Kid Superfoods

Helping kids avoid junk food and eat superfoods:

Kids love to eat burgers, fries and a whole lot of other junk food.It's not that a trip to KFC or McDonalds is bad but having it once in a while is okay but if your kids want to have it on a  regular basis, then we all know it's definitely not good.old habits are hard to break but it's not impossible.Though my son is not accustomed to eating junk food but he sometimes whines for it and I do take him out for a treat but that is not very often,once in 2 months maybe.
I try to make sure that there is no junk food in the house .Developing good eating habits in kids can be tricky but parents should make sure that kids are exposed to different kinds of super foods from an early age.

What are Superfoods
Well, superfoods are those foods that are packed with vitamins,minerals and antioxidants.In other world superfoods are whole foods.These foods act like a tonic for the body and help you build immunity and live a healthy life.They are natural food sources where the nutrients are in the raw unprocessed state.
Some of you might be thinking, why not multivitamins and supplements? research has shown that taking multivitamins over a prolonged period of time increases the person's chances of death .No.I'm not trying to scare you but it's a fact established on the basis of several studies.

10 Super foods
 1) Oatmeal- Oats are rich in fiber and antioxidants.They also contain Zinc,magnesium and also iron.Some studies have also shown that kids who had oats in their breakfast were able to concentrate better in classroom.The study also showed that kids who ate oats at the start of their day showed increased spatial memory skills as compared to kids who had cereals.Spatial memory is related to memory and problem solving abilities in kids.
2) Whole Eggs-Eggs contain Choline, an important component that is essential for brain development in kids.They are also packed with protein.Egg Yolk is equally important.It contains all essential vitamins and minerals.So,don't even think of throwing away the yolk.Best way to have eggs is hard boil it and kids can have it as snack or can even take it in their lunch box.
3)Fruits-As we all know "An apple a day keeps the doctor away". Yes, apples are a great source of vitamins and minerals .Other fruits like Kiwi fruits,strawberries,mangoes, bananas and pears.Serve fruits as fruit salad and fruit kebabs
4)Milk-A natural source of calcium and protein.Proteins helps in the wear and tear of the body and calcium is great for keeping bones and teeth strong and healthy.
5)Nuts and Seeds-Nuts provide the essential fats that kids little bodies require.A handful of nuts can provide quick energy and keep away the hunger pangs.Almonds are rich in Vitamin-E and calcium.Mix powdered almonds into a glass of milk.Walnuts contain antioxidants and are very beneficial for brain developments.
Another seed that is rich in antioxidants is Pumpkin seeds.Pumpkin seeds are known to have many health benefits.
6)Tomatoes-Tomatoes contain Lycopene. Lycopene is a substance that fights against cancer.Kids can have ripe and juicy tomatoes or you can even cook it.Cooking tomatoes makes it even more healthier.
7)Yogurt-Regular consumption of yogurt  helps build immunity.It also helps in digestion.Yogurt contains healthy bacteria which regulates the sugar levels in our kid's body.Go for pro-biotic curd.
8)Fish-Fish like Salmon,mackerel and sardines contain omega-3 fatty acids which is good for brain development in children.It is also heart friendly.
9)Beans-Pinto beans.chick peas,black beans are all filled with protein, vitamins and calcium.They help our body to fight against bad cholesterol.Darker the colour of beans,the better it is.
10)Green Vegetables -This includes green leafy vegetables like spinach and kale.Vegetables like broccoli and cabbage are extremely good for health.They contain antioxidants and are full of vitamins and minerals.

I know it can be tough to get your kids eat all the healthy veggies and fruits.I sure do.In my next post I'm going to share some of my ideas to get kids eat vegetables and fruits.