Fruits & Veggies Get Kids Excited About Eating Right

Jackie wants to be a strawberry because it’s her favorite fruit and so sweet. Jake wants to be cherries because they grow in a bunch and he likes hanging around with his friends. Rocco wants to be mixed vegetables so he can talk different languages with the other vegetables, and he doesn’t want to be eaten. Who knew kids could take on the ‘personalities’ of fruits and veggies so creatively? Amazing.

Next time you’re in the supermarket, try asking a child which fruit or vegetables she/he would like to be and why? You’ll be surprised to hear the answer, and you might be surprised at their excitement, too. There are so many questions you can ask kids to get them talking about fruits and veggies. Here are a few to get you started:

• What’s your favorite color for a vegetable?
• What’s your favorite flavor for a fruit?
• Which vegetable looks the most colorful on your dinner plate?
• Which vegetable tastes good for breakfast?
• What fruit makes the biggest crunch when you eat it?

In case you are wondering, two vegetables that Rocco wants to see on his dinner plate are tomatoes and salad. Jackie would rather see raw celery and carrots on hers, and Jake chooses roasted asparagus and plenty of raw onions for his plate. Luckily, these three delightful kids are siblings so let’s assume that eventually they will all expand their veggie horizons by sharing when the dinner bell rings. And, that goes for fruit, too!

For more creative and fun resources that help kids’ become family leaders for good nutrition, be sure to preview Savvy Kids at the Supermarket. There are Mini Kits, Party Planners and Kids’ Cards so every kid can learn about his/her favorite foods. It’s an affordable investment for a lifetime of great flavors and great health. And, remember, hands-on, fun education begins at your supermarket!

Cindy Silver, MS, RD, LDN is today’s guest blogger. She is the owner of Market Basket Nutrition, a nutrition education counseling and consulting business in North Carolina. Cindy’s weekly blog helps families with kids learn better skills with meal planning, grocery shopping and nutritious cooking at home. She is the creator and author of Savvy Kids at the Supermarket products.

Healthy Holloween Treats

Halloween and health may seem like an oxymoron but there are some healthier options for Halloween treats–popcorn balls, dried fruit products, trail mix and even reduced sugar candies are just a few suggestions.

Just as our latest newsletter focused on eliminating ‘Added Sugars,’ the focus on Halloween treats should be on lowering the sugar content. Some popular small sized candies with lower amounts of added sugar include Wonka Mini Laffy Taffy (4.2 grams), Hershey’s Assorted Miniatures (4.4 grams), Hershey’s Nuggets Dark Chocolate with Almonds (4 grams), Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (8 grams), and Skinny Cow Dreamy Clusters Candy (8 grams).

Dried fruit snacks come in lots of shapes and flavors and are like candy to kids. Since fruit is a natural source of sugar, the focus should be on finding those with no or little added sugar. Also check the ingredients for ‘partially hydrogenated oils’ and ‘artificial food colors.’ Some of our favorites are Betty Crocker Simply Fruit Roll-Ups (10 grams sugar), Sensible Foods Crunch Organic Dried Fruit Snacks (16 grams sugar) and Annie’s Homegrown Bunny Fruit Snacks (10 grams sugar).

Find more Healthy Halloween Tips on www.SupermarketSavvy.com.

Savvy Kids at the Supermarket

Would you like to serve up a health portion of food and nutrition to your kids? Do you need a new idea for a party

one that is fun and informative? Are your kids picky about foods and you would like to get them to try new fruits or vegetables? Give Savvy Kids at the Supermarket a try! Cindy Silver, a registered dietitian has spent the past 15 years entertaining and educating kid-focused activities in the supermarket in her role as a supermarket nutrition educator for Lowe’s Foods in North Carolina.

Savvy Kids at the Supermarket (SKS) is a series of 9 modules for parties, family dinners and tasting new foods. For instance, the SKS Mini-Kits focus on family meals and snacks with 3 themes–Power Breakfast, Sugar-Buster Snacks, and Fun Family Dinners. Each Mini-Kit includes 8 to 12 kid-friendly recipes, a colorful step-by-step guide of 5 pages and a fun activity sheet. Mini Kits sell for $11.99 each or al 3 for $29.99 (a $6 savings).

