But, we stick to a few basic principles overall in an ongoing, concerted effort to make the healthiest choices possible. We apply the simple Wellness Formula to all of our lifestyle choices, including the nutritional ones.
The Wellness Formula describes how health is created and how sickness is allowed to develop. In order to create optimal health and function, we must make pure and sufficient choices. As described by Wellness expert, Dr. James Chestnut, these are things that meet our body's innate genetic requirements for health. The two types of choices that move us unequivocally away from health are toxic and deficient ones. Toxic choices are things that work against our body's efforts to create health - they are not requirements for health.
In applying this to children's nutrition, we simply talk about what food choices the body truly needs in order to build a strong, healthy body and a brilliant mind, as opposed to which choices are interfering with our body's efforts and are leading to a loss of health. Kids get this. There are building blocks for health, and then there are things that come by and destroy what you've been building. You get to choose.
Another concept that works around here is, "fill up with health first". It's not about saying you can "never" have that cookie or that birthday cake or that less-than-healthy food choice. It's about making sure you've given your body what it needs first - the raw materials for building health. If you know you're going to be eating something more toxic later in the day, then make sure you fuel up with lots of healthy choices first, that's all.
It's also about teaching responsibility and accountability to kids when it comes to their health. There are limitations to matter! They can't fill up with health first, then choose toxic garbage every single day. That's too much for our physiology to overcome. A toxin is a toxin, no matter how much broccoli preceded it!
As grown-ups, we sure do pass on some odd beliefs and customs to our younger generation regarding food. One example is how we talk about food. When a food choice obviously doesn't create any health, and in fact moves us away from health, should we really be calling it a "treat"? Isn't that completely mixed messaging we're sending our children (and ourselves)? It's not a treat if it's contributing to chronic illness!
Let's call it like it is. How about a "tasty toxin"! (Thanks to Dr. Chestnut for that little gem!) Sure, it tastes great... and you should go ahead and enjoy it in that moment once you've made the choice. But let's be perfectly clear - it's not good for you and making that choice with any regularity has devastating consequences over time.
That's the crux right there. If we truly understood the consequences of the choices we're making on behalf of our children, we'd choose differently. If we clearly understood the consequences of that toxic choice, maybe we'd pass on it. If we clearly understood the consequences of making that pure and sufficient choice, maybe we'd make it more often.
Another odd ritual that we're passing along to our children is that every gathering or social event seemingly must revolve around food. And, all too often, it's not the healthiest food we provide a group of children. In all fairness, maybe it's just where we live... maybe this doesn't happen where you live. Sadly, I doubt it.
At school, it always shocked me that the powers-that-be found it necessary to dole out completely toxic food for every "special" event or activity. Returned all your library books? Here's a toxic piece of garbage. Learning do math with manipulatives? Let's use toxic candy to count with then, of course, eat afterward! Pizza for this, candy or cupcakes for that... it was never ending! Poisoning someone should never be a reward!
At a recent after school group activity for my daughter, I saw this strange messaging being passed along from the grown-ups again. The message that everything involves food... "treats". The kids met an hour after classes were over to do a one-hour walk with the intention of picking up trash. One hour.
In that tiny bit of time, the kids had been fed snack crackers and juice boxes - both completely laden with high fructose corn syrup, sugar, artificial colors, and a variety of toxins. I thought, "Seriously! Was that really necessary?" Would anyone have starved in that one hour? How about teaching them something about health and giving them water to hydrate their bodies while they walked. That's the equivalent of an adult going to the gym for an hour and not being able to get through it without a junk food snack! How ridiculous!
They had plenty of time to eat their after school snacks before the walk, and dinner was just around the corner. Why did they even need any food, let alone a group feeding of toxins? We wonder why childhood obesity is sky rocketing like we've never seen before! We're teaching kids that even a healthy activity involves being "rewarded" with garbage! I see the same thing at every sporting, athletic, team event or class I've taken the kids to. There's always a grown-up waiting to "reward" with junk. Strange.
We somehow think we're depriving children of some rich experience of childhood if we don't provide them with these tasty toxins. We think, "But they're kids... they're supposed to have cake and ice cream and candy and treats... it's part of their world, it's part of childhood... every kid has it!" It's a dangerous mindset to pass along.
