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What is the difference? Whole grains are less processed which keeps more of the nutrients in them and offer more vitamins, fiber and in general more nutrition. Some examples of whole grains are:
Check out this recipe for energy bites that includes oatmeal, a whole grain. Kids (and adults) love energy bites and as a parent you can feel good that you are giving your child a great breakfast or snack that includes whole grains. https://www.notquitesusie.com/2016/09/cranberry-chocolate-chip-energy-bites-recipe.html
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You may have noticed over the last few months a change in food labels found on pre-packaged food at the grocery store. These food label changes were mandatory for larger companies starting at the beginning of this year and by January of 2021 will be required by big and small companies to make these changes to food labels.
Food labels can be very helpful in selecting foods that meet your dietary needs and preferences. Whether you are looking for how much sodium, added sugars or total calories are in each serving, the food label can inform you of what it is you are actually eating! I often use the ingredients list as well when making food choice decisions. What do you find most helpful about a food label? Check out this link for more information on the changes that were made to the food label starting this year! Cabbage is a versatile and nutrition packed vegetable that we often see a lot of in the fall. I just picked up a beautiful savoy cabbage from the farmers market last week! Cabbage is loaded with vitamin k, vitamin c and fiber and can add an extra boost of nutrition to soups, casseroles or eaten as a side grilled, baked or pan fried.
Check out the recipe link below to try a new cabbage recipe. Or exchange shredded cabbage for pasta and make your favorite pasta dish gluten free, diabetic friendly and super yummy!! 😁 Taking an hour or two on the weekend or on a day off can really make a difference in the ease of eating throughout the week. If your family is anything like mine they love fruits and veggies but I'm usually the only one that cleans them and chops them up! When the celery and grapes are ready to eat in a container in the fridge they are easy for everyone to eat for snacks or meals.
Don't forget about frozen fruits and vegetables that can easily be added to meals to increase nutrition. Frozen mangos, blueberries, broccoli and green beans are a family favorite! Keeping a variety of frozen options can really speed up meal prep for the week! https://fadfreenutrition.nutricionalgrano.com/frozen-fruit-and-vegetables-vs-fresh/ After school is a great time to offer a nutritious snack to your kids. This article points out the importance of keeping in mind how soon dinner will be after the snack and has some easy and healthy ideas of what to offer. What are your favorite after school snacks for your kids?
https://healthyfamilyproject.com/after-school-snacks-that-wont-ruin-dinner/ Green leafy vegetables offer a host of health benefits along with adding more taste and texture to meals and snacks. Branch out this week and try a new type of leafy green. Kale chips, arugula with eggs, spinach in smoothies, bok choy in stir fry - these are all great ways to add greens to you and your families diet.
https://www.verywellfit.com/health-benefits-of-green-leafy-vegetables-2242154 I've been known to say that I love eating with my eyes - food truly is beautiful! Different colors signify the unique nutrient makeup of that food. It is important to include all the different colors of the rainbow in your diet for optimal nutrition.
Try this tasting activity with your kids to introduce them to this idea of eating the rainbow! https://happyhealthymama.com/rainbow-smoothies-a-tasting-activity-for-kids.html Food safety is an important thing to think about year round but especially in the summer months. Check out this article with some food safety information and tips to keep you and your family safe.
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-long-are-leftovers-good-for?fbclid=IwAR1b5qeaBjzdrJuEVpVHVJnm4-Q_hbZgz9qKhi5HaWsBgtJh5cTASIYeJsw Breakfast is the first food of the day and it's important to make the first food we put in our body something that is full of good nutrients. As a dietitian I like to help people simplify eating so they can feed their body well and not take a lot of time or thought to do so. Here are some simple tips to try to see if they work for you.
Hydrate! Drink a cup of water when you first get up Include a fruit: fresh or frozen fruits are great options Include a vegetable - this can be more tricky. Smoothies are a great way to include veggies, greens are great with eggs (especially spinach or arugula), adding salsa or chopped peppers to eggs is another tasty way to include veggies. Overnight oats or healthy muffins are great paired with fruit and hard boiled eggs Make a large batch of scrambled eggs and use over a couple days to make breakfast burritos or add to greens like arugula. Make toast more hearty by putting on a nut butter or ricotta cheese with fruit topping If you don't like 'breakfast’ try leftovers as breakfast Try these Hearty breakfast burritos this week and give a thumbs up if you liked them! https://cookingmatters.org/recipes/hearty-egg-burritos Be sure to check out our local farmers market starting today and continuing Wednesdays and Sundays throughout the summer!! Our area also has many other local farmers that have farm stands or CSA's. Eating local produce and products are tasty, healthy and supports local businesses.
What do you look forward to at the farmers market? https://www.eaglerivermainstreet.org/farmers-market/ |
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