Kids Eat Right Month

Eating healthier can get complicated, especially during the busy season of back-to-school and new work goals. Also, being on a budget makes it tough to make healthier meals or snacks. However, by making time in the morning or the afternoon before your children come back to school, you can make healthier snacks that take less time to do. It is a good idea to have hummus, peanut butter, and salad dressing to create snacks for your children. Always have vegetables and fruit ready to add to their afternoon snack. 

Sometimes, children tend to skip their breakfast or lunch, especially among teenagers for several reasons. It might be that they are meticulous eaters or are at the stage of being self-conscious about their body image. As well as having body issues due to weight and wanting to look like their favorite celebrities. Yet, it is important to discuss with your teenager about body image issues. They must learn how to balance exercise and healthy eating without worrying about their weight. 

During August, you can bring awareness of Kids Eat Right Month which is about eating healthy and doing physical activities that promote exercise. Eat healthier and together as a family. Do not focus on your child's weight but do add a variety of vegetables, fruits, and protein in the meals. Encourage doing activities that require exercise such as using the stairs, jumping rope, bicycling, or doing a dancing session. Make exercising delightful and essential for everyone's health. 

Have a variety of dipping sauces to change the flavor of the snacks and meals. If you are concerned about diabetes, read labels carefully and look at the sugar content. As well as the sodium content on the labels. Motivate your children to have breakfast or something to eat before going to school. Eat together by having oatmeal, a fruit bowl, or scrambled eggs in a tortilla wrap for breakfast. 

After your children come back from school, have a healthy snack already prepared for them. Mix baby carrots, grape tomatoes, and apple slices so they can dip them in hummus. You can also use celery sticks, cucumbers, and pears dipped in hummus. Additionally, varying the snacks with peanut butter or ranch dressing depending on the vegetables or fruits that are used. If you are concerned about the apples turning brown, you can use salt water to keep the slices fresh. 

Furthermore, you can also make popcorn and have it ready as a snack. Have broccoli or cauliflower with salad dressing or melting cheese on top of these vegetables. Prepare your meal planning by adding different snacks per day. Get creative by serving vegetables they like and do not like together in a meal. Hide vegetables they do not like in the meal by using a food processor, in a sauce, or chili beans.

Learn how to make your meals healthier and with lots of flavors. Set a good example by eating healthier in front of your children. Serve reasonable portions for their snacks and meals. Seek professional help if your child has an eating disorder. Here are resources with more tips for Kids Eat Right Month. 

Kids Eat Right Month:

https://www.eatright.org/food/planning/smart-shopping/7-kitchen-staples-for-teen-friendly-meals

Food Tips and Kitchen Hacks-Reader's Digest:

Food Tips and Kitchen Hacks | Reader's Digest (rd.com)

28 Healthy Snacks Your Kids Will Love-Healthline:

28 Healthy Snacks Your Kids Will Love (healthline.com)

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