by Christina Kennedy

Created on: November 06, 2009

It's very important for kids to get the proper nutrients in order to grow to their full potential. Filling up on sugar is just not the answer. The earlier a child learns to eat health the healthier choices they will make through out their lives. If a young child eats wright from the beginning they want know any different. Saving parents lots of time from trying to get their children to want their vegetables rather than the hamburger and fries. The trick to eating healthy isn't so much as cutting out the calories for little ones because they are constantly going ninety miles an hour they burn everything off. They have very high metabolisms. The trick is to eat a large variety of healthy foods from all the food groups. This is so important because each food group is made of different kinds of nutrients that is crucial to the proper growth and development of kids.

Fruits
Kids should eat two kinds of fruit every day so at snack time give them an orange, kiwi halves, grapes, or an apple or some other fruit. A great snack for kids is jello with fruit mixed in. Another option is to get a large jar of apple sauce and add an eight once packet of jello of any flavor. Even banana slices and strawberries will make a great snack.

Vegetables
Vegetables have lots vitamins. Kids should eat three kinds of vegetables every day. One of the vegetables kids eat should be green or yellow. So at snack time give then raw vegetables such as baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, or broccoli to dip into a small amount of low fat vegetable dip or cheese. Even a little vegetable soup or juice will make a great snack.

Meat
To help build strong muscles kids need protein which comes from the meat group. Peanut butter which is in the meat group can be added to snacks for fun eating. A boiled egg would make a nice snack because kids should eat one almost every day. Eggs help kids to grow andgood red blood.

Grains
Kids get their carbohydrates from bread and should have at least six servings a day of whole grain. For snacks give them a bagel or whole wheat toast with a little cream cheese or jelly. Whole grain muffins make great little snacks too. Keep your little ones hands busy with a little baggy of different cereals with whole grain. All kids love to snack on animal or gram crackers these could be mixed in too or just ate separately.

Dairy
Dairy products contain minerals such as calcium and protein. This helps to give kids strong bones and teeth. So use dairy products to
enhance kids snacks. For example add a little low-fat cheese to their crackers. One of my kids favorite is a slice of rolled up turkey wrapped around a slice of cheese and melted. Also known by kids as a roll up. Add a table spoon or two of cottage cheese, or low-fat yogurt to their fruit. Instead of giving them fruit juices full of artificial flavors and sugar give them a cup of milk.

Combining food groups
To give kids a well balanced snack mix and match the food groups.Spread some peanut butter on to a celery stick and put raisins on top to make ants on a log. Try and see if your kids like bananas and peanut butter sandwiches. Slice up some apples for kids to dip into peanut butter. Just be creative and think healthy.

Just remember a large variety of healthy foods will make healthy kids.
The earlier kids start eating the better.

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