4Real Forums: Nutrition miracles for my kids!

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Topic: Nutrition miracles for my kids!

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amiefriedl
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Joined: Feb 15 2005
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Posted: May 20 2005 at 5:44pm \| IP Logged

I have witnessed an amazing miracle in my home. If I hadn't been here to see it happen I would never have believed it.

We did a unit study on nutrition recently. I combed all 40 pages of options under such headings as "nutrition" and "juvenile nutrition" and some cookbook headings on the library website. We picked up some terrific books on foods and cooking w/kids as well as a few books on how food digests in the body and how vitamins and minerals are important to different organs and so forth. We also learned that there is some controversy in what is and isn't good for you and how to consider those options in light of moderation. (keeping in mind, all of this on a 'little kids' scale)

The real zinger came with a video of a talking apple called Jack the Apple. For my kids it just clicked (they are little kids). It is a very cheesy video but this talking apple goes on and on about healthy snack choices and healthy meals. He mentions many offending veggies by name in a very positive light. We have had these videos around for a little over a month and they have switched from begging for general junk to some pretty grown up choices. They have started to realize they are 'in charge' of their health and growth. The general complaining at meal time has almost disappeared. Whenever I get "a look" I just mention the benefits of the particular food and they give it a try.

Here are some new foods they have tried recently:

apple slices in plain yogurt (huge hit with my carb addicted daughter)
bell peppers (all colors, cooked and raw)
vegetarian bean soups w/ chunks of zucchini

There is more, but our crowning achievement was this afternoon. My kids have learned that broccoli is very much a 'superfood' with tons of nutrition. They are also genetically predisposed to hate it (dh doesn't even want me to cook it because of the smell). However, after another enthusiastic viewing of J the Apple today, my son asked for some broccoli. So I served him raw pieces with a little ranch dressing and he ate half the bowl, admitting it wasn't his favorite but he was going to eat it because he would grow so much healthier for it.

Even my dh has had to stretch his food comfort zone because the kids are so focused on nutrition in food. They are constantly asking about what they are eating and if it is healthy or not. When we are eating something unhealthy (like chips or cookies) I tell them the exact truth about why it is or isn't healthy, but then add with a smile, "but this cookie does make a nice occasional treat, doesn't it?" and they chime in "yes, but it isn't for all the time, just a nice treat".

We've discussed and played around with all kids of grains and combinations of healthy toppings. We had a big bread making day where we tinkered with shapes of breads and flavorings. It has been lots of fun.

I never expectly my kids to stretch so far so voluntarily for new foods, but they are! Miracles do happen!

One book I'd recommend for older kids, that we didn't use, would be How to Teach Nutrition to Kids: An integrated, creative approach to Nutrition Education for chlildren ages 6-10. by Connie Evers. It is of course somewhat based on the old food pyramid, but we didn't focus on the food pyramid much at all ourselves anyway. I read most of it for ideas and there are plenty of nice unit ideas in it that can be adapted to most any eating lifestyle.

Happy munching!

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In Christ the King through Mary our Mother,
Amie
Blessed with an awesome hubby and Mom of ds10, dd7, dd3 and dd 10months.

stefoodie
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Joined: Feb 17 2005
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Posted: May 20 2005 at 6:04pm \| IP Logged

Thanks so much, Amie. Maybe we can do this unit for the summer, so many helpful tips here! We did a mini-unit before but we need a refresher.

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stef

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alicegunther
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Joined: Jan 28 2005
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Posted: May 20 2005 at 6:14pm \| IP Logged

Pure inspiration, Amie. I am going to try this with the children. Thank you so much.

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Love, Alice
mother of seven!

Cottage Blessings
Brew yourself a cup of tea, and come for a visit!

Molly Smith
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Joined: Feb 08 2005
Location: Virginia
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Posted: May 21 2005 at 6:30am \| IP Logged

Amie, we had a similar revelation after our 2+ hour field trip to Wegman's last fall. The children learned so much about food groups and nutrients, and so for many meals afterwards they took turns identifying which food groups they were eating. That's also when I got serious about my menu planning, making our meals more balanced. (I highly recommend a Wegman's field trip, by the way.)

Now, I don't expect anyone to be requesting broccoli anytime soon

, but we're much better off than we were this time last year!

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Molly Smith in VA
Mom to seven beautiful children, ages 1-14

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