Today’s kids do not like to eat fruit. Kids have fallen prey to the marketing schemes of not only junk food companies but fast food restaurants as well. Junk food and fast food companies target young children because marketers know kids do not know better. Few kids understand that poor nutrition leads to terrible health and that they can seriously impact their well being tomorrow by eating poorly today.
Most kids believe they can eat whatever they want and that they will never get fat. It only takes a year, if not less time, for a child’s health to be seriously impacted by poor eating habits. So how can you as a parent fight the trend of poor eating among children? Obviously you cannot take on the major corporations and make them change the way they market their products. It is far more realistic to think about changing your child’s eating habits with healthy snacks. It can be difficult to compete with the fast food companies but you can win with some healthy natural fruit.
Over the years I have found some snacks that my kids now expect. They are healthy and very easy to make–in fact, my kids can make the snacks themselves quite easily. Here are five of the best fruity snacks that we have come up with:
1. Strawberries and kiwis. Cut up a bunch of strawberries and kiwis and mix them in a bowl. Kids love this because it is so sweet. The fruits contain many of the natural sugars that they need. Instead of a big, unhealthy bowl of ice cream, consider a bowl of sweet fruits.
2. Bananas. Either cut up the bananas or give them to your children whole. Bananas are great because they make for a good meal on the go for your busy kids. If your kids are athletes bananas are great because they have lots of potassium, which will help to relieve the pain from cramps in their muscles.
3. I highly recommend a bowl of pineapple here and there. Pineapple is something that people don’t eat too often so when they get it, it is a real treat. Pineapple is the perfect combination of sweet and sour.
4. Apple slices. Apples are a real favorite as a small snack. A lot of kids don’t like to eat a whole apple, but if you cut up a few slices for them they will gobble ’em up. Try adding some cheese slices to your apples to make them a bit more interesting.
5. Berries are great as a snack. Obviously you don’t want your kids eating berries for an entire meal. Berries, when eaten in large quantities, can be hard on the digestive system. However, if you eat a handful of blueberries or raspberries you should be just fine. These are sweet, tasty snacks that your kids will love. The next time they reach for the potato chips, suggest some berries instead.
These five snack ideas should help you and your kids to start eating in a much healthier way. Keep fruit around the house instead of junk food. That way, when you are tempted to eat something you will reach for the fruit. Teach your kids how to prepare the fruit themselves. One nice thing about fruit snacks is that they are extremely easy to make. All you do is cut up the fruit or peel away the peel. When your kids can make it themselves they won’t come looking for unhealthy treats. They will know that there is a fridge full of yummy fruity snacks.
Parenting viewpoints from parents in the trenches, because parenting doesn’t come with a manual. In addition to
Many children tend to eat frequently through the day as their bodies require. One should not force children to eat more and more like adults do. A child under the age of four or five might eat six to seven times a day. One can give fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain crackers, cheese cubes, peanut butter-cheese sandwiches into daily snacks. Try to avoid pre-packaged snacks because its unhealthy. One can go for milk-based drinks because it rich in proteins, calcium, iron, also fruit juice will be good.