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Helen Sanders

About Helen Sanders

Helen Sanders is the chief editor at HealthAmbition.com. Established in 2012, Health Ambition has grown rapidly in recent years. Our goal is to provide easy-to-understand health and nutrition advice that makes a real impact. We pride ourselves on making sure our actionable advice can be followed by regular people with busy lives.

Are The Healthy Treats You’re Feeding Your Kids Really That Healthy?

August 9, 2018 By Helen Sanders Leave a Comment

Every parent has the same goal; to give their kids the tools they need to be healthy and succeed. However, many parents are simply unaware that the snacks and meals they’re feeding their children are actually void of nutrients and are ultimately comprising the health of their kids. As we get further away from the age of gardening and growing our own food, it’s easy to fall into a routine where you are quick to overlook whole foods and reach for the quick bag of crackers instead.

The ease and convenience of unhealthy food are so widespread. Furthermore, the prevalence of genetically modified foods, pesticides, herbicides, chemicals, preservative and toxins in food are at an unprecedented high. Thus, it requires a concerted effort to educate yourself as a parent so that you’re equipped with wisdom that can aid you in making smart decisions. Healthy eating doesn’t have to be complicated, but it will require the elimination of some common children’s foods that are nutrient deficient.

Fruit Snacks

Putting the word “fruit” in the name of a child’s snack item is a strategic marketing term used to label this popular item. Most generic fruit snacks actually do not contain any ingredients that real fruit does. Even the sugar in these snacks is highly refined and processed.

A better option would be to opt for the real fruit itself. Grabbing a whole piece of fruit like a banana or orange is just as convenient; it just requires you to grocery shop with a different mentality. Instead of looking for everything pre-packaged, utilize every chance you can get to feed your child real, whole foods as close to their natural state as possible.

Animal Crackers & Cereals

Although many modern day children’s animal crackers and snacks may even be labeled as gluten-free, they still contain highly refined grains which won’t provide any substantial nutrition. Grains like corn and wheat are also two of the most abundant genetically modified crops. Ingesting GMOs has been shown to cause negative health implications over time, making it a good idea to stay away from these grains as much as possible.

A healthier option is oats, as they are naturally gluten-free and are closer to their natural state when bought as steel-cut or rolled. Avoid the premixed instant oatmeal bags, as they are often packed with added sugar. If you’re feeling ambitious in the kitchen, you could prep some protein balls as a quick snack or put in your child’s pack back or lunch. While there are many variations and recipes online, you can start with a simple base of nut butter, seeds, oats and dates for some sweetness.

Sports Drinks

After wrapping up a soccer game or even a day at the park, it’s tempting to reach for a sugar-filled sports drink to help your kid rehydrate and replenish. However, it’s important to consider that there are many suspect ingredients in most sports drinks. They will receive more recovery benefits by simply refueling with fresh fruit like an orange, apple, berries or grapes.

Fruit does contain naturally-occurring sugar, but it’s not to be villainized. The sugar in fruit is housed in fiber, nutrients and water, which in combination do not cause blood sugar to spike; whereas sports drinks will cause a prompt increase in blood sugar which negatively impacts insulin regulation. Imbalanced insulin issues over time can manifest themselves in chronic illness. Fortunately, instilling healthy habits at a young age may help to avoid that issue for your children.

Another way to get your kids drinking more of their vegetables is to make your morning smoothie bigger than usual so that you can pour them a small glass. This minimizes the extra time you spend making a separate meal for them. Also, it’s important and perhaps the most effective teaching tool to lead by example in regards to eating habits. Children are more likely to implement healthy eating habits if their environment is reinforcing those values.

Conclusion

A simple solution to transition away from these preservative-filled, chemical-laden foods is to get back to the basics with fruits and vegetables. Be sure to get them as close to the source as possible. In other words, avoid canned goods, fruit syrups in yogurt, etc.

Serving your kids fresh plant-based foods doesn’t have to require a ton of food prep. If you are grocery shopping for healthy foods, then snack time can be as simple as peeling an orange or biting into an apple.

Filling up your child’s diet with fresh fruits and vegetables will ensure that you are minimizing their exposure to chemicals, additives, and toxins that are present in many processed foods.

Healthy, Fun, Cheap Activities for You and Your Kids This Summer

June 30, 2017 By Helen Sanders Leave a Comment

Now that summer is here, you’ll need to think of activities to keep the kids busy. They’ll probably want to go outside and enjoy the weather—and they should! After all, it’s important for kids to stay active and to get their fair share of vitamin D from the sun.

But, like most people, you’re not looking forward to spending a ton of money on activities and excursions this summer. We completely understand. That’s why we’ve come up with a list of healthy, fun and cheap activities that you and your kids will enjoy this summer.

Go berry picking

‘Tis the season—berry season, that is! In the summer, there are plenty of opportunities to go berry picking with your kids. You can usually find a local farm that will allow you to pick strawberries and raspberries for a few dollars.  Kids will love picking berries because it makes them feel like they are helping out with something important. You can also use the outing as an opportunity to educate your kids about how certain foods get from the farm to the kitchen table. And when you get home, you can ask them to join you in making a pie, smoothies or fruit salad with the berries!

Berries are delicious and have so many health benefits, so going berry picking is a great choice. They are packed with vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants (which help to fight off disease-causing free radicals). They may also help to lower blood pressure and prevent heart disease.

Go swimming

This summer, why not take your kids to the beach or the pool at a community center? It doesn’t cost much and your kids won’t turn it down! Not only will you and your kids be able to cool off and have fun, but you’ll also reap the health benefits of swimming.

What exactly are the health benefits? Well, swimming keeps your heart rate up and it also tones your muscles (since nearly all your muscles are used while swimming). Further, it helps to build endurance and maintain healthy lungs.

Plant a garden

Again, kids love to feel as though they are helping out with something important. So allowing them to plant a garden with you will definitely give them joy. When your kids grow their own beans, carrots and other veggies, they’ll be more compelled to eat them. This makes gardening a great activity for picky eaters, especially. But, the benefits of gardening don’t stop there. Gardening also teaches your children responsibility and patience, in addition to letting them refine their fine motor skills.

Do a penny hike

Walking is such a simple, yet very effective outdoor activity. The benefits of walking include: promoting healthy development of bones and muscles, improving balance and maintaining a healthy weight.

To make a normal walk more fun, turn it into a penny hike. A penny hike involves flipping a coin to determine which direction you will go next. Kids will enjoy flipping the coin and discovering new places.

Have a picnic

Eating at the same table every single day can get boring after a while. Sometimes, kids just need a change. Ever notice how your kids will eat every grain of food at a restaurant or at their friend’s house? A change of environment can encourage them to eat healthier because it makes things special for them.

So, to make your next meal a fun and special one, plan a picnic at the park (or even in your own backyard) with your kids. They can join you in preparing healthy sandwiches (complete with lettuce, cheese, and lean meats), fruit salads (or kebabs) and homemade fruit juice. After the picnic, you can all stay outside, play a game and enjoy the fresh air.

Plan a scavenger hunt

If you have more than one child, a scavenger hunt is a fun activity to try. It involves creating a list of objects for your children to find, providing clues and awarding a prize to the one who finds them all first (or who finds the most after a certain amount of time). You can even turn it into a team activity by eliminating the competition component. Scavenger hunts promote walking, running, teamwork, problem-solving skills and more.

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