Real food for healthy kids pdf

Find activity sheets, quizzes, and videos with tips on eating a healthy breakfast. Use the Breakfast from Around the World interactive game to explore what people in different countries may eat for breakfast. Find colorful stickers, cards, infographics, and activities to help kids and parents learn about healthy eating at school.

Why shop at farmers markets? Fresh, nutritious, locally grown fruits and vegetables are just a few reasons. See what this Nutrition. Is there an activity you want to know more about? Download the free Dining Decisions game to your iPad, iPhone, or Android device and see how healthy you can make your food plate! Use these videos and activity sheets to teach children how to read the new Nutrition Facts Label.

Learn about what nutrients are, healthy weight goals, what to do if you are a vegetarian, and more. Lead the "Outbreak Squad" in protecting the public during a foodborne illness crisis! This online game is intended for grade 5 and above. Get kids excited about healthy food with activity sheets, videos, stories, coloring sheets, and online games.

View a collection of videos starring Captain Create, a cartoon superhero who teaches kids to eat well and be physically active. An official website of the United States government. Here's how you know. MyPlate for Kids. MyPlate Videos. Take small steps toward healthier food choices using tips from these videos. Kids Food Critic Activity. MyPlate Grocery Store Bingo. Digital Nutrition Resources for Kids. Stronger with School Meals Educational Materials.

Learn about food safety using this printable coloring activity sheet. Body and Mind Activity Information Sheets. Dining Decisions App. Read the Label Youth Outreach Materials. Snack Shack Game. Real food is NOT made in a factory. It does not contain added sugars or artificial sweeteners.

It does not need a long ingredient list containing industrialized oils, or chemical additives. Ditch the soda, candy, packaged snack foods, pastries, and the overconsumption of pasta, cereals, and breads.

With some foods it is blatantly obvious that they are factory produced. Others require you and your kids to put on your detective hats. Making the distinction between real food and factory food can take the slightly-short-of-torture experience of bringing your kids to the grocery store and turn it into a fun and educational game.

It can take practice to quickly answer these questions, but if they answer yes to any of them, they can feel good about putting that food in the grocery cart.

While putting this article together I asked my own boys what they thought the benefits of eating real food are. They are ready to take on the day. Having plenty of energy is what first comes to mind, but play is also an important opportunity to socially engage in a cooperative way.

When kids eat well, they have the strength, mobility, stamina, and developmental skills at a healthy weight to be able to play well.

Thinking clearly, concentrating, and maintaining attention to the task at hand are critical for success in the classroom. We all want our kids to feel great, play hard, and love learning.

Keeping high sugar, processed foods off their plate can reduce headaches, stomachaches, skin rashes, anxiety , excess weight , and ADHD symptoms that can leave them feeling less than their best. Building and enjoying balanced meals full of real food proteins, fats, and carbohydrates fills our children with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and nutrient dense calories to support their rapidly growing bodies and minds.

These foods help boost their mood, lead to quality sleep, support a healthy gut , stabilize blood sugar, and keep systemic inflammation low. Real food nutrition for children should be a top priority. But putting it into practice has a set of challenges that can deter us from taking action.

Whether you live in a food desert , travel frequently, or rely on the convenience of processed goods, real food may not always be at your fingertips. Taking simple steps such as planning ahead, and packing healthy lunches for teens and children, is a great way to boost your real food access. It is also argued that by eliminating empty, addicting, and high-calorie processed foods, a real food diet can less expensive.

But with a little family involvement, and time saving strategies, preparing your food at home does lead to healthier eating. Hopefully you are convinced that the real food benefits outweigh the potential challenges. But, actually getting your kids to eat healthy meals may still seem like an obstacle with a deadend. I get it! The good news is… your kids will adjust faster than you think, and with parental confidence, gradual introduction, and child involvement, you will be celebrating real food wins in no time.

Like it or not, children pick up behaviors more through observing than listening. If they see that you consistently create a winning plate of colorful veggies, quality proteins, and natural fats, and enjoy such tasty meals, they will eventually follow suit.

If the junk food is not in the house, you and your children have to turn to alternative choices. This step can be one of the hardest, but I recommend throwing out or donating the processed foods that live in your pantry or refrigerator and replacing them with real ingredients for homemade creations.

Chances are your kids enjoy multiple items on the real food list already. Start building meals around those familiar ingredients and then swap out new foods to try. Prepare foods in different ways, start with small portions they can always come back for more , and instill the one bite of each food rule.

Speaking from personal experience, kids are far more likely to eat foods that they are connected to through growing, selecting, and cooking. Lastly, real kids want to have fun, and fun with real food is important for a successful transition. These are real food meals that I feel nutritionally confident in, and the kids love to help prepare. Raspberry Almond Chia Pudding. Tomato Soup with powered up grilled cheese. For kids that refuse to eat anything too different, check out these crockpot recipes for picky eaters.