SKS Party Planners make birthday parties easy on parents and fun for kids. You guessed it…every party begins at the supermarket where kids prowl around to find ingredients for a simple party or meal and/or snacks. Afterwards, they head home for some fun in the kitchen and a party that serves up healthy choices. Choose from 3 themes–Pizza Party, Picnic Party, and Sleepover Party. Each Party Planner Kit includes 3 kid-friendly recipes, 3 party meal solutions, party favor suggestions, a colorful step-by-step guide of 3 pages, and a fun activity sheet. SKS Party Planners are $6.99 each or 3 for $17.99 (a savings of $3).

To encourage young children to try new fruits and vegetables, Cindy has 3 Kids’ Cards Themes–Tasting Apples, Tasting Vegetables, and A Supermarket Garden. Every card set starts with a hunt for one special food in the produce aisle. Kids learn by seeing, smelling, touching, and tasting. After checkout, they return home to think about how the food grows. Then, they help cook up a tasty and nutritious recipe. The Kids’ Cards are $6.99 each or all 3 for $17.99 ($3 savings).

Visit me at the American Dietetic Association Food & Nutrition Conference this weekend in San Diego. You can find me at the Member Product Marketplace on Sunday from 8 am to 4 pm. I will have sample SKS modules for you to preview.

Tips for Feeding Healthy Kids

1. Offer a variety of healthy foods. When children eat a variety of foods, they get the nutrients they need from every food group. They will be more likely to try new foods and t like more foods. This will make it easier to pan family meals.
2. Start with small portions. Offer children small, easy-to-eat amounts to make eating easy and more enjoyable. Use smaller bowls, plates, and utensils for your child to eat with. Don’t insist that children finish all the food on their plate. Let your child know it is okay to only eat as much as he or she wants. We are born with an internal mechanism that signals full—don’t mess with it.
3. Follow a meal and snack schedule. Regularly scheduled meal and snack times help your child learn structure for eating. Your child is more likely to eat healthy meals and try new foods if snacks are not offered too close to mealtime.
4. Make mealtime an enjoyable family time. Family meals allow your child to focus on the task of eating and give you a chance to model good behaviors. You may not be able to eat together every day but try to plan a family meal at least once a day. It takes a little work to bring everyone together for meals, but it’s worth it. Involve your child in the conversation. Ask questions like:
   - What made you feel really happy today?
   - What did you have to eat at lunch today?
   - What’s your favorite veggie? Why?
   - Tell me one thing you learned today?
   - What made you laugh today?
5. Make food fun for picky eaters. Picky eating is temporary so don’t get discouraged. Get your child involved in planning, shopping for, and preparing the food. Let them create snacks, salads, or desserts. Be creative with the food—try fun and interesting food shapes.
6. Set a good example. Your child picks up all of your attitudes and behaviors—including your eating habits. Children love to copy what their parents do. They are likely to mimic your table manners, your likes and dislikes, your willingness to try new foods, and your physical activities.

SAVVY KIDS at the SUPERMARKET

Serve up a healthy portion of food and nutrition education that will delight kids of all ages as they explore the supermarket and prepare foods. Savvy Kids at the Supermarket is a way to get kids involved in the food decisions. Find interactive modules on Power Breakfast, Fun Family Dinners, Tasting Apples, and Pizza Parties. Learn more about Savvy Kids at the Supermarket.

Portion Distortion

Portion distortion doesn’t just happen when you are eating out. It even happens in your own kitchen! The surfae area of the average dinner plate has increased 36% since the 1960s, encouraging us to eat more. Even our cookbooks have changed. The serving sizes of some entrees listed in the Joy of Cooking (2006) have increased by as much as 42% since the first edition was published in 1931. The size of muffins have grown and finding a small baked potato is a problem.

Let Leia Kedem, University of Houston Dietetic Intern, show you some common foods that have grown in size the last few years.

Portion Distortion Video

To assist you in determining the correct portions and types of foods, Del Monte has a “ReThink Your Plate Educational Tool”–a 9 inch plate made of melamine and imprinted with photographic images of healthy foods, sectioned into appropriate portions. It is dishwasher safe and designed for use as an educational tool in planning healthy portions or you can use it to make sure your portions are appropriate. You can purchase the Del Monte ReThink Your Plate for $9.95. Click Here.

To educate your clients on weight control and proper portions, purchase our new Supermarket Tour Kit for Weight Control. It contains 8 modules for different aisles of the supermarket with 3 activities for each aisle focusing on reading lables, comparing products and portion control. Included are 10 copy-ready tip sheets on stocking you kitchen, shopping on a budget, portion sizes, reading food labels, snacking, and meal solutions for weight control.