We are what we eat

At some point in your life, someone probably said to you: “You are what you eat.” Well, that’s true. If we eat healthy, we will more likely be healthy.

Our bodies need healthy, clean foods to grow strong, learn,and be active. Our kids especially need these things because their bodies are changing, growing and learning so much every day.

Eating healthy from the time of infancy will follow our children through adolescence into adulthood. Proper nutrition will not only help our kids avoid illness and health complications, it also will help them learn and feel better about themselves.

As parents, we play an active role in making sure our children eat the right foods, but if eating healthy has not been the norm for you, it can be a challenge. Making small changes in your diet, a few baby steps at a time, can help make the transition process easier.

We all know that it’s good to eat fruits and vegetables. Think about “eating the rainbow” to start incorporating all of the colorful fruits and veggies into your diet.

Keep radishes, carrots, and celery in a bowl of water in your refrigerator for a quick bite; snack on berries or slices of fruit dipped in Greek yogurt; or add one fruit or vegetable to each meal. These can be great ways to get started.

Begin to limit the amount of sugar your child gets. Help him or her drink more water, and limit (or even remove) the sugary sodas and fruit-flavored drinks from their diet. Instead of the sugar-packed sports drinks, try coconut water. It’s as hydrating as a sports drink without all the sugar.

Your food choices can also add some brain power to help your child in school. Spinach, broccoli and beans are packed with B vitamins that help improve memory and alertness.

If you’re worried you can’t get your children to eat these foods, try some of the creative recipes that disguise or hide vegetables, so they’ll at least give them a taste. For example, add broccoli to roasted potatoes or make lasagna with spinach in it. Soon your kids will eat healthier and enjoy it, too.

It’s also very important to eat breakfast. Hunger hinders concentration. If children go to school hungry, it’s harder for them to learn. Oatmeal, fruit, granola or yogurt are easy but nutritious options.

You can find a lot of information on the Internet or in libraries about how to prepare healthier meals and snacks, but don’t let it overwhelm you. Remember to start small, making one change at a time, and it will be more manageable to adopt a healthier lifestyle.

Your family may be afraid of the change and resistant at first, but stick with it and stay positive. In the end, your family will start to feel better, physically and mentally, and the process of planning and preparing healthy meals will become a special time for your family.