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| Healthy Snacks for Kids |
Showing posts with label Kids Health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kids Health. Show all posts
Healthy Snacks for Kids
Basic Eye Care Tips for Kids
Reasons for wearing glasses due to sight problems in youngsters:
- Less or no intake of vitamin diet like papaya, eggs, fish, milk, cilantro etc affects the eye sight and creates the problems like long sight or short sight for rectifying it, you need to wear the glasses.
- Not cultivating the habit of washing the eyes with cold water to get sparkling eyes.
- Lack of proper sleep or an irregular schedule of sleeping for less than 8 hours a day.
- Not doing exercise for the relaxation of the eyes.
- Drinking less water also has a bad affect on the eyes of a person.
- Not incorporating Vitamins A, C, and E on a daily basis; citrus fruits, green leafy veggies, tomatoes, spinach, poultry and dairy products not taken in a sufficient quantity
- Wearing cheap lenses which are not good for the eyes.
- Smoking and alcohol consumption causes irreversible optic nerve damage.
Eye Care Tips: Understanding the reasons helps us to avoid mistakes which are done related to the care of the eyes and leads us to the first part of taking care of eyes by making sure they do not get injured. Eat a healthy diet regularly with lots of proteins and vitamins regularly and exercise your eyes as well to give it good health protect your eyes from dust and dirt, and splash water on the face and eyes at least 2-3 times every day.
Tips on Home remedies for proper eye care:
- For Dark Circles: Put sliced cucumber over your eyes or Put potato slices on your eyes to get rid of dark circles. Or take 2 teaspoon of Tomato pulp,2 pinch of Turmeric powder, 1 teaspoon of lime juice and 2 teaspoon of gram flour and make a paste, then apply it gently on the eye lids and the darkened areas and let it remain for half an hour, later use wet cotton pads to remove it.
- For relaxing the tired eyes: Put Amla overnight in water and wash the eyes with this water, or Soak cotton in Luke warm milk and cover eyes with it for 15 min or you can also use chilled milk to soak the cotton pad and place it on the eyes for 7-8 minutes. You
- can also try using a few drops of Vitamin E oil in a small bowl of chilled water and Dip cotton pads for 5 minutes in this and place on the eyes for at least 15 minutes daily
- For eye twitches: or your eyes are red and feeling itchy, you need to take some curds and massage your scalp with it and leave it for 30 minutes and then wash it with warm water, as this helps in reducing the itchiness and redness of the eyes.
- For Puffy Eyes:Grate a potato with its peel and apply on your closed eyelids for about 30 minutes and relax completely and you’ll see that the puffiness reduces properly.
- For Deep Sunken Eyes: Mix 1 teaspoon of honey with half teaspoon of almond oil with a few drops of rose water and apply the mixture gently on the eyes at bedtime or Soak 5 Almonds overnight. Peel them and mix it with a glass of milk eat the almonds by chewing well regularly for 2 months for better results.
Exercise for Healthy Eyes and proper Eye care for computer professionals:
- If you are a computer professional, you need to take short breaks in between work after every 25-30m minutes and look at the objects that are far
- Also make it a habit to wash your face and splash water on your eyes every one hour on a regular basis if you are working on the computer continuously.
- Blink your eyes several times while working on the computer as this keeps your eyes wet and will help in better focusing, you can also use some of the medical eye drops which help in providing a soothing effect to the eyes when they are tired.
- Exercise your eyes at frequent intervals. Close your eyes and role them in clockwise and anti clockwise direction. While doing this, inhale and exhale slowly and open your eyes
- By rubbing your palms and then keeping the palms on your face and eyes you can provide soft warmth and a relaxed feeling to your eyes.
- Walk for a few minutes in the breaks as this helps in circulating the blood in the body and provides the adequate blood to the eyes and avoids and affect on the eyes
Conceive Twins Baby With These Fertility Foods
Yams- The people in the Yaruba tribe in Nigeria have been reported to have a high rate of twin births. A study on them linked this fact with the high consumption of yams in their diet. Yams belong to the tuber family and are a rich source of phytoestrogens and progesterone. The chemical present in yams aids hyper-ovulation. People with a consumption of wild yams have been reported to have a high rate of multiple births.
Dairy Products- Dairy products like milk, cheese, butter and curd may increase your chances of having twins. All dairy products are a rich source of calcium. Calcium is not only responsible for bone health but also for a healthy reproductive system. These fertility foods not only increase the chances of having twins but are also very good for the healthy bone development of the child. But don’t go on piling these foods into your fertility rich diet as you would just gain some extra kilos by doing so.
