Friday, February 20, 2009

Top 5 Best Food for Children

Milk and Milk Products

You must have heard your parents telling you to drink more milk so that you become stronger. Now it is important that you do the same for your children’s health. Milk is one of the most nutritious foods that kids should have. It is natural, readily available and a nutrient rich food comprising of nine essential nutrients, including calcium, vitamins A, B12 and D, protein, phosphorous, riboflavin, potassium and niacin. These nutrients are very important for the salubrious growth of your child.You must pay importance to your child’s milk intake. A glass or two of milk is important for your child’s healthy growth.

Whole Grain Products

Whole grain cereals are nutritionally higher-up to refined grains, more plenteous in dietary fiber, antioxidants, protein, dietary minerals and vitamins. To be more specific, whole grain foods include breads and cereals that contain 100% whole grain foods and not processed flours. Some examples of whole grain food products are cornflakes, brown bread, brown rice, and even popcorn.
You might have tried to include some leafy vegetables in your child’s diet only to receive a frown from him. With whole grain food products you are not only feeding your child with wholesome meals but also providing them with the much needed food fiber. The refined foods such as white breads, white rice or noodles are stripped off their nutritional content and food fiber. Though, refined foods are easily available and in ready-to-eat forms, however, for your child’s health it is important that you switch to whole grain products.
Starting your child’s day with whole grain products will keep him full and active for a long time. In fact, a shift from refined grain foods to whole grain food products will prove to be a much healthier option for the entire family.

Coloured Vegetables

As a parent you must make sure that you child eats vegetables in good quantity. We understand that it is easier said than done. Do not ever force your child to eat vegetables that will turn the meal time into war time. The more you force him the more he will avoid them. As a parent you have to change the way you cook or present the vegetables. Creative methods to get your child to have more veggies can include disguising them with other food products, like in a vegetable sandwich. You can even chop up lots of vegetables and mix them in noodles, soups, omelets etc or even better making pizza with more vegetable topping and less or no cheese.

Egg and Meat

The egg has a high repute as a food. Its white portion is rich in protein, and the egg yolk is rich in protein and vitamin A. An egg also contains calcium and iron. However, the egg yolk has high cholesterol content. You must try to include eggs into your child’s daily food intake. There are several ways of preparing eggs which will add variety to the diet. Hard boiled eggs can prove to be a nutritious snack for your child.

A variety of fruits

Fruit nutrition should be an important part of your child’s diet. Fruits are known to be rich in many nutrients and daily intake of the same reduces risk factors of some serious diseases in the long term. Providing your child with adequate amount of fruits is the best thing you can do to ensure your child’s good health. Fruits are best eaten fresh, do not cut them and store them in the refrigerator for long time. If your child is not specifically a fruit lover, then you can prepare scrumptious fruit chaats for him. Also, you can replace sodas and other soft drinks with fruit juice at your home.

Though it is advised that fresh juice is best for health, substituting it with packed fruit juice available in box packing is better than a glass of cola drink. Moreover, kids would love sipping the fruit with a straw.

By Robin Mart

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