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by: Sharon’s Healthy Foods
Because our society has invented millions of artificial reasons to celebrate with “special” foods Our kids
today are programmed to expect dessert every time they gather in a group or break into a slow jog!!
What I’ve also discovered: It’s not the children we need to work on—it’s the parents. While the kids
seem to accept the absence of Chez Puffs, the moms and dads take it as a personal affront.
It’s not always easy to say NO.. but like any sport it is important to focus on the importance of nutrition
and physical activity for feeling good and staying healthy.
Sweetened drinks like soda, fruit drinks, and sports drinks are loaded with sugar.
Eating and drinking too much sugar is not healthy for your body and it can cause
cavities
Water and full fat milk are the best drinks to have at snacks and meals.
Juice is not as healthy as it seems. It can have as much sugar as soda.
Our bodies need healthy snacks to stay energized between meals.
Choose healthy snack foods like fruits, vegetables, and lean meats or proteins.
Snacks that have a lot of sugar, unhealthy fat, and salt like candy, cookies, and chips are "slow" snacks.
Many children enjoy treats at snack time, but they need the nutrition and energy that comes from a
healthy snack. Snacks often provide children with up to 25% of their daily calorie needs, so serving
healthy and tasty foods and drinks are important! Help children understand that snacks create a bridge
between meals - it gives them the energy they need to concentrate on schoolwork and to play.. Since
children often have little control over the types of foods served to them, it is important to praise children
when they do make healthy choices. The best way to influence children is to provide them with healthy,
tasty snack choices. Show them that eating fruits, vegetables, and healthy proteins at snack time is fun
by getting creative with recipes and enlisting kids to help with selecting and preparing snacks! Serve a
variety of healthy snacks from different food groups. Take time to talk to kids about the healthy foods.
Involve children in preparing and serving snacks. Help children see how tasty and fun healthy snacks
are by eating healthy snacks yourself!
Recipe: 12. Chocolate Covered Dried Apricots/Bananas- Microwave 2 oz. bittersweet chocolate in
30 sec. intervals stirring until melted (or use double-boiler). When it is thoroughly melted, dip the apricots
(halfway) or bananas (I do the whole slice). Place the fruit on a cookie sheet covered in wax paper;
sprinkle with crushed nuts. Put the cookie sheet in the refrigerator until the chocolate is set.