By MyDailyMoment.com Editorial Team
Making sure your kids are eating healthy is hardly child’s play. Good nutrition is integral for ensuring that your children develop healthy minds and bodies. The sooner you introduce power foods into your child’s diet, the better. They’ll quickly become acclimated to feasting on nutritious foods.
Here are our picks for six of the best foods for kids.
Oatmeal
Oatmeal is a great source of fiber. Additionally, cognitive performance is increased because there is a slower release of glucose into the body’s blood system when fiber is eaten. Oatmeal doesn’t have to just be served for breakfast. Enjoy it in in other foods and snacks, such as cookies and bars. Instead of adding sugar to sweeten the pot, try honey, fresh berries, dried cranberries, granola or crushed walnuts.
Try this: Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
Eggs
Eggs are a great source of protein and are also rich in important vitamins and minerals. Eggs contain vitamin D, some iron and are rich in choline. Eggs help the body absorb calcium, along with building and repairing muscles. Although eggs contain some cholesterol, they do not have a lot of saturated fat, or bad fat. So an egg every other day is perfectly fine. Scrambled eggs in the morning or an egg sandwich at lunch can be an egg-scellent way to get your kids on board.
Try this: 5-Minute Breakfast Crumble
Tuna
There’s nothing fishy about this food. You’ll be singing a happy tuna when you realize how healthy this popular lunchtime staple can be. Tuna fish is a wonderful source of omega-3 fatty acids, a healthy type of fat that our bodies need. These essential fatty acids are important for brain function, growth and development.
Try this: Healthy Tuna Salad
Vegetables
The benefits of eating vegetables are countless, particularly when kids consume a variety of produce. Some of the best vegetables to eat are:
- broccoli
- spinach
- red peppers
- carrots
- asparagus
- celery
If getting your child to eat vegetables is a struggle, try dipping them in a low-fat, sugar-free vegetable dip, like this blue cheese dressing.
Fruit
Like vegetables, fruit contains various vitamins and minerals that are good for the body. Some great fruit options for kids include:
- kiwi
- cantaloupe
- apples
- oranges
- blueberries
Many children also enjoy dried fruits as another option. They are high in iron, which boosts energy and mental alertness.
Try this: Watermelon Honeydew Kabobs
Yogurt
Yogurt accounts for some of the calcium that your child needs. In addition, you can boost the health of your child’s digestive system by choosing yogurt that contains live and active cultures. Keep in mind that many of the flavored yogurts that appeal to kids are high in sugar – so make sure you read the labels. Consider purchasing plain low-fat yogurt and adding fresh fruit or honey to sweeten it up yourself.
Try this: Greek Yogurt Parfait
Cheese
Low-fat cheese also provides the calcium kids need. Melting low-fat cheese on top of vegetables combines the forces of two healthy foods into one (bonus points if you add the mix to a baked potato). Grilled cheese sandwiches made on whole-grain bread are a powerful lunch. String cheese or chunks served with apple slices also make for a great snack. Because of the fat and cholesterol content, cheese is best consumed in moderation.
Try this: Healthy Grilled Cheese Sandwich