We all need nutrition to live healthy lives, but when it comes to kids, nutritional food is a must. To ensure that your babies and teens grow into the healthy adults that they deserve to be, you’ll want to set them up for success by providing them with the best food and meals possible.
Here are some tips to help ensure you’re giving your kids the nutrition that their bodies need:
Better Brain Function and Energy
For your teenagers, meals that are chock full of nutrition are going to help set them up for success, both for the future and for their present. The food that they eat can impact their overall energy levels, their brain function, and even their growth.
Because your teenagers are still developing, it’s important you continue to provide them with the best possible nutrition.
Additionally, because of puberty, some teenagers tend to put on weight if their nutrition isn’t dialed in. Help them manage their health and avoid needing a weight loss prescription by making sure that their meals are well-rounded. When they eat well, they live well.
Get Baby Used to Healthy Foods
For your baby that is entering the world of solids, you’ll want to take care with what you feed them. This is a time when your child is learning what foods they like and those they don’t.
Parents tend to give their little ones already made purees from the store and while much of the time, these foods are designed to be healthy, some are full of sugar. You want to be careful about getting your little one too accustomed to sugary foods.
Instead, make their food at home so that you can have control over what’s going on inside of their food. Set them up for success by giving them the most nutritional food as they enter into the world of solid foods and eating.
What Teenagers Need
‘For your teenage child, you want to give them the freedom to prepare or ask for the meals that they will like while also making sure they’re eating foods that are good for them.
A few options to include in the weekly meal planning are foods with whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, making sure that they are getting enough iron, protein, calcium, and vitamins in their meals. You want to help them avoid anemia, continue nurturing their brain health, and also aid them in their hormonal balance.
Ideas for Meals
Help your teenager get started with their day by providing them with energy-inspiring foods like oatmeal, smoothie bowls, eggs with avocado toast, etc. Keep the healthy food train going with lunches that include proteins, quinoa, pitas, and veggies.
For a great finish to a healthy meal plan for the day, consider dinners that are rich in protein and grains, as well as vegetables, such as chicken and vegetable fajitas paired with corn tortillas, baked sweet potatoes with fish of their choosing, and even pasta that includes some vegetables and lean protein.
Look at Ingredients
Parents tend to shop for pouches and packaged food for their little ones as they start to grow out of the baby phase, as it makes it easier for them to feed their child on the go.
As convenient as these foods are, make sure you’re looking at the ingredients so that you can be confident that you’re feeding your children the best foods possible and avoiding ingredients that aren’t doing them any good. For optimal health, do your best to avoid feeding your children processed foods.
In Conclusion
From infancy to the teenage years, what your kids eat does matter. The foods they eat now can set them up for better health tomorrow. Take your time coming up with the best foods for your children so that they live the healthy lives you want them to.
