Ever notice that the summer season does tend to get your kids to suddenly live a healthy lifestyle, moms? All the junk food goes out the window and in come the subscriptions to Men’s/Women’s Health, gym memberships, and protein shakes. They’re probably stocking up on medicine for cough & colds too, just in case they catch a viral/bacterial bug that will confine them at home.
The lifestyle change might be impressive, even by your standards, but as moms, you know that the best way to start healthy is with the food you eat. Today, we’ll list down healthy foods your kids can eat. When they ask you, you can respond, “Do you eat these foods? You must!”
1. Blueberries
These tart fruits are loaded with antioxidants that prevent against diseases such as heart problems, cancer, blindness, memory loss and urinary tract infections better than any other fruit or vegetable you can find. Recommend a half-cup serving of blueberries to your kids.
2. Fruits and vegetables
In general, any fruit or vegetable in your kid’s diet is highly recommended. Aside from containing other beneficial vitamins and minerals, fruits and veggies have fiber, which is essential in absorbing all that LDL (bad cholesterol) from your system, giving it a natural and nourishing cleanse. These are low in both fats and calories.
3. Oatmeal
Porridge is also a great way to beat the LDL out of your system, as the fiber sucks it all out. If you find it too thick or lacking in flavor, a tablespoon of milk and teaspoon of raw honey will do the trick.
4. Garlic
Besides keeping vampires and mosquitoes at bay, garlic has nutritional properties for humans as well! It contains sulfur compounds that become antioxidants the moment they hit the body. Garlic cloves are good for your heart, stomach, and prostate as well, decreasing the risk of cardiovascular problems, colorectal, and prostate cancer, respectively.
5. Fish
Eating too much red meat can increase your risk for cancer, which is why health experts highly recommend fish at least twice a week as a replacement. The omega-3 fatty acids in it contribute to a much healthier heart.
6. Starchy food
Rice, pasta, bread, and baked potatoes are all under the group starchy food. These contain complex carbohydrates, which are fuel for your body. If your children don’t eat enough of these, they won’t have enough energy to engage in physical activities. Carbs also contribute to a feeling of satiety (fullness), which controls your appetite.
7. Olive oil
No, this doesn’t refer to Popeye’s stick-thin girlfriend (though if she followed our diet, she’d be in much better shape). Olive oil is one of the healthiest oils in the world. They decrease LDL, increase HDL, and also line your artery walls with phenols, antioxidants that could protect your heart from cholesterol buildup.
With that, we hope your kids have a healthy and happy summer, owing to this new, improved diet. If you know any other food groups that contribute to a healthy diet, let us know in the comments section below.