For many busy parents, family mealtimes need to be quick and easy. This can mean rustling something up at the last minute or throwing a ready made meal in the microwave. However, it is important to put some thought into the food you are feeding your children. A nutritious diet will help your kids grow up healthy and will promote a healthy relationship with food. This needn’t be difficult or time-consuming. These tips are easy to apply, even with a hectic schedule, and will ensure your kids are receiving the nutrients they need.
Meal planning
You may have ready this advice several times before, but it is worth reiterating that planning your family meals ahead will help you to deliver a healthy, balanced diet. Ad hoc cooking makes it harder to keep track of what foods your kids are eating from one day to the next. By planning ahead, you will see the weekly meals at a glance giving you a better chance to ensure varied and healthy ingredients are provided throughout the week. Search for family meal planning templates and suggested healthy recipes online to make this task much quicker and easier.
Give them their five a day
One of the best things you can do for your children’s health is ensure they are eating the recommended amount of fruit and veg each day. This doesn’t have to be difficult. A glass of fresh fruit juice with breakfast, two different pieces of fruit as snacks during the day and two varieties of vegetables with dinner and you’ve hit the quota. Use five a day shortcuts such as cooking veggies in the microwave and providing snack-sized packs of dried fruit.
Always ensure a healthy breakfast
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day for your family. Ensure they stock up on plenty of carbs to give them energy for the day. Wholegrain breads and muesli with milk or yoghurt make an an easy and healthy breakfast and will ensure they are ready for the day ahead.
Educate yourself on the nutritional value of foods
Most foods must include nutritional information on their packaging alongside the recommended daily intake. A good habit is to read this information carefully, so you are aware of how much sugar, salt, fat and calories are in different products. This is an easy way to determine portion sizes and how often to serve particular ingredients to your children. When it comes to eating out, some restaurant websites and menus will provide consumers with nutritional info. For example, you can find information on fast food restaurant nutrition information at Fastfoodmenuprice.com.
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