Want a simple way to help your kids achieve in school?

by Alison

You guessed it – eat more fruits and vegetables!

Good anecdotal evidence suggests that incorporating more healthy, fresh fruits and vegetables in
children’s diets leads to greater academic focus and fewer behavior problems. Watch for yourself in two installments:

YouTube No. 1

YouTube No. 2

… and thanks to Natural Ovens Bakery for coming forward with this initiative and evidence!

How can you give your kids healthy, vegetable-rich meals and snacks? Here are a few suggestions. (Use what’s growing in your garden now for the best flavor, and you’ll be sure to grow vegetable-loving kids along with your garden!) :

1. Veggie pizzas: Using a whole-wheat English muffin, put on a little bottled pizza sauce and some shredded mozzarella. Add some sautéed vegetables – whatever is ripe – sliced and sautéed in a little olive oil and a pinch of salt, until at a tenderness the kids like. If you’re at home, you can heat this a little to melt the cheese (oven or microwave). If this is for school, pack the items separately and your child can assemble them at lunchtime, like a Lunchable (only much, much healthier!).

2. Sliced raw vegetables in season, with an attractive dip. Get your kids interested in the flavor of vegetables, even if it means compromising your healthy standards a little bit with a not-as-nutritious dip. If the veggies are in season and ripe, the flavor will come through and your kids will begin to appreciate the vegetable’s unique flavors. Some dip options: (Light) Ranch – no need to go light if your child is still 18 months to 6 years old - their brains can use the fat; hummus; bean dip; melted cheese.

If you can’t sell your kids immediately on trying raw vegetables, start simply by having them out and EATING THEM YOURSELF in front of the kids – and be clear about your enjoyment of the cuisine. Your kids may eventually try them out of sheer curiosity. Monkey see, monkey do.

Of course, the other thing that will get kids interested in vegetables is to let them help in the garden! Once they have invested their time and energy in growing the plants, they will more naturally want to taste the fruits of their efforts.

Here are some other sites that can give you recipe ideas – I looked them up after typing the above suggestions, only to find that they have similar suggestions (plus other good ones)!

Recipe ideas No. 1

Recipe ideas No. 2