Folic Acid Supplements- Studies have linked the consumption of folic acids with the birth of twins. Foods like beans, spinach and beetroot are good fertility foods as they are a rich source of folic acid. Have a diet rich in these foods. A study conducted by an Australian team found out that the chances of having twins increases by 40% in a woman who has folic acid supplements with her normal food while trying to conceive.
Complex Carbohydrates- Foods containing complex carbohydrates like whole grains, beans and vegetables are excellent foods if you want to conceive twins. They increase ovulation and do not spike insulin levels. Apart from helping you to have twins, consumption of these fertility foods also prevents any kind of neural tube defects.
Most Energetic and Healthy Foods for Small Kids Health
There is such kind of list of food for you growing kids.
Tomatoes:
This is the best food because every tomato packs a big dose of lycopene. It is an antioxidant related to lower rates of cancer and heart disease for the small kids. The rich tomatoes also contain loads of vitamins C and A. Tomatoes has disease-fighting photochemical in them and a fair amount of fiber especially in our diet in which tomatoes are exceeded only by potatoes! Always remember if your child won’t eat them fresh, grill them lightly with a little oil lycopene absorption is actually greater when tomatoes are cooked in some way. By eating tomatoes they will be able to get energy for their health.
Paneer:
For the health of small kids the paneer or cottage cheese is a mighty source of milk protein. It has calcium, iron and vitamins A and C in it. You also know that it is also not so high in bad cholesterol levels and saturated fats in it. In it the quantity of calories your child gets from paneer depends on how it is cooked. It can be served in a salad or lightly sauteed it is low in calories at the time of breakfast or after tiresome play. But if fried, it can be calorific, so it is better food for the health for your kid also.
Chicken:
For small kids the chicken or meat is the preferred source of protein for non-vegetarians. Thus a lean white meat like chicken is the top choice. The chicken and meat has lower levels of cholesterol. It is full of saturated fats and trans-fats than red meats and you should not allow the kids for red meat. The chicken is rich in iron and a good source of vitamins A, E and K, some B vitamins. It is also rich with minerals such as iron, calcium and sodium. And chicken is a favorite with children and small kids also at noon and at school lunch time.
Wheat Chapattis:
For small kids the whole wheat flour Whole wheat chapattis are an important source of energy as these can be used at any time in the day time also. The wheat chapattis are rich in carbohydrates, protein and fiber. The wheat chapattis also contain a range of nutrients such as vitamin E, some B vitamins. It also contains minerals including sodium, iron, calcium, magnesium and zinc in them. There are almost no saturated fats or cholesterol; they can be eaten with a meal or in a snack, so the chapattis are very essential food for small kids.
Bananas:
The fruit as bananas are nutritional powerhouses, bursting with potassium. Bananas are rich with calories, fiber and vitamin C in them. The bananas are also containing beta-carotene, a range of B vitamins, calcium, and magnesium in them. The bananas have no saturated fat or cholesterol. Contrary to popular perception, so they are also low in calories as only 100 in a medium banana. They also contain pectin, a type of soluble fiber, which is believed to help lower and very low cholesterol levels. Always know single banana has 1-2g protein and 30-36g carbohydrate and so can be considered as a complete nourishing meal in itself. In the banana it is high levels of natural sugar in the banana provide an energy boost. There is the potassium in it is essential for muscle and nerve performance for your small kids.
Orange:
You should know that Orange is full of vitamins A, C and E, many B vitamins, folic acid, and calcium. These are essential minerals as well as photochemical for the growth and health of small kids. An orange is being fortified with Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids that are healthy for the heart and body for kids. However, a glass a day is enough for a kid or you may pack in too many calories, as is juicy as the favorite food for small kids.
Milk and Oat:
It is very energetic whether made of oats or Dalia. As it is a great start to the day for your child as its high in carbohydrates .there is fiber and low in saturated fats in it. Milk and oat is very high-energy food is filling for the stomach and is good for your child’s metabolism and body growth. It also provides calcium, phosphorus and protein for the growth of the bones of small kids.Thus making a more wholesome meal of this morning energy-booster. Always remember that you can also add fresh or dried fruits and nuts to your child’s porridge as it is very useful.
Homemade Natural Baby Skin Care Recipes
There are present different stories and different things for the babies’ skin.
- Baby Wipes
- Material used of bathing
- Rushing Creams
- Hands Sanitizers
- Hair Products De tangles
Baby Wipes: Mix 1/4 cup of baby or olive oil with 2 cups of water and 1/4 cup baby shampoo. Cut a roll of paper towels in half. Remove the cardboard center. Place it in an old baby wipes container and pour the oil/soap mixture over the wipes. Use like regular wipes.
