Don't have enough time in your hands to do some real cooking in your kitchen? If you're a parent with little kids, this can be a problem. Children are not easy to feed. They usually pass a stage when all they want are junk foods, fried chicken, hotdog-processed foods you'll find in supermarkets and fast food chains. The problem is, much as they enjoy these foods, they're dangerous to your children's health. The challenge to all parents like you is to prepare delicious and nutritious food for your kids. And in most instances, squeezing cooking time in your daily schedule isn't at all easy. What you'll need are the right healthy recipes that are both delicious and easy to prepare.
Yes, there are recipes that combine all three characteristics-quick preparation, good nutrient content, and great taste-and your kids will surely love the food.
Kid-Friendly Snacks
Although you may think that snacks are of little value compared to the main meals-breakfast, dinner, lunch-what your kids snack on are actually crucial to their health. Snacks are usually taken anytime of the day: when kids are watching television, after playing, or whenever they feel like eating. Without close monitoring, your kids can easily grab junk foods and unhealthy meals during these times. The key to controlling this is to prepare delicious treats for your kids with the help of healthy recipes.
Believe it or not, there are some nutritious treats that you can prepare with no effort at all. Just take a look at the following:
* Smoothies. Instead of the usual ice cream or artificial drinks from the supermarket, why don't you make these delicious treats out of fresh fruits? With the use of a blender, all you need is to toss in some fruits, milk, juice, or yogurt, and then press the blend button. In no time at all, your kids will enjoy a delicious and nutritious shake.
* Jelly. All that you will need to prepare this snack are gelatin and fruit juice, plus other extras you might want to add like yogurt, fruits, etc. The preparation only involves simple cooking of the gelatin, some mixing and pouring, and then the refrigerating of the finished jelly for that wonderful taste. This is a typical favorite among kids.
* Home-made popsicle. Well, this is a no-brainer snack, and even your kids can prepare it. All you'll need is a fruit juice or fruit shake that you pour into a mold. Next thing you must do is put the stick on the mold and then place it in your freezer. Once it's frozen, your kid will have an instant healthy popsicle!
* Nuts, seeds, and dried fruits. Instead of the usual chips, these are healthy alternatives. Plus, they need no preparation at all. Just be sure that you don't add salt on the nuts and seeds.
With all these ideas, you'll have no problem keeping your kids healthy while they enjoy the food they eat. And for a lot more kid-friendly and healthy recipes for your diet, you can find more information in cookbooks and online sites. They'll help your kids and your family stay healthy.
About the Author
Marilyn has been fascinated with the work of the Healthy Lifestyle Nutritionist and Guru, David Wolfe and has a blog which keeps up with the latest in the world of Healthy Lifestyles at Raw Food Diets. See more about Healthy Recipes.
Do you know that eating breakfast is good for weight loss? You may believe that you will lose weight if you skip meals. That is not true. Enjoying a healthy breakfast is great ways to maintain a healthy weight. Breakfast every morning is good to boost your morning energy levels, and to improve your quality of life. Eating a nutritious breakfast is the best way to start off your day. Breakfast should give you a quarter of your total daily calorie requirements.
When you skip breakfast, you become easily tired because the brain and body run low on fuel. Your body expects to be refueled a few times each day. When you skip breakfast, you are missing out on the essential nutrients and the energy you need to perform well for daily activities.
For kids, eating breakfast means better nutrition, and lower body mass index. Kids will have higher rates of physical activity. Studies have shown that children who eat breakfast perform better at school than they who haven't. Overweight kids who never eat breakfast may lose body fat, but normal weight kids do not.
A healthy breakfast should contain some protein and some fiber. Breakfast begins with juice and fresh coffee or tea, then followed by fresh fruit. Research shows, cereal eaters ate more fiber, and less fat all day.
If you do not have enough time to prepare breakfast, you can try to make a packed breakfast the night before. You can buy breakfast cereal bars on the way to work or school.
Whether you work at home, on the farm, at the office, at school, or on the road, you have to not skip breakfast. Have eat breakfast every day added to your lists starts from today.
About the Author
Theodore Satou is a husband and dad, who works mostly in front of computer, as a graphic designer and web developer. You can also check out his latest website on Sleeping Bags for Kids which reviews the best Kelty Sleeping Bag.