Getting the family to eat the recommended two serves of fruit and five serves of vegetables daily can be hard. With a little creativity, however, it can be done.
Local Dietician Therese O’Sullivan (http://www.personalwellness.com.au/) has the following tips. Make a fruit smoothie with fresh fruit (any combination you and your family may like), yoghurt, and some milk. Add grated carrot or zucchini to muffins or meatloaf (they'll never know!). Make a healthy pizza. Start with the base of a mini pizza, English muffin or pita bread. Spread tomato paste on top, and then cover with toppings like mushrooms, onions, pineapple, tomato, cheese, vegetables, ham or chicken. Theresa said that food likes and dislikes of young children change frequently, so introduce different foods from time to time and re-introduce ones they previously disliked. Children like to be involved, so you can get them to help with simple meal preparation.
The CABOOLTURE mums & little ones website (www.mumsandlittleones.com), includes information about nutrition, breastfeeding, physical activity, safe weight gain and loss, and other health issues for mums. For more information, call 0402 791 315, or email caboolture@mumsandlittleones.com.
CABOOLTURE mums & little ones
happy healthy families
Merendi Leverett-Bowler
Mother of Two and Exercise Physiologist
As published in CabooltureNews 27/02/2008