Extraordinary Health Magazine EH Magazine VOl 34 | Page 13

And as we know, some kids can be picky eaters, so be prepared
with healthy options. Make food look appealing and fun
whenever possible. Variety is important. As kids become old
enough to safely use knives and kitchen equipment, ask them
to help in preparing fruits or chopping veggies. Let them have
fun blending their own smoothies, experimenting with new
flavors and different fruits, as well as other ingredients like
almond butter. As you prepare fruits and veggies, talk to them
about how important vitamins and minerals are for their health.
If your older children and teenagers aren’t interested in eating
breakfast and always seem to be in a hurry, or perhaps skipping
other meals, consider giving them Certified Organic plant protein
smoothies such as Raw Organic Protein or Raw Organic Meal. Simply
mix one scoop with unsweetened almond milk and add berries
or other fruits, and then blend it with some ice. This way you are
making sure that they are at least getting one meal with some clean,
quality, organic protein along with other key nutrients.
According to multiple studies, our kids are not consuming
enough servings of fresh fruit, vegetables or greens each day.
Add a wide variety of different colored, fresh organic fruits and
green veggies to smoothies and meals delivering a wide array
of plant nutrients providing vitamins, minerals and antioxidants
to support immune health and overall wellness. It will also help
to fill them up and provide important dietary fiber for digestion.
Try making healthy snack boxes. Simply cut up a bunch of fresh
organic veggies or fruits and keep them in a small container in
the refrigerator for when they need a snack. This is a great habit
that stops them bingeing on less healthy foods when they are
ravenous. They can take these snack boxes to school in addition
to a healthy packed lunch.
Don’t forget to teach your kids that Certified USDA Organic
produce is a great choice when available because that means it
isn’t sprayed with chemicals such as bug spray. Teaching them
how to choose a healthful diet all starts in your kitchen!
B vitamins are very important for those involved in sports as
they enable us to get the energy out of our foods. B vitamins, like
vitamins B12 and B6 along with iron, are needed to make healthy
red blood cells. If you have children who are vegan or vegetarian, talk
to a Licensed Nutritionist/Registered Dietitian to make sure they are
getting all the nutrients they need for optimal health and growth,
particularly vitamin B12 which is only found in animal foods.
Antioxidant vitamins such as vitamins A, C and E are very
important to protect the cells of the body on a daily basis,
and along with vitamin D, are important for supporting immune
health. When kids have seasonal challenges and get sick, instead
of giving them thos e sugary syrups that are available, try either
Garden of Life mykind Organics Elderberry Immune Syrup † (no
sugar) or delicious Elderberry Immune Gummies. † They both
contain Organic Black Elderberry Fruit, Aronia Berries, Echinacea
and Rosemary, with zinc from Organic Guava and vitamin C
from Organic Amla berries. They taste delicious, both kids and
adults love them, and the Elderberry Syrup is also wonderful
on pancakes. mykind Organics Elderberry Gummies are made
with real fruit and no gelatin. They are designed to be taken on
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a daily basis, and are a treat your kids will want to eat, not just
something for when they are already sneezing!
If your kids and other family members are not eating a wide
selection of fresh fruits and veggies, every day you might also be
wise to invest in some multivitamins. Check with your doctor first,
especially if they are under medical supervision. Choose vitamins
that are age-specific so they get the correct dosage based on age
and gender. Our preference is for vitamins that are made from
real, organic foods and plants rather than man-made synthetic
vitamins. I highly recommend mykind Organics Chewable Vegan
D3 for kid’s immune and bone health. †
Lastly, remember to give your kids quality probiotics such as
Garden of Life Dr. Formulated Kids+ for digestive and immune
support. † They should take them every day—not just when
they have health challenges. These chewable probiotics are
specifically formulated for kids with 5 Billion CFU cutting-edge
probiotics and have no sugar, no junk, no artificial anything!
They also don’t contain dairy, gluten or soy.
So in summary, please give your kids the nutrition they need
before, during and after school starts so they can be in peak
health and ready for school!
Vol 34 • Extraordinary Health ™ 11