Let Kids Decorate for Healthy Meals
By Tom Herrin
In lots of cases, if someone was told to allow their children to design meals, they would expect them to be filled with candy, ice cream, and a few other valuable items. This may be the case if they were allowed to pick the foods, but if they were allowed to actually design a meal, it may be different. Asking them to choose colors to put on a plate of food may very well be one of the best ways to get them to buy in. Children are pretty creative if they are given the chance. Once they get out the crayons or markers, it is likely they would color a pretty healthy meal.
Red May Do More Than Look Like Blood
Too many times, red foods are left off of an everyday menu. These foods have some pretty good use. There are things in some of these foods that are believed to help fight against prostate cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Including them in meals is a great way to sneak in a little more healthy things. Some of these foods include tomatoes, red peppers, beets, cranberries, watermelon, and more. The entire family may enjoy these foods when mixed in to break the monotony of the same old thing.
Blues Have a Good Reputation
Foods that are blue, or purple, are pretty well-known for some of their properties, including antioxidants. These can help to keep down inflammation and promote overall wellness. A few of the foods on this list are blueberries, red cabbage which is really purple, plums, figs, and a few assorted others. Adding some to daily meals can make them a little more interesting, and kids may acquire a taste for them at a young age.
Make a Family Project
When everyone is involved in making decisions, they are more likely to see that the project is a success. If we let each person have a meal in which they can pick a favorite color, they may learn a little more about the foods. They may also choose some things that really taste good. Get them involved in recipes as well. We like doing this in our home. You may be pleasantly surprised at some of the things different individuals come up with. A little competition may spur them to have some pretty tasty and colorful dishes. With that, everyone becomes a winner.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Redmond, Wash.