Top 10 Best Foods For Kids!
By Leanne Ely
So… what ARE the top 10 foods you should feed your kids? It was clear that it was time to develop a list. And who doesn't love a good top-10 list, anyway? Ask Dave… it's worked for him for years.
Before we get to the meat of the matter, here's a quick disclaimer: This is a general list, meant to help you make healthy food choices for your children -- assuming your kids do not have allergies. If you have any questions or concerns about food allergies, you may want to consult with your health-care provider.
Also, other fruits and vegetables can easily fit into this list besides the ones mentioned -- these particular ones are highlighted for the reasons listed.
Top 10 Healthiest Foods for Kids
Optimal Oatmeal: A fabulous breakfast food, full of B vitamins, iron, zinc and calcium. Old-fashioned oatmeal offers quick energy for busy kids with its carb load and fiber count.
Egg 'em On: Eggs are a great source of protein and other nutrients, including the B vitamins, vitamin E and zinc. The American Heart Association's Guidelines have changed, and an egg a day (for adults) is now OK. For kids? Well, they haven’t said, so use your own good judgment.
Nuttin' Better: Nut butters are great fast foods for kids. Kids need the fat (it's a good fat if it doesn't have hydrogenated oils mixed in it) and they need the protein. And while peanuts can be problematic and even life threatening to allergic kids, other nut butters may be OK. Check with your doctor first. Almond butter is a favorite of mine.
Culture Club: Kick your child's milk consumption up a notch and include yogurt on the menu. A great source of calcium, yogurt is easier to digest than regular milk and the cultures (check the label to make sure they're in there!) are very beneficial to good colon health -- especially if your child has been on antibiotics. Watch the sugar content, though. A better idea is to buy plain yogurt and sweeten it yourself with fresh fruit.
Mmmm, Mmmm Melons!: Cantaloupe provides vitamin C, beta-carotene, bits and pieces of B vitamins and trace minerals and calcium. Melons are not to be missed when they're plentiful and in season.
Tree Cheers!: Kids like to call broccoli trees and sometimes you can get picky kids to eat trees rather than broccoli. Broccoli is one of the best vegetables for anyone, especially growing kids, because of its calcium content and other nutrients, such as potassium, beta-carotene and B vitamins.
Terrific Tubers: Sweet potatoes contain 30mg beta-carotene per cup. It would take 23 cups of broccoli to get that same amount. And with 3 grams of fiber per serving, sweet potatoes deserve a place at the table.
