Good nutrition and eating
habits are so important to children in each age group because it leads to a
longer and healthier lifestyle. When you practice these healthy habits it will
also prevent nutrition risks such as diseases, obesity and dental cavies. In
the article, Nutrition and Overweight,
“Nutrition is essential for growth and development, health, and well-being.
Behaviors to promote health should start early in life with breastfeeding and
continue through life with the development of healthful eating habits.
Nutritional, or dietary, factors contribute substantially to the burden of
preventable illnesses and premature deaths in the United States. Indeed, dietary
factors are associated with 4 of the 10 leading causes of death: coronary heart
disease (CHD), some types of cancer, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. These health
conditions are estimated to cost society over $200 billion each year in medical
expenses and lost productivity. Dietary factors also are associated with
osteoporosis, which affects more than 25 million persons in the United States
and is the major underlying cause of bone fractures in postmenopausal women and
elderly persons” ( USDHHS, 2010).
Adults should actively
help children develop healthy eating habits because it will be beneficial to
their growth and developmental stages. Two ways this can be accomplished is to model
exercise and encourage children to do the same and the another is to provide
only good food choices, according to this Table 6-8 GOOD NUTRTION PRACTICES
(Robertson p. 244).
Here are some recipes that family members can prepare for preschoolers:
Tuscan Broccoli Stovetop Mac and Cheese
Prep time 5
minutes
Cook time 15 minutes
Total time 20 minutes
Skip the box -
this stovetop mac and cheese recipe is done in 20 minutes and is creamy and
filled with vegetables.
Serves: 4 servings
The nutritional value of the broccoli is dietary fiber 6g, protein 6g, Vitamin A 37%,Vitamin C 123%, Calicum and Iron 6%
The nutritional value of the broccoli is dietary fiber 6g, protein 6g, Vitamin A 37%,Vitamin C 123%, Calicum and Iron 6%
Ingredients
8 oz. elbow macaroni
1 (11.8 oz.) package
Green Giant Tuscan Seasoned Broccoli
2 tablespoons butter
1 egg yolk
1 can (12 oz.) evaporated
milk
8 oz. shredded sharp
cheddar cheese
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
Bring a large pot of
salted water to boil. Cook the macaroni until al dente.
While the pasta is
cooking, cook the vegetables according to the package directions.
Once the pasta is cooked,
drain and return to the pan set over medium heat. Add the butter and the egg
yolk and stir vigorously until it is completely combined. Stir in the
evaporated milk, cheese and mustard. Stir until the cheese is melted and it has
formed a creamy sauce. Stir in the vegetables and then season to taste with
salt and pepper. (Monson, Super Healthy Kids).
Sweet
Potato Tots
Ingredients
2 large sweet potatoes
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
1 egg, whisked
Cooking spray
The sweet potatoes are a great alternative for yellow ones. They contain dietary fiber of 6g, 4g of protein, Vitamin C 65%, and 8% of Calcium and Iron.
The sweet potatoes are a great alternative for yellow ones. They contain dietary fiber of 6g, 4g of protein, Vitamin C 65%, and 8% of Calcium and Iron.
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375
degrees.
Boil sweet potatoes in
salted water in a pot for 10-15 minutes or until you can stick a fork in the
center.
Drain and cool.
Grate the potatoes into a
bowl.
Place the flours, panko
and cinnamon in a bowl and stir to combine.
Place the whisked egg in
another bowl.
Take a small amount of
the potato mixture and shape into a tot.
Roll the tot the whisked
egg, then the flour/panko mixture.
Place onto a sprayed
baking sheet and coat evenly with cooking spray.
Bake for 15 minutes or
until golden.
10. Cool and serve.
Apricot
Dipping Sauce
1/2 cup apricot preserves
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon mustard
1 tablespoon orange juice
Mix ingredients together
until blended. Chill for 1 hour before
serving (Roskelley, Super Healthy Kids).
Yogurt
Cheese Butterflies
Scoop plain yogurt into
cheese cloth (double layered), over a colander, over a bowl.
Put in fridge till
desired consistency (the longer in the fridge, the thicker it will get). But generally overnight at least!
This time we spread it on
bagels. Plain is good, but I had some
strawberries, so we mixed them in.
Arranging it to look like
a butterfly is always a fun way for breakfast or a snack for some kids.
Plain yogurt has its benefits, which are 13g of protein and 45% Calcium.
Some suggestions to families are to make food attractive to children. If it does not look good, they would not want to try it. Also, you can incorporate vegetables into foods that they like to eat. Broccoli and Kale are two great veggies that will blend well into any meal (Monson, Super Healthy Kids).
Resources
Monson, N.
Tuscan Broccoli Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese. Retrieved from from
http://www.superhealthykids.com
Monson, N.
Yogurt Cheese Bites. Retrieved from from http://www.superhealthykids.com
Robertson, C. (2013). Safety, Nutrition, and Health in
Early Education (5th Ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning.
Roskelley, A. Sweet Potato Tots. Retrieved from http://www.superhealthykids.com
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2000,
November). Nutrition and overweight. In Healthy people 2010 (2nd ed.) (Vol.
2). Retrieved from
www.healthypeople.gov
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