I'm certainly in favor of allowing children to have those tasty toxins once in awhile. But let's get real. The frequency of these toxic feedings is insane! We're not depriving a child of anything but a healthy future and their full potential when we allow this type of thinking to prevail.
We're kidding ourselves if we think this doesn't set the stage for every chronic illness we suffer from today. It gives me absolutely no peace of mind when I hear people say, "We had all that stuff when we were kids, and look at us now!" Exactly. Look at us now. Chronic illness is pandemic. Our lifestyle choices are destroying us.
Again, we don't have to say "never" to our children. But, we can help them make better choices that are still fun and enjoyable. In addition to making healthier choices, like making homemade, less-toxic sweets or buying non-toxic ice cream and snacks, we could also teach kids that something as simple as fruit is really actually pretty good. It's amazing how delicious a bowl of mixed, fresh fruit can be when there's no junk around to scarf down! We could also teach them they don't actually require food at every turn!
Depriving a child. Give me a break! (Maybe it helps us justify eating our junk!)
Another component to the childhood nutrition issue that I find completely strange is that we allow other parents to make nutritional choices for our children. (Like the coaches, teachers, and the various leaders I referred to above.)
We wouldn't allow other adults to just hand out a round of antibiotics or pain relievers to a group of children, would we? Of course not, that's absurd! Whether or not we give drugs to our children is a choice left up to the parents. What we fail to realize when it comes to food is that food choices have a very real effect on our physiology, just like a drug does. Food will either move us toward health, or away from it.
Until my children are old enough and responsible enough to make healthy choices on their own, consistently, their health and safety is still MY responsibility as a parent. I'm not sure why we've crossed that line in our culture, with grown-ups freely passing out toxins to other people's children, for the sake of "childhood privileges"! How very strange.
Even more strange, and shameful, is that a child trying to make healthier choices is often made fun of and ostracized for not choosing the junk... not just by peers, but by grown-ups, no less! What's a kid to do when everything revolves around food... and the food's not healthy? It's a tough world we're bringing them up in!
Now, if a child has a diagnosed allergy or food sensitivity of some sort, suddenly grown-ups all stand at attention and handle that situation seriously and with respect. Unfortunately, we fail to recognize that ALL children have food sensitivities. We all have negative responses to toxins like artificial sweeteners and colors, high fructose corn syrup, refined white sugar and flour, and so on. We just don't show the outward signs quite as quickly. Those sensitivities to toxins are not being taken seriously.
Until we take a closer look at the real consequences of our children's food choices, and clear up our own distorted beliefs about food and childhood experiences, our children will continue to develop the same devastating chronic illnesses that were once reserved only for adults.
Childhood is the ideal time to begin a journey of healthy choices and a healthy mindset. As a parent, it's part of our job to teach our children to make healthy choices and to keep them safe. No more excuses. This is too important. It's time to wear the nutritional pants in your family!
If we keep doing what we've been doing, we'll keep getting what we've been getting... sicker kids. That can change. All it takes is adding healthier choices, one simple choice at a time.
Are you confused by the overwhelming, often contradictory health information these days? Concerned that your family may not be as healthy as they could be? So you feel stressed out and exhausted... and just too darn tired to make positive, healthy lifestyle changes? I'm here to help! My name is Dr. Colleen Trombley, also known as Dr. Mom Online. I have a knack for simplifying Health and helping busy women restore balance to their lives. (Of course, nearly every single thing I teach also applies to men! Don't worry, guys!)
I've written a FREE special report called "The Busy Mom's Secret Formula for Becoming Vibrantly Healthy, Happy & Fit While Raising a Naturally Healthy Family... The Stress Free Approach To Overcoming The 4 Major Roadblocks That Sabotage Every Mom's Best Intentions!" The simple strategy and tips revealed in this report could be just what the doctor ordered... Dr. Mom Online, that is!
To request your free report, and to start creating the healthy and happy life you deserve, go to http://www.OptimalHealthReport.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Colleen_Trombley
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)