How often have we told our kids 'no' to having a treat, and then follow up with the explanation, "It's not healthy." 'Healthy' is an abstract concept for kids, and it's not exactly consoling to be denied Skittles over something they don't understand.
How about this for an explanation...
"Mommy, can I have Skittles?"
"It looks like you've already filled up your treat spot, so let's pick out a healthy food you like in the snack pack (or on the shopping list). Would you like to have Skittles for your treat tomorrow?"
What you've done...
1. You nipped a meltdown in the bud by not denying him the treat he wanted, you only postponed it. When kids have a visual like our chart, they can see that yes, they will have the chance to eat Skittles tomorrow to fill up their treat spot.
2. You taught him what healthy means by showing him foods good for his body on the shopping list and/or snack pack. In no time he'll be able to tell the difference between a healthy food and a not-so-healthy food.
3. You subtracted one 'NO' from your vocabulary today.
4. You kept the philosophy of SuperNoots going by offering choices and reminding him that he is in control of his eating (as long as he sticks to his chart!).
OK, on a SuperNoots business note, we are looking forward to an article coming out in May in the Knoxville Business Journal. Victoria and I will be featured alongside Lima Bean Baby and Stroller Strides... what an honor! The article will be written by the fabulous Laura Ayo, and she is more than just a writer... she makes up cool ways for her kids to eat healthy food! Check out her recipe find for edamame.
http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=407501
She cuts eyes out of the cheese and adds shredded cheese to make a mouth, and calls it Monster Mash. Very creative!!
Does anyone have any ideas how to make veggies more enticing?
Have a great day! Lori
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Healthy Eating Suggestions for Kids
A quick tidbit on how Nicholas fills up his SuperNoots chart in a day...
breakfast: Cheerios in the car (you didn't think I was SuperWoman, did you?)
AM snack: cheese and crackers, apple slices
lunch: PB&J sandwich, baby carrots, banana
PM snack: yogurt, blueberries and granola
dinner: Daddy's grilled BBQ chicken breast, steamed broccoli, **whole grain brown rice (**see note below), milk, cookie
Count 'em up! whole grains- 5 (Cheerios, crackers, whole wheat bread, granola, brown rice)
dairy- 3 (cheese, yogurt, milk)
vegetables- 2 (carrots, broccoli)
protein- 2 (peanut butter, chicken)
fruits- 3 (apple, banana, blueberries)
treat- 1 (cookie)
At the end of the day, Nicholas would be short a whole grain, but as mentioned in our fabulous parent guide, kids don't have to fill up the chart to be successful. Part of eating healthy for kids (and all of us!) is listening to their little bodies... if they fill full, stop eating!
Of course, if you're like me and my family, it is unnatural to leave food on a plate. I keep thinking once I have more than five minutes to sit and eat, then I will stop 'shoveling' my food and teach my little girl to eat like a lady and practice this whole idea of leaving food on a plate.
Am I the only mom who never orders a salad at a restaurant, simply because it takes too long to eat and the odds of you getting to finish it are slim to none?!
**OK, here's my healthy eating 'thing to buy' for the day. (Am I starting something here?) If you haven't discovered Uncle Ben's Ready Rice (whole grain brown), then you are missing out. It's a pouch of rice you stick in the microwave for 90 seconds, and it's done. The best part, well second best behind the 90 second thing, is that it has ZERO sugars! Can you believe that?! I saw Ellie Krieger use it on her show, and I've been addicted ever since. Oh, and a shout-out to my fabulous mother-in-law, who uses it, too.
Lori
P.S. SuperNoots is now available at Smart Toys and Books in Franklin Square. We will also be available at Sprout Studio very soon. Oh, and did I mention how much Victoria and I love and adore Michele Silva and Moira Kaye on 'Style: A Show for You'? Well, I do. They are super cool and gave our little business an amazing boost. Thank you!
breakfast: Cheerios in the car (you didn't think I was SuperWoman, did you?)
AM snack: cheese and crackers, apple slices
lunch: PB&J sandwich, baby carrots, banana
PM snack: yogurt, blueberries and granola
dinner: Daddy's grilled BBQ chicken breast, steamed broccoli, **whole grain brown rice (**see note below), milk, cookie
Count 'em up! whole grains- 5 (Cheerios, crackers, whole wheat bread, granola, brown rice)
dairy- 3 (cheese, yogurt, milk)
vegetables- 2 (carrots, broccoli)
protein- 2 (peanut butter, chicken)
fruits- 3 (apple, banana, blueberries)
treat- 1 (cookie)
At the end of the day, Nicholas would be short a whole grain, but as mentioned in our fabulous parent guide, kids don't have to fill up the chart to be successful. Part of eating healthy for kids (and all of us!) is listening to their little bodies... if they fill full, stop eating!
Of course, if you're like me and my family, it is unnatural to leave food on a plate. I keep thinking once I have more than five minutes to sit and eat, then I will stop 'shoveling' my food and teach my little girl to eat like a lady and practice this whole idea of leaving food on a plate.
Am I the only mom who never orders a salad at a restaurant, simply because it takes too long to eat and the odds of you getting to finish it are slim to none?!
**OK, here's my healthy eating 'thing to buy' for the day. (Am I starting something here?) If you haven't discovered Uncle Ben's Ready Rice (whole grain brown), then you are missing out. It's a pouch of rice you stick in the microwave for 90 seconds, and it's done. The best part, well second best behind the 90 second thing, is that it has ZERO sugars! Can you believe that?! I saw Ellie Krieger use it on her show, and I've been addicted ever since. Oh, and a shout-out to my fabulous mother-in-law, who uses it, too.
Lori
P.S. SuperNoots is now available at Smart Toys and Books in Franklin Square. We will also be available at Sprout Studio very soon. Oh, and did I mention how much Victoria and I love and adore Michele Silva and Moira Kaye on 'Style: A Show for You'? Well, I do. They are super cool and gave our little business an amazing boost. Thank you!
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