Knowing the 5 food groups is not enough. You also need to make sure your kids are getting the right portions of each food group at every meal. Here is a general guideline of what should be on your kid's plate:
- Half of the plate should contain vegetables and fruit.
- A quarter should have carbohydrates like potatoes, pasta or rice.
- The last quarter should have protein like lean steak, scrambled eggs, or cheese.
Remember: You should give your child portions which are appropriate for their age. A good reference is the palm of their hand-- that should be how big the portion of protein is on the plate.
Kids who are brought up on balanced meals and encouraged to try new food and drinks are generally healthier than kids brought up on fast food and TV dinners. This seems pretty obvious. What people don't realise is that the way you're brought up around food will affect your relationship with food later in life. It's very likely for children brought up on fast food to continue resorting to this convenience food during their adult life. The problem is that fast food does fill you up quickly but that feeling does not last long, as it is just giving you a sugar rush. Not only that, but it doesn't contain any sort of fibre (fruit or veg) which is essential to a well functioning digestive system.
Making sure your kids have a healthy balanced diet ensures they will grow healthily and be less likely to suffer from health problems later in life. Teaching your kids about nutrition is also very important, as this is a life skill they need to learn and integrate in their day to day relationship with food.
If you're introducing a big change in your child's diet, it may be best to try and maximise the benefits, by detoxifying their body. Combine the recipes on this site with food that combats intestinal inflammation, poor digestion and colon disorders, and soothes the digestive tract. Something rich in nutrients and easy to digest will make the ideal supplement when dealing with digestive distress. Check out our colon cleanser information.
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