Material used of bathing: Grind the 1 cup of the plain oatmeal and then enter 2 cups of water and then also enter the ¼ cup of baby shampoo. Add it to running water and stir with your hand to get the oatmeal powder to dissolve in the bath water. Relives itching due to chicken pox, poison oak, diaper rash etc, Also well for dry skin.
Rushing Creams: Combine One table spoon material oil with the one table spoon cornstarch until it became the paste. Add 2 tea spoon Zinc oxide ointment and 2 tsp antibiotic ointment.
- Hands Sanitizers
- 1/4 cup aloe vera gel
- 1/4 cup grain alcohol
- 10 drops fragrance oil
- 1 drop food coloring
Combine ingredients and shake, Store in a spray pump bottle.
Baby Neck Skin Rash Care n Tips
These rashes are bit itchy and at times painful therefore bring a lot of discomfort for the child. The discomfort and pain caused by rashes sometimes tend infants lose their appetite and as a result they start becoming weak. To avoid such severe condition, it is crucial to treat the skin condition as soon as possible.
Causes of Baby Neck Rash
There are many factors that play role in bringing about rashes such a damp skin, heat and humidity etc.
- Babies are highly susceptible to have neck rashes as their neck area remains moist because of moisture from sweat, spit up and dribble. This persistent dampness provides ideal environment for the yeast to grow in neck folds and make infant rash happen.
- The infants, especially below four months, can’t lift their neck and the neck folds chafe against one another. This rubbing contributes to neck rash.
- High humidity and heat trigger miliaria rash, rash with itching and petite red eruption.
Treatment for Baby Neck Rash
The key to prevent and cure infant neck rash is to prevent the moisture in the neck area.
- Keep the neck area dry.
- Cease the use of soaps containing abrasive chemicals.
- Apply cornstarch on the neck area. Be careful while applying cornstarch so that it doesn’t come in contact with facial skin.
- In severe case consult a paediatrician.
Cabbage Soup Diet
Schedule For Baby Feeding
With the newborn child it is nonsense attitude to develop an organized routine because at this stage the baby shows great fluctuation in habits and eating, sleeping routine.
Actually the schedule is adjusted with three factors;
Age
Stage feeding requirements
However the following schedule is for 0 to 12 month baby helps great for an organized life.
0 to 1 month;
Breast feeding after every 2 to 3 hours or according to demands of baby, No other solid or semi solid food d is given to the baby.
1 to 4 months;
There will be 6 to 8 feeding each day. It will be more or less if the baby sleep time gets longer.
4 to 6 months;
Now the baby is going to be ready for solid food also the milk feeding will be reduced to 4 times in a day and it will be approximately 6 to 8 oz per feed. And now the vegetables in boiled and mashed form or in the form of puree may be given between once or twice per day. But now the dairy products as yogurt, cheese are to be avoided.
6 to 9 months:
Now the baby is started to take the solid food frequently. The milk feeding is done 4 to 6 times per day and each time the 24 to 30 oz per day. Now the baby is given cereals, rice, fruits and vegetables, all will be in solid texture. The baby is also given biscuits and yogurt and cheese in suitable amounts.
9 to 12 months:
As the baby starts the well eating of solid food so the milk feeding reduced to the 4 times a day usually 24 oz per day. With this two servings of fruits and vegetables and one serving of meat or cereals in grinded form and there will be one serving of yogurt per day.
All this may bee more or less changed according to the above mentioned factors and with the sleep of the child.
Top 15 Energetic And Healthy Foods For Kids
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This one wins hands down because every tomato packs a big dose of lycopene, an antioxidant related to lower rates of cancer and heart disease. Tomatoes also contain loads of vitamins C and A, disease-fighting phytochemicals, and a fair amount of fibre especially in our diet in which tomatoes are exceeded only by potatoes! If your child won’t eat them fresh, grill them lightly with a little oil lycopene absorption is actually greater when tomatoes are cooked.
2*Paneer
paneer or cottage cheese is a mighty source of milk protein, besides calcium, iron and vitamins A and C. It is also not so high in bad cholesterol levels and saturated fats. The calories your child gets from paneer depends on how it is cooked: Served in a salad or lightly sautéed it is low in calories, but if fried, it can be calorific.
3*Chicken
Meat is the preferred source of protein for non-vegetarians and a lean white meat like chicken is the top choice: It has lower levels of cholesterol, saturated fats and trans-fats than red meats. It is rich in iron and a good source of vitamins A, E and K, some B vitamins, along with minerals such as iron, calcium and sodium. And chicken is a favourite with children.
