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Moms In Touch Newsletter May 2007

Healthy Eating for Your Children

Very few children seem to be healthy eaters. Having been a parent that made sure my little one tasted all sorts of baby foods and a wide variety of finger foods, I was quite confused when he quit eating anything but chicken nuggets and bananas. Of course, a big milk drinker, he got a lot of necessary vitamins and minerals from whole milk, but I was still concerned. Many moms have the same concerns... this newsletter will help you with ideas to help your children eat healthier and have a healthier diet.

Do's for Baby Food

New moms may be concerned when introducing baby foods to their infants. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends introducing solids after 6 months. After that, you should follow these guidelines when using feeding your baby:

• Do start with baby cereal. You can mix the cereal with baby juice, breast milk, formula or water. Try different textures to find out how well your child can swallow, runny is best to start.

• Do introduce foods slowly- one new food every three days or every week. That way you can determine if there is an allergy. Start with fruits and vegetables.

• Do pour baby food into a bowl when feeding. You should not put a used spoon back into the baby food jar unless your baby eats the entire jar. Baby food should not be saved if a used spoon has been put into the jar. Bacteria can grow quickly.

• Do use an open jar of baby food within 72 hours of opening. If the food is not consumed within the time frame, THROW IT OUT! When you open the jar, write the date on the top of it with a permanent marker so you will not forget when it was opened.

• Do mix baby cereal with fruits and vegetables if your baby has learned to swallow well. This will add more vitamins and nutrients to the baby food and increase the texture so the food will stay on the spoon!

• Do be careful when microwaving baby food. Check the temperature on your wrist and make sure you stir well. Microwaves heat from the inside out and may be hotter in the center than the outside. MIX WELL and do not overheat!

Healthy Finger Food For Your Toddler

Bite sized pieces of any of the following:

• grapes (cut into quarters, not halves)
• cheese
• soft fruits like pears and peaches
• diced veggies such as potatoes, pumpkin or peas (steamed or microwaved until soft)
• pasta such as ziti
• sticks of cucumbers, carrots, or celery
• hard boiled eggs
• sandwiches made with mashed banana, avocado, or jam.

For more information on healthy eating for your toddler, read this article.

Family Fun- Cooking With Your Kids

Many moms are the sole cook of the household, but as your children get older, you can assign them cooking duties also. In my family, we each had a night. As someone that loved to cook, I would be assigned elaborate meals to prepare, while my brother made hot dogs. But the food did not matter; it was the responsibility of the family member to provide for the rest of us. With a single mom working all day, there had to be some assistance from the rest of us to get dinner on the table, and eating out was not an option.

Having your children cook with you or teaching your children to cook increases self esteem. A child that can cook for himself can make it on his own. Even if the meal is a simple hot dog dinner, the child will develop a sense of pride for providing for his family.

Here are some simple meals your child can help you prepare or learn to make on his own.

• Chili dogs, baked beans, and French fries
• Taco salad with refried beans, lettuce, tomato, and cheese
• BLT’s (making the bacon in the microwave and teaching them how hot bacon can get), tator tots, and fruit
• Spaghetti and meatballs (prepared and in the freezer section), garlic bread, and Caesar salad in the bag

While these meals are not low fat or low calorie, they are healthy alternatives to eating out.

For more fun, teach your child to bake and make breakfast. You may be surprised and awaken one morning to breakfast in bed!  By teaching children to cook healthy, well balanced meals without the fried foods, they will then (hopefully) eat healthier as they grow.

Please join our forum for work at home moms, Smart Moms-Smart Business or our Google Group- A Mom Group.

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