A new (and kid approved) way of eating more veggies

Did you know that 85% of kids in this country are not getting the vitamins and minerals they need to support proper physical and mental development? This is largely due to the fact that they’re consuming fewer foods that are fortified with the core five food groups—fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, and protein. As parents, it’s more important than ever to think about the foods we’re consuming with our kids—not only when you sit down for meals, but also when eating on the go.

Here are a couple tried and true tips on how to incorporate more of the core five food groups into your daily diet and one new way to sneak in those nutrients so your kids don’t even notice they’re getting all the good stuff they need.

Eating as a family

Family meals furnish a meaningful opportunity to provide a role model for healthy eating. Parents can help model eating portion sizes, testing new foods, or show how to stop when full. Studies have shown that regular family meals are strongly associated with increased consumption of fruits, vegetables, grains, and other healthy food choices while also linked with lesser consumption of fried or fatty foods.

Get the kids involved

Eating patterns, good and bad, are developed early in life. Providing your children the opportunity to consume and also prepare their own meals in balance with the core five foods sets the foundation for a healthy life. Great example; kids love pizza, start with whole wheat dough, add zucchini, eggplant, and kale that crisps up in the oven to add texture kids love.

Veggie Supplements

While your kids shouldn’t receive 100% of their vitamin intake from vegetable powders, it’s an excellent way to fortify their daily consumption. For example, your kids don’t like kale? Simply add kale powder to a smoothie. They’re none the wiser. Kale is high in vitamins A, B and C, magnesium, potassium, and calcium. But buyer beware—not all powders are created equal. We covered this issue in an article on imported powders a few months back, in a nutshell, be sure to check your labels. Look for USA grown and manufactured, organic and non-GMO to ensure quality and safety.

We all know that teaching your kids how to eat healthily will set the foundation for their proper mental and physical development, and their future health. With busy schedules and work commutes, it can be hard to find to the time to cook balanced meals at home let alone get the kids involved every meal. That is where nutritious vegetable powders can really make a difference. Added to a quick smoothie or baked into a fast snack, you can keep your busy schedule and keep your kids fueled with the foods they need to grow.