4*Wheat Chapattis
Whole-wheat flourWhole-wheat chapattis are an important source of energy, carbohydrates, protein and fibre. They also contain a range of nutrients such as vitamin E, some B vitamins and minerals including sodium, iron, calcium, magnesium and zinc. With almost no saturated fats or cholesterol, they can be eaten with a meal or in a snack.
5*Bananas
Bananas are nutritional powerhouses, bursting with potassium, fibre and vitamin C. They also contain beta-carotene, a range of B vitamins, calcium, magnesium. They have no saturated fat or cholesterol. Contrary to popular perception, they are also low in calories (only 100 in a medium banana). They also contain pectin, a type of soluble fibre, which is believed to help lower “bad” cholesterol levels. A single banana has 1-2g protein and 30-36g carbohydrate and so can be considered as a complete nourishing meal in itself. The high levels of natural sugar in the banana provide an energy boost and the potassium in it is essential for muscle and nerve performance.
6*Orange
Orange juiceOrange juice is full of vitamins A, C and E, many B vitamins, folic acid, calcium and other essential minerals as well as phytochemicals. It is now being fortified with Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids that are healthy for the heart. However, a glass a day is enough, or you may pack in too many calories.
7*Milk and Oat
whether made of oats or dalia, is a great start to the day for your child as it’s high in carbohydrates and fibre and low in saturated fats. This high-energy food is filling for the stomach and is good for your child’s metabolism. Besides, porridge provides calcium, phosphrous and protein for the growth of the bones. For making a more wholesome meal of this morning energy-booster, you can also add fresh or dried fruits and nuts to your child’s porridge. Leave the sugar out.
8*Fruit-veggie Salad
Fruit-veggie chaatChop a banana, a boiled potato and a tomato into a bowl, sprinkle a little chaat masala and a dash of lemon juice and what you have is a tasty treat full of vitamins, antioxidants and lots of power packed energy for your child. You can add peanuts for a crunchy zing. It’s a quick, nourishing snack for any time of the day, with all the goodness of bananas and tomatoes, plus the added appeal of potatoes, which most children relish.
9*Flavoured yogurt
Fruit-flavoured yogurt smoothie (straight or frozen somewhat like a sorbet) is full of calcium, protein and loads of probiotics. Yogurt is also low in calories – just don’t add too much sugar to it. Sweetened yogurt preparations are an ideal substitute for ice creams, making a wholesome, nutritious treat if your child has a sweet tooth.
10*Almond
Almonds are the stars of the nut family. Rich in heart-healthy phytochemicals and vitamin E, they also have B vitamins, fibre and calcium. They lower bad cholesterol and boost good cholesterol levels, and are an excellent source of Omega-6 fatty acids and proteins. Whole nuts can be a chocking hazard for children under 3 years, so grind them fine
11*Amla
It’s the miracle fruit, though it has to be disguised because it’s very sour and has a bitter edge. Amla has anti-ageing and immunity-enhancing properties, that make it a very important food for children. Ayurvedic practitioners have used it for treating a range of ailments such as indigestion, fever, liver problems, anaemia, hay fever, arthritis, cataract and even cancer.
12*Spinach
Spinach Popeye’s favourite is jam-packed with iron, vitamin A, C and E, protein, and folic acid, besides calcium and fibre. Sneak it into a pasta sauce, puree it into a tomato sauce or shred it into dal.
13*Fenugreek
Fenugreek is rich in calcium, iron, vitamins C and A, and sodium. It’s also a good source of fibre. Because it is a little bitter, it’s best to use a little at first to develop your child’s taste buds.
14*Carrots
Carrots are nature’s wonder drug, for the beta-carotene that turns into vitamin A in the body. They are rich in vitamins A, C and E, some B vitamins, and minerals like calcium, potassium, copper, iron and magnesium.
15*Peanuts
peanuts is a good sources of high-quality protein and essential minerals. While dal in some form is a regular at Pakistani meals peanuts boost the crunchiness of salads.
Good Food Habits For Good Health 2012
Almost all fruits and vegetables are enriched with different fibers, carbohydrates, vitamin C, carotenes and folates. Try to eat variety of fruits and vegetables in your daily routine. You should add large amount of vegetables and fruits in your diet with different combinations. This food group includes fresh, frozen and canned fruits and vegetables, dried fruit, and fruit juices. Beans and pulses can also contribute to this food group.
This food is very important regarding a well functioned and balanced metabolism. What should avoid regarding eating fruits and vegetable is also very important to know. Adding sugar and syrup dressing to fruits and vegetables is not good for balanced diet.
