Time to Arm Yourself

It seems to be a constant challenge when it comes to trying to feed your children good, clean, affordable and quality food. Why does it have to be so difficult? The labels list countless foreign chemicals that no one can pronounce.  The preservatives, artificial flavors- it seems never ending!

Who wants to be "The Food Police"? No one. However, as a parent, it is your job to ensure that your little one is safe and is supplied with what they need to grow into a healthy being.  Don't rely on The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for a seal of approval; they have proven time and time again they cannot be trusted.  Countless records show that the FDA allows companies to include a certain amount of harmful, hazardous chemicals in the food and products released for human consumption and utilization. 

(Source: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention)

For example, Tri sodium Phosphate (TSP), found in many cereals, is a chemical used  to break down paint and aluminum. This chemical can also be found in toothpaste and cleaning agents (via Livestrong, Adams, 2015). 

Another example out of the many thousand is the use of bromine in beverages like Gatorade. This chemical, used as a flame retardant in furniture and plastics, is banned in other countries (Chicago Tribune, 2013).The allowance of hazardous chemicals being used as additives in food sources by the FDA  is bad enough, but the fact that these companies can do so without notice or publication of the potential consequences of consumption is infuriating. 

What can you do about it? You may feel powerfulness, but you don't have to be in that position. Short of maintaining your own garden, taking up farming, depriving your family or trying to find the time to make everything from scratch, you can make the conscious decision to set aside time to learn. 

Knowledge is power, so arm yourself with it. Research...investigate the sources of food consumed by your family.  Find out about the chain; who and what is involved from the original source to the time if finally makes it to the store and hits your table. 

Don't just take things at face value; for much of this information you will have to do some digging to uncover the truth and fill in the missing gaps. For example; exactly what happens on those farms and in the processing plants? 

In a future posts, I will talk about:

·       the sources from which we receive our food

·       practices, standards and regulations 

·       long term health and alternative solutions

·       creating a plan specific to the needs and budget of your family

Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss out! 

Learn and lead as you live. 

I hope this inspired you. 

~Kia

Power in Little Hands Prepping

Do you have a picky eater on your hands?  One who pushes away the green veggies or sneaks handfuls of food to the dog at dinner time?  It can be both concerning and frustrating when your little one refuses to eat certain foods (especially if they have never tried it before).

Luckily, my four year old is not too picky, but there are times when she turns her nose up at an unfamiliar food. A possible way to help your child through this is to involve them in the preparation of  meals.  Having your little one on deck to prepare food can:

• inspire curiosity
• create an opportunity for exploration and learning 
• teach them responsibility
• create an opportunity for quality time
• create a sense of accomplishment for your child 

These are simply a few of the benefits to involving your little ones in meal preparation.  Make it fun for them by setting the atmosphere; make sure everyone washes their hands, turn off the t.v., put on some fun music, talk about their day, let them help wash off veggies/fruits. 

Talk with them about what  you will be preparing/cooking and have them name and describe the uniqueness of the foods you're handling (colors, textures, shapes, etc.).  Talk to them about how the food is grown, where it comes from and then as you're preparing/cooking the food, talk through the steps with them. 

If you're preparing cold or room temperature foods, such as salads and sandwiches, allow your child to do as much of the work as possible (of course, you will have to use discretion and for safety reasons, you will want to handle tasks that involve sharp objects such as knives and scissors). For meals that require the use of a stove/oven, after preparation, allow your child to observe and depending on the temperature of the foods, help with plating the cooked food (as well as setting the table while the food is cooking). 

My little one has been helping me out in the kitchen on Sundays when I prepare our meals for the first few days of the week.  She seems to enjoy it and gets really excited to look at the final product of her hard work. She asks lots of questions, observes and wants to be hands on as much as possible.  She has been more open to eating a variety of salads since she began helping out.

Give it a try in your home.  You and your family will find it to be an enjoyable and rewarding experience in many ways.  Don't worry about messes; they can help you with a little of the cleaning as well. 😀

Hope this inspired you.  Here's to a healthy and happy family! 

Bad Bubbles

I've been really focused on children's nutrition and have been conducting a lot of research on it lately. If you allow your children to consume pop (soda), please make it a priority to remove it from their diet . It's not good for adults either, but for children who are still developing it is even more critical to eliminate the consumption (or refrain from introducing if you've not done so at this point). My husband and I do not allow our four year old daughter to drink it, but she did have a sip of Sprite one day and didn't like the overpowering taste. 

Though the amount of sugar in juice and the consumption of cows milk are debatable, soda actually robs your child's body of key nutrients that impact their growth and long term health. 

At the end of the day, H20 is the beat way to go (Source:Buildhealthykids.com). As much as possible, steer clear of the "bad bubbles". 

Quick Fix- Snacks On The Go

It's Saturday morning and you have a long list to tackle (if you're like me, a few errands, laundry and other tasks around the house eventually). Your little one has eaten a quick bowl of cereal and you managed to scarf down a bar before sorting through their backpack before you run out the door. It's after 10am....it will be lunch soon.  What will you do for lunch when the little ones (and you) get hungry?

Don't brave it- be prepared! Here's a quick fix to cover your bases:

1. Pack a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and mess free fruit (such as grapes, an apple or orange/cutie).
2. Grab a few handfuls of pretzels and throw into a baggie with a handful of raisins, half a handful of their favorite cereal  or granola and cheese crackers.
3. Fill a travel cup with a no sugar added beverage, preferably water (though it will keep you on the go to the potty if not consumed moderately).

This will keep you from swinging by the drive through windows or grabbing junk in the middle aisle and check out lanes of the stores. You'll save time and money, and ultimately, teach your child the value in being prepared, eating healthy and caring for self.

Hope this inspired you!  

Welcome to Healthy Kid On The Go!

Welcome!

This blog is dedicated to featuring healthy, quick, fun and affordable meal options for children.  I was inspired to create this blog because of my passion for health and wellness for all, but I felt it was important to focus a blog on children's nutrition,  since the foundation of healthy habits is established from birth onward.

I have a four year old daughter and I am truly committed to her well being on all levels. I will be the first to admit that juggling my own life while trying to ensure that her nutritional needs are met, is not always easy. Some days it is easy to fall into the trap of tearing open a box from the freezer, or swinging by Chick-fil-A to grab nuggets and fries, but I always feel horrible about it later.  Can you relate?

If you can, this blog is for you.  I will be doing regular meal sharing (prep and final product), along with providing you with various resources to make your life easier when it comes to feeding your little ones.  Perfection is not the aim.  The goal is to help you maximize your time , money and resources as much as possible to ensure that your child is healthy, happy and on track to form good habits as they grow.

So, you're invited to subscribe today and encouraged to come back often. Here's to a happy and healthy family!  We're in this together.