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Healthy Eating
By now, everyone knows that childhood
obesity in the United States has reached epidemic proportions. Studies
show that:
•
Between 16 and 33 percent of children and adolescents are obese.
•
Obesity most commonly begins in childhood between the ages of 5
and 6, and during adolescence.
•
A
child who is obese between the ages of 10 and 13 has an 80 percent
chance of becoming an obese adult.
You are a role
model to
your Little Sister or Brother. So what are you teaching them about
healthy eating? An occasional fast food meal or extra-sweet treat is
fine, but you’ll be improving the quality of your time together if you
make it healthy as well as fun.
We aren’t talking
about
serving up raw broccoli and soy milk, here. (We’ll work into that!) The
next time you hang out, just try one of these recipes. They’re fun and
easy for you to prepare together. And, as an extra bonus, you’ll save
money over going out, too. Regardless of size or shape, everyone
can benefit from a well-rounded eating plan. And true, you two may only
be sharing one meal/snack a week. So what difference does it make?
Well, take it from us, and from the kids we’ve worked with for the last
30 years: The time you spend together counts!
ON THE GO GOBBLEDY GOOK
4 cups oat or
crispy
rice cereal
1 cup chopped
peanuts
1 cup raisins or
chopped
dried prunes or apricots
1 cup sunflower
seeds
1 cup chopped
pretzels
Place all
ingredients in
a 2-quart sealable plastic bag, seal and shake until mixed.
Serves 6 to
8.
FOR A COLD AUTUMN NIGHT APPLE FONDUE
1/2 cup low-sugar,
low-fat chunky peanut butter
1/4 cup crispy
rice
cereal
1/8 cup raisins
2 green apples,
cut into
wedges
Mix the peanut
butter,
cereal and raisins in a small bowl. Dip the apple wedges into the thick
peanut butter mixture. If you prefer to thin it, melt the peanut butter
in the microwave first, then add the cereal and raisins and serve warm.
Serves 2.
SAY CHEESE
Heat your favorite
cheese (try cheddar or Brie) in a glass bowl in the microwave until
just melted. Be sure to watch it closely: cheese melts fast. Offer a
variety of snacks to dip into it, such as pretzel sticks, apple wedges,
grapes, or carrot sticks and other cut-up veggies.
AFTER A TRIP TO THE
REC
CENTER
Try munching on
some
fresh fruit. Also, It's amazing how much good nutrition you can
sneak into a
drink:
BANANA SCREAM
3 bananas (the
riper the
banana, the sweeter the shake)
2 tbsp. nonfat
milk
Peel the bananas,
cut in
half width-wise, wrap in plastic wrap, and freeze until firm. Place in
a blender, add milk and puree until creamy. Serves 4. Offer the
drink in mugs or fancy glasses. Don't forget the crazy straws.
For more recipe
ideas
(as well as the source for these recipes), visit : http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/kids/
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