In place of butter or cooking oil use olive oil. Olive oil contains more Omega 3 fatty acids.Drink plenty of water this helps in detoxifying the body. Body and mind will become fresh.Food should be taken in less quantity for many times.It is not good to eat sitting before television or computer. There is a danger of eating more food than required.
A man is what he eats’ runs an old adage, but the scientific truth should have been ‘a man will be what he eats’. Food can affect one’s attitude towards life in addition to sustaining it. Consequently, there are so many food fads and myths that need to be set right. Most of our present knowledge on food comes from our ancestors and traditional sources and the science of clinical nutrition is comparatively new, originating from the Nazi secrets (regarding their diet, i.e., 1 gram protein/kg body weight) of the Second World War.
Juice for Healthy Diet 2012 | Health
The actual liquid trend may be gaining interest since the actual written Body fat, Ill, as well as Almost Lifeless opened. With this movie, May well moves america in order to observe how People in america consume as well as exactly how this impacts their wholesome. On a trip he or she devoted to juicing with regard to sixty times. Through the finish associated with their trip he or she not just dropped pounds however experienced significantly enhanced their wellness, mind performance, as well as energy. Right now if you’re such as me personally, sixty times seems like a very very long time. The majority of applications right now differ in between 3-10 times. If you choose to proceed beyond that it’s essential that you simply seek advice from your personal doctor. Therefore despite the fact that this particular written exhibits excellent achievement, have you been nevertheless suspicious? There are lots of much more advantages that you could accomplish through juicing.
Among the main advantages of juicing would be to expose the body in order to vegetables and fruit. Many people these days aren’t consuming the quantity of portions how the USDA really suggests. Like a lifestyle all of us strategy the dinner round the beef as well as previous rather than including those activities in order to veggies.
Additionally through juicing you’re permitting all the nutrition within the vegetables and fruit in order to instantly key in a person bloodstream being that they are as the fluid as well as don’t have to feel the sluggish digestive system procedure.
Talking about your own digestive system procedure, your own is most likely working in a a lot reduced price compared to it will. Dairy products as well as beef can in fact block this upward as well as allow it to be difficult for the entire body in order to detox by itself as well as soak up every other nutrition. Through juicing for some times a person permit the body in order to drive these types of poisons via the body as well as put together this with regard to all the nutrition that you’ll take it.
Right now the advantage which everybody miracles regarding, indeed you will find individuals who statement real weight reduction. Many people declare to get rid of the lb each day. You’ll be losing weight pounds as well as drinking water pounds mainly. Not really everybody works exactly the same method therefore over attempting to lose weight you should think about this particular detox in an effort to enhance your wellbeing and when a person slim down after that which is a superb additional reward.
Drink Coffee Drive Health away Diabetes
There had been a study about the benefits of coffee in fighting the risks of diabetes but was opposed by the research which did show that there was a risk of cancer or heart diseases following which the proposal was dropped. But the recent study by the team in Europe found that drinking 3 to 4 cups of coffee a day helps you reduce the risk of diabetes.
The latest study also found that apart from cutting the risk by 30% there was also no risk involved of chronic disorders like cancer or heart diseases.
For their study, the researchers recruited 42,659 people. The volunteers, who took part in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) Germany, were followed up for almost nine years on average. During that time, there were 1,432 cases of type 2 diabetes diagnosed, 394 heart attacks, 310 strokes cases and 1,801 cancer cases.
So good news for all coffee freaks! Drink and stay healthy!
Top 8 Ways To Keep Vegetables Fresh
8 ways to keep vegetables fresh:
1. You can wrap the vegetables in paper towel and store in plastic bags. This is best to store leafy vegetables such as spinach, lettuce and celery in refrigerator.
2. If you use plastic bags to store green vegetables, it is best to use bags which have few holes to allow air keep the vegetables fresh. Closed packets can spoil the vegetables.
3. To keep the leafy vegetables fresh and crisp in refrigerator, use a damp paper towel on the top of the vegetable and then store it. You can keep the vegetables in net bags but cover the outer leaves with paper towel. Don’t use too wet paper towels.
4. You can also keep the vegetables fresh by using net plastic bags which allows air passage and also stores the freshness of the vegetable.
5. To store green leafy vegetables in refrigerator, prefer cutting the roots and then keep in bags. For eg, spinach andcoriander leaves should be stored following this way.
6. Wash the root of vegetables, like carrots and radishes after buying and trim off inedible greens . Store in open containers of your fridge under warm air. This not only keeps the nutritional value of the vegetables but also keeps them crisp and fresh.
