Options For Introducing Healthy Meals Into Your Little Ones' Diet
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Options For Introducing Healthy Meals Into Your Little Ones' Diet
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Almost everyone may remember when classroom bulletin boards displayed the food
pyramid. The pyramid – there was only one. One size fit all. Everyone needed to
subscribe to the same nutritional guidelines. Everyone was told to merely glance
at the pyramid to figure out how many servings were needed each day.
Almost all would agree that it is a good thing that obsolete food pyramid has
gone by the wayside! It may have taken a while, but the idea that not all people
require the same food intake finally caught on. Nor are children expected to
follow the same nutritional guidelines as the adults.
If you're hoping we'll show you the "kid's guidelines" there unfortunately isn't
a predetermined guideline. The amount of food from each food group that each
person needs to eat to maintain a healthy lifestyle is dependent on their age,
sex and physical activity level. One size doesn’t fit all. You can go to
http://mypyramid.gov/ to type in some search
criteria to get an idea of how much from each food category to eat every day.
Remember balance is the name of the game. Make sure your little ones are eating
fruits and vegetables, dairy, meats and beans and grains every day. Then round
it off with water, fresh air and exercise. To help you get started, below you
will find a couple of nutritious meals for children.
This turkey avocado sandwich wrap uses kid-friendly ingredients for a nutritious
lunch or treat.
INGREDIENTS:
• Whole wheat tortillas
• 1 avocado mashed
• Sliced deli turkey
• Shredded carrots
• Shredded lettuce
• Shredded Monterey jack cheese
PREPARATION:
Assemble wraps in the following order: Spread mashed avocado on tortilla;
Sprinkle shredded carrots and lettuce on avocado; Lay on slices of deli turkey;
Sprinkle with shredded cheese.
In addition, you won't get any looks of disappointment if you inform the
children you're making chicken nuggets for supper. This kid favorite is just as
good in the low-fat, oven-baked version. For quick clean-up and extra
crispiness, lay a sheet of foil on a cookie sheet; and, then place a wire rack
on top of the foil.
INGREDIENTS:
• skinless, boneless chicken breasts cut in 1-2 inch squares
• non-fat or low-fat buttermilk
• flour for dredging
• finely crushed corn flakes for dredging
• salt and pepper to taste
PREPARATION:
Preheat oven to 375. Prepare three large bowls for dredging chicken - 1 with
flour seasoned with salt and pepper, 1 with buttermilk, and 1 with crushed corn
flakes. Prepare baking pan by laying a sheet of foil over a cookie sheet; and
then place a wire rack on top of the foil. Season chicken with salt and cut into
1-2 inch pieces.
Drag chicken pieces in flour. Shake off excess flour and coat with buttermilk.
Next, generously coat chicken with corn flakes, and place on rack of your baking
pan. Bake nuggets for 15 minutes. These keep well for the next day's lunch box
so make plenty!
The next time you reach into the pantry or freezer to grab something simple to
prepare for dinner, take a good analytical look at the ingredients. The idea is
not to serve food that is adequate but rather food that is nutritious. Remember
that not all of your little ones may require the same servings of food.
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Would you like more Kid-Friendly Recipes? Christine Steendahl – “The Menu
Mom” invites you to visit Kid Approved Meals at
http://www.kidapprovedmeals.com
to download your personal 13 week breakfast and lunch menu made just for kids!
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