How I Eat Healthy Full Time

We all know how difficult it is to eat right. The kids run around all over the place making it hard to spy on what they are eating. Half the time what we end up eating is just not that nutritious. I can't spy on them all of the time so I do what I can by following a few simple loose rules.

The other problem is that kids do not necessarily like healthy foods. So I take care to take baby steps and introduce them to those nutritious foods slowly as to not to shock them.

I guess it is all just a game about testing, researching and learning all aspects of diet and nutrition and then troubleshooting what your kids really want to eat. I have been surprised several times when my kids have actually liked a food I never dreamed they would end up enjoying – like mashed up squash with cinnamon which is jam pack full of Vitamin A.

For one thing I do know it is important to avoid eating crap. To me crap is anything with refined sugar, sodium or gluten in it. I also reduce the crab load whenever I can. I will give my kids cucumber slices with salt rather than potato chips with salt to slake their cravings. Cucumber slices are a negative calorie food.

I also think it is absolutely crucial to drink plenty of water. It is like the lube that greases your wheels so you can keep going… It also helps elimination and keeps the kids hydrated. I give them lots of limeade and lemonade and in the summer make sure they are well hydrated by feeding them popsicles.

Of course it goes without saying that in order to remain healthy that my kids must dump all fast foods. This means eating whole unprocessed foods wherever possible. My kids are better off eating shepherd's pie with a bit of grated cheddar cheese on top rather than a cheeseburger from MacDonald's!

I also try to eliminate as many toxins from our daily life as possible. There are lots of toxins in food additives and preservatives, dry cleaners, pesticides and chemicals. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, the average human body contains over 116 different types of toxins a day!

I also make sure my kids are not stressed when they are eating even if it means filling them up in front of the television set. At least if they are sitting in front of the television they are a little more relaxed than standing up and snacking with the refrigerator door open. This is just better for their digestion which of course helps them absorb nutrients more efficiently.

Parenting Tips
, , , , ,

Omega 3 Fish Oils and Your Child’s Brain

Omega 3 Fish Oil supplements are one of those few supplements that actually has a qualified health claim from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.  The F.D.A bestowed this status on Omega 3 oils because eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) omega-3 fatty acids have been proven by research to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.

However when it comes to kids you want to use these oils to help your kids do great in school. Lineolic acid, one of the omega-3 long chain fatty acids, may play a role in helping this supplement improve mental functions.

Omega-3 fatty acids are an essential nutrient that cannot be manufactured by the body and therefore must be obtained from supplements or food sources. As most omega-3 fatty acids have only been found in fish it makes more sense to take these acids in the form of supplements than ever. This is because fish nowadays contains excessive amounts of mercury and other toxins which I think could be a little toxic for kids.  Mercury can cause brain damage in children.  As a result I try to supplement their diets from other sources of omega oils.

Since 2000, the American Heart Association's dietary guidelines have recommended that healthy adults and children eat at least two servings of fish per week so that they can enjoy the cardiovascular benefits of ingest natural sources of omega 3's.

The main natural sources of the supplement are mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna and salmon.  These fish are special contain two omega-3 fatty acids –   eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids (EPA and DHA).

A third kind of omega 3 fatty acid called alpha-linolenic acid, is less potent. It comes from soybeans, canola, walnut and flaxseed and oils made from those beans, nuts and seeds.

Omega 3 supplements are manufactured everywhere in the world where there are these types of fish and they are easy to find in drug stores or health stores.   In North America these oils are often made from salmon.   Wild salmon is said to have less mercury so look for that on the label.

Another study regarding fish oil was published in the journal Nutrition in April 2007. Sixty-four healthy Danish infants received either cow’s milk or infant formula supplemented with fish oil from nine to twelve months of age. It was found that those infants supplemented with fish oil had superior immune systems.

Parenting Tips
, , , , , , , , , ,