7. To keep cut vegetables fresh, cover the vegetable with a paper towel and store in an air-tight bag. Try to use the cut vegetables within 2 days.
8. Store carrots and coriander leaves in air tight containers. This keeps the vegetables fresh and crisp.
Don’t store tomatoes, potatoes, onions and garlic in refrigerator. These vegetables stay fresh for longer if stored in open. Avoid storing the vegetables under heat or direct sunlight.
Top 5 Exercise To Gain Weight 2012
Exercise To Gain WeightWeight Lifting-
One of the ways to increase you weight is weight lifting. Exercises to gain weight includes maximizing your weight lifting work out to increase muscle mass. To gain weight, you must try out exercises like squats, bench press, chin ups and bent over rows. These exercises help in focusing ways to build your muscles. You should also focus on ways to increase your body strength. If your strength increases then size of your body will also increase. You can seek professional help to gain weight if you are not sure of the methods.
Heavy Weights Are More Efficient In Weight Gain- If you want to increase your weight fast then, you have to get trained with heavy weights. Heavy free weights help in increasing your muscle mass and help you become fit than lean. Heavy weights can get challenging so be careful when trying this weight lifting techniques. Do not push yourself too much as it can injure your muscles. Heavy weights help in stimulating your muscle fibres and enables more muscle growth.
Weight Gain Through Push Up Exercises- Exercise to gain weigh includes focusing on larger muscles and enables its growth. Push ups are great for the upper body. Exercises like lunges and squats work best to increase wight. Heel raise is very effective while standing to build your calve muscles. Abs can be shaped by crunches and pull ups are best for your arms. These methods can be adopted for weight gain backed with a healthy diet.
Anaerobic Exercises- To ensure healthy weight gain anaerobic exercises are best for your body. In aerobics, you walk, run, jog and cycle to lose weight, but anaerobic is just the opposite of it. Anaerobic means ‘without oxygen’. In this form of exercise, you focus on short and fast weight lifting techniques. It is very effective, for your healthy weight gain regime.
Multi Joint Exercises- When you are training to weight gain you must focus on the working of larger muscles groups called as multi joints. Compound exercises like dead lifts, pull ups, bench press, over head press and squats must be adopted in your weight gaining regime. These multi joint exercises offer the best results without much hassle.
These exercises can be included in your weight gain regime. These are some healthy weight gain techniques and make sure you do it under supervision. A professional trainer can teach you the pros and cons of these weight gain techniques.
5 Ways We Teach Our Kids
The following article is from new HGM contributor Cynthia Lair. Cynthia is a certified health and nutrition counselor who has been coordinating and teaching whole foods cooking programs since 1994. She is a regular contributor of Mothering Magazing, runs Cookus Interruptus, and is the author of Feeding The Whole Family: Recipes For Babies, Young Children and Their Parents.
Unfortunately, we often give the power of deciding what to feed our children away to food manufacturers by letting them train our children’s taste buds to prefer poor quality food. All is not lost to the food giants however and you can take control again and be the main source of influence for your kid’s nutrition. Learn some ways you lose the food battle from the beginning and some simple tips for getting back in charge and successfully making the changes you want at home.
It’s so easy to go with the flow when you have a new little one at home. So many products are suggested as being ideal for our kid’s from trusted brands and one by one, the cupboards are slowly packed with boxes of “easily digestible” or “nutritionally superior” refined foods. We unknowingly encourage our kids to become picky eaters right from the start by:
1. Choosing formula over breast milk. We buy into the myth that it is more convenient and that it is somehow the same (or better!) than breast milk. (Obviously this does not apply to Mothers that are not given the option of nursing their little one.)
2. Introducing manufactured refined baby cereal when babies are ready to start trying solids instead of simply feeding them fresh food from the family meal. This teaches children to expect “special food” and prefer bland refined carbohydrates. (Do I hear macaroni calling?)
3. Believing that toddlers and small children need “kids food” and purchasing boxes and bottles of refined manufactured foods. This perpetuates the myth that they need “special food” that only comes in cute packaging with smiley animals. Put you money into a trip to the farmer’s market with your child, or into planting a small garden.
4. Choosing from a nutritionally inferior “kid’s menu” when dining out.
5. Making separate meals for our children instead of eating the dinner that is prepared for the whole family.
There is no doubt that parents who want to choose healthier options for their family will have many challenges when it comes to changing habits at home. Rest assured, the benefits of a wholesome diet are numerous and it is well worth some “growing pains” to get back on track.
