For young children, whose brains and bodies go through huge amounts of growth, the nutrition in their food is essential to their optimal health. Paying attention to ingredients and focusing on making the right choices for meals is one positive step that helps promote your child’s well-being. Here are the top foods that should be added to a young person’s diet in order to take advantage of some of the most powerful nutrients that are offered.
Cinnamon
If you want to avoid major meltdowns in the afternoon due to lower energy, a little bit of cinnamon may help. Cinnamon in the diet is known for helping to regulate blood sugar levels and keep hunger at bay. Most kids love the taste of cinnamon, so it’s easy to add some sprinkles of this spice to a breakfast or afternoon treat. Instead of choosing a cinnamon blend that is loaded with sugar, be sure to select a high-quality Ceylon variety in order to take advantage of all of the health benefits of this ingredient.
Black Beans
Black beans are another great and healthy choice that should be incorporated into a child’s diet. Picky meat eaters can take advantage of this legume’s powerful protein amounts. You can keep your child’s digestive system a little more regular as well with regular consumption of these beans because they’re loaded with fiber. With additional potassium and calcium, black beans pack even more of a nutritional punch. For a taco dinner, offer black beans as one of the main ingredients of your fiesta.
Greek Yogurt
One thing that many children need to have added to their diet is a probiotic. Probiotics help maintain healthy ratios of the good bacteria inside of the stomach and intestines. Greek yogurt naturally can contribute to maintaining good levels of bacteria inside of the body. Low fat varieties are also extremely powerful in providing lean sources of protein to growing bodies without the additional added sugar. Look for sweeter varieties that include fruit or other ingredients to get your kids to think they’re indulging in this type of sweet treat.
Salmon
One of the best foods that can help build better brain power is salmon. Packed with omega-3 fatty acids, this tender fish can offer your kids additional health benefits such as a better mood, more protection from inflammation, a lower risk of cancer, and support for healthy vision. It’s important to make sure you choose wild caught salmon rather than the farmed type, so you get as much of the nutrients as possible. Some kids may be turned off by the salmon’s strong taste, so you may need to be creative when it comes to meal ideas for this type of fish.
Tomatoes
Next, it’s important to make sure your child’s plate has tomatoes on it regularly. This popular ingredient can be incorporated into many different types of meals. Your child can benefit from the tomato’s ability to help reduce instances of toxic lead levels, support bone strength, and build up a stronger immune system. You can introduce a variety of different tomatoes to your children, such as fresh orange tomatoes in salads, tomato sauce on pizza, sliced red tomatoes on a sandwich, or even tangy sun-dried tomatoes in a pasta dish.
Sorghum
If you’re looking for an alternative grain to wheat, sorghum may be it. Not only is sorghum gluten-free, but it is also loaded with powerful vitamins and minerals, such as niacin, fiber, iron, and calcium. With new instances of this tasty ingredient being added to well-known brands, such as Hampton Creek’s Just Cookie Dough, you can instantly make popular treats even more healthy. Hampton Creek on Facebook can show you even more ways to bring healthy and natural ingredients to your child’s meals.
Blueberries
One of the most colorful ingredients in the culinary spectrum are blueberries. Fun and convenient for snacking, this tiny blue fruit is a great antioxidant that can lower your child’s risk of developing diabetes or obesity. For breakfast or just an after school healthy snack, blueberries are a great option.
It’s important to teach your child the importance of healthy and wholesome foods that can make their plate even more powerful. Exposing your child to a variety of colorful fruits, vegetables, and tasty sources of protein can ensure that he or she maintains a strong and active body. By including your child in the process of making meals and choosing ingredients, you can give an even stronger incentive to make the right choices for food.
Marti Tabora says
This is a great list of healthy foods. I know I sometimes forget to vary our diets and add different foods that are really nutritious. Thanks for the reminder.