If you have nutritional habits you would like to change at home or just want to start off on the right foot, keep these suggestions in mind:
- Be Aware of your own food preferences. Many times we transmit our taste onto our children. What foods do you love, and which ones would you never care to eat again? I have a friend who would always make a scrunchy face when serving her baby mashed yams. Sure enough, yams became the baby’s least favorite vegetable! What about sugar? It it considered a reward for good behavior in your family? The idea is to take stock of your food attitudes and decide which ones really serve your children. Be a model, not a critic.
- Set boundaries about food choices. Gentle but firm boundaries help children feel secure and protected and this applies to food as well. Set boundaries that you can follow too. If you don’t want your young children to have ice cream, it’s not fair to have a tub in the freezer just for the parents.
- Create fun rituals around food. Create a fun tea and cakes day where you invite guests over. Get the children involved in setting out the special plates, tablecloths and napkins. Fun days like these can be very rewarding during the ups and down of life.
- Take time to educate. Offer simple reasons why you don’t want them to eat certain foods such as “this soda has things in it your body can’t use, let’s buy something else to drink.” Reflect back to school age children how it sems they act or look after eating certain foods, skipping meals or eating too much. Preteens will respond with suggestions on foods that help their skin look clearer.
- Spread Joy! Let your children see your appreciation of fresh picked summer fruits and delicious home cooked meals. Be expressive in your enjoyment of good wholesome foods rather than sweets or candies.
- Be adventurous when shopping. Take your kids shopping, ask them to be detectives and find items without certain ingredients like high fructose corn syrup or to look for organic canned black beans. Try something new, grab a fruit or vegetable you’ve never tried and sample it as a family when you get home.
- Let go! You will be able to relax around birthday parties if you know what is being served at home is nutritionally sound. Let your children have fun without the guilt and rules. Watch out for “forbidden fruits” which can seem even more appealing to children once denied. Respect their food choices and individuality, while maintaining the integrity of the nutritional plan you have for your family. Have you ever witness your child deny food all day only to later realize they are coming down with a cold? Children have a great food intuition to select bits and pieces of what they need. It’s up to you to provide a variety of healthy choices.
Unhealthy Diet Diseases
Kwashiorkor
Kwashiorkor is a disease associated with an unhealthy diet. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), kwashiorkor is a type of malnutrition that manifests when there is insufficient protein in your diet. Kwashiorkor more commonly affects people in parts of the world where there is famine, limited food supply, low levels of education and a lack of public health initiatives. Kwashiorkor often occurs in countries where drought and other natural disasters or political upheaval occurs. Common signs and symptoms associated with kwashiorkor include changes in skin pigment and hair color and texture, reduced muscle mass, diarrhea, failure to grow or gain weight, fatigue, increased infections, irritability, a protruding abdomen or belly, lethargy and swelling. The UMMC states that up to 50 percent of elderly Americans living in retirement homes may not get sufficient protein in their diet.
Pellagra
Pellagra is a disease that is caused by an unhealthy diet. MedlinePlus states that pellagra occurs when you do not get enough niacin–one of the B complex vitamins and an amino acid–in your diet. Pellagra may also be caused by a lack of tryptophan, another amino acid, in your diet or by your body’s failure to absorb these nutrients. Other possible causes of pellagra include certain gastrointestinal diseases and alcoholism. According to MedlinePlus, pellagra is common in parts of the world where people consume large amounts of corn or maize. Common signs and symptoms associated with pellagra include delusions, diarrhea, inflamed mucus membranes, mental confusion and scaly skin sores. Pellagra is most common in Africa, Indonesia and China. In the United States, most people with pellagra are poor, homeless and consume excessive amounts of alcohol.
Coronary Artery Disease
Coronary artery disease is a condition that may be caused by an unhealthy diet. According to the Cleveland Clinic–one of the top four hospitals in the United States–coronary artery disease is a narrowing or blockage of one or more coronary arteries, which are the arteries that deliver blood to your heart. Coronary artery disease is often caused by atherosclerosis, which is an accumulation of cholesterol and fatty material on the inner walls of your coronary arteries. The MayoClinic states that atherosclerosis is caused by an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, being overweight and smoking. Common signs and symptoms associated with coronary artery disease include angina or chest pain, dyspnea or shortness of breath, heart palpitations, an elevated heart rate, dizziness, nausea, severe weakness and sweating. The Cleveland Clinic notes that coronary heart disease can lead to a heart attack in some individualS.
Tosca Renos Eat Clean Diet Kids
Oxygen magazine columnist and figure competitor Tosca Reno authored the “Eat Clean Diet,” which emphasizes eating foods in their natural state and avoiding all processed foods. With the success of the “Eat Clean Diet,” Reno wrote additional books including the “Eat Clean Diet for Family and Kids” released in August 2011The book offers strategies on how to improve your family’s diet without struggle.
Principles of Clean Eating
Fresh, whole foods form the foundation of clean eating. Foods like brown rice, non-fat Greek yogurt, legumes, oats, chicken breast, turkey, fish, olive oil, avocados and raw nuts are encouraged. Reno encourages you to eat six small meals daily making each include a serving of protein and a carbohydrate. Skipping meals and starvation-dieting is not condoned.
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Foods to Avoid
The “Eat Clean Diet for Family and Kids” asks that you avoid foods containing excess sodium, refined sugars, refined flours, preservatives, colorings and trans fats. White sugar, flour and fat, soft drinks, many breads, crackers and pastries, margarines, jams and jellies, candies, frozen dinners and snack foods are discouraged. Kid staples like take-out or frozen pizza, fast food burgers and hot dogs, doughnuts and commercially prepared muffins and cookies do not fit into a clean-eating lifestyle.
Features
The “Eat Clean Diet for Family and Kids” offers recipes and tips on how to apply clean eating to the whole family. Reno provides ways to save money while still eating healthy foods and provides a customized “Eat-Clean” food pyramid to post to help educate your kids on healthy choices. The book contains 60 recipes, as well as tips for choosing “clean” restaurant fare.
Benefits
With 16 percent of children classified as overweight or obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, taking charge of your family’s diet is imperative. Eating clean may take some additional preparation and planning, it offers a balanced way of eating and helps you and your children devise lifestyle strategies to manage your weight. The “Eat Clean Diet for Family and Kids” also helps you learn about appropriate portion-sizes and how quality food can improve your energy levels and overall sense of well-being.
Strategies
The “Eat Clean Diet for Family and Kids” offers real, applicable strategies for revamping your family’s diet. Instead of advocating steamed fish and kale, it provides many options for kid-friendly foods. Recipes makeover “unclean” foods like sloppy joes, pizza and hermit cookies using clean ingredients. The book encourages you to learn your children’s food preferences and to model good eating habits.
Diabetes in children
It is caused by the inability of the pancreas to produce insulin.
Type 1 diabetes is classified as an autoimmune disease, meaning a condition in which the body’s immune system ‘attacks’ one of the body’s own tissues or organs.
In Type 1 diabetes it’s the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas that are destroyed.
How common is it?
Childhood diabetes isn’t common, but there are marked variations around the world:
in England and Wales 17 children per 100,000 develop diabetes each year
in Scotland the figure is 25 per 100,000
in Finland it’s 43 per 100,000
in Japan it’s 3 per 100,000.
The last 30 years has seen a threefold increase in the number of cases of childhood diabetes.
In Europe and America, Type 2 diabetes has been seen for the first time in young people. This is probably in part caused by the increasing trend towards obesity in our society.
But obesity doesn’t explain the increase in the numbers of Type 1 diabetes in children – who make up the majority of new cases.
What causes childhood diabetes?
As with adults, the cause of childhood diabetes is not understood. It probably involves a combination of genes and environmental triggers.
The majority of children who develop Type 1 don’t have a family history of diabetes.
What are the symptoms?
The main symptoms are the same as in adults. They tend to come on over a few weeks:
thirst
weight loss
tiredness
frequent urination.
Symptoms that are more typical for children include:
tummy pains
headaches
behaviour problems.
Sometimes diabetic acidosis occurs before diabetes is diagnosed, although this happens less often in the UK due to better awareness of the symptoms to look out for.
Doctors should consider the possibility of diabetes in any child who has an otherwise unexplained history of illness or tummy pains for a few weeks.
If diabetes is diagnosed, your child should be referred to the regional specialist in childhood diabetes.
How is diabetes treated in children?
The specialised nature of managing childhood diabetes means that most children are cared for by the hospital rather than by their GP.
Most children with diabetes need insulin treatment. If this is the case, your child will need an individual insulin routine, which will be planned with the diabetes team.
Most now use frequent daily dosage regimes of fast-acting insulin during the day and slow-acting insulin at night.
Very small children normally don’t need an injection at night, but will need one as they grow older.
Increasing numbers of older children use continuous insulin pumps.
Often in the first year after diagnosis, your child may need only a small dose of insulin. This is referred to as ‘the honeymoon period’.
As well as insulin treatment, good glucose control and avoidance of ‘hypos’ (low blood glucose attacks) is important. This is because many of the complications of diabetes increase with the length of time diabetes has been present.
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