our KIDS health

Your Child's Taste Preferences are Created by Age 3
Research shows when parents fed their preschool-aged children junk foods high in sugar, salt and unhealthy fats, it had a lasting impact on their taste preferences. All of the children tested showed preferences for junk foods, and all (even those who were just 3 years old!) were also able to recognise some soda, fast food, and junk food brands.

The researchers concluded what you probably already suspect: kids who were exposed to junk food, soda, and fast food, via advertising and also because their parents fed them these foods, learned to recognise and prefer these foods over healthier choices. This does have an impact on their health, as nutrients from quality foods are critical in helping your child reach his or her fullest potential!

One study from British researchers revealed that kids who ate a predominantly processed food diet at age 3 had lower IQ scores at age 8.5. For each measured increase in processed foods, participants had a 1.67-point decrease in IQ.

As you might suspect, the opposite also held true, with those eating healthier diets experiencing higher IQ levels. For each measured increase in dietary score, which meant the child was eating more fruits and vegetables for instance, there was a 1.2 point increase in IQ.

The reality is, the best time to shape your kids' eating habits is while they're still young. This means starting from birth with breast milk and then transitioning to solid foods that have valuable nutrients, like egg yolk, avocado and sweet potato easily.

From there, ideally you will feed your child healthy foods that your family is also eating - grass-fed meats, organic veggies, vegetable juice, raw dairy and nuts, and so on. These are the foods your child will thrive on, and it's important they learn what real, healthy food is right from the get-go. This way, when they become tweens and teenagers, they may eat junk food here and there at a friend's house, but they will return to real food as the foundation of their diet - and that habit will continue on with them for a lifetime.

If you’re ready to find out more about healthy eating options for kids from adorable infant to adulthood, call me on
+27 082 214 9254   or email  info@ourkidshealth.co.za                                                    Warm regards,   Melinda

Junk food is contributing to skyrocketing rates of diabetes, high blood pressure, and even strokes - and not just among adults.

Food and beverage companies spend $2 billion a year promoting unhealthy foods to kids. And, while ultimately it's the parents' responsibility to feed their children healthy foods, junk food ads make this much more difficult than it should be.

Does Your Child Recognise the "Golden Arches"?
Most toddlers recognise the sign of McDonald's "golden arches" long before they are speaking in full sentences.

Why?

Because they are often raised on French fries, fast-food hamburgers, and orange soda - or, if ‘raised’ is a bit of a stretch - are taught that French fries, chicken fingers, and soda is an acceptable meal. Have you noticed that even in "regular" restaurants, the kids' menu options are almost always entirely junk food, with options like pizza, macaroni and cheese, or fried chicken strips?

Of course, kids will probably prefer these foods if that's what they're offered. These foods are manufactured to taste good, and most kids aren't going to opt for a spear of broccoli over a French fry - until they're old enough to understand the implications of the choice. And, even then, that’s assuming you have taught them about the importance of eating healthy foods along the way.

In many ways, society is set up against you on this one.

As The Interagency Working Group on Foods Marketed to Children (IWG) reports:

• · The fast-food industry spends more than $5 million every day marketing unhealthy foods to children.
• · Kids watch an average of over 10 food-related ads every day (nearly 4,000/year).
• · Nearly all (98 percent) of food advertisements viewed by children are for products that are high in fat, sugar or sodium. Most (79 percent) are low in fiber.

So, even under the best circumstances, your kids will probably be exposed to the latest "cool" kid foods, and this is what marketers are banking on. Then, when you go to the grocery store, your child will have a meltdown if you don't give in and buy the cereal with their favourite cartoon character on the box, or the cookies with brightly coloured chips. If you're a parent, it's certainly easier to just give in.

But it's imperative to be strong, as shaping your child's eating habits starts very early on …

5 Easy ways to get your kids to try NEW Health foods
It's dinnertime, and you place an unfamiliar dish in front of your child. He or she says, ‘It smells bad, it looks funny and I don't want it.’ Sound familiar? For some kids, trying something new is the equivalent of getting a shot at the doctor's office: painful and totally unwanted So when it comes to getting your child to broaden those food horizons, follow these five guidelines.

1. Be a nutrition role model.
Apply the ‘lead by example’ method here. Remember that your children look up to you, and if they see you eating nutritious food, they'll want to try it, too. Show your kids that it's important to eat healthily, and that they shouldn't shy away from it because they're afraid to try something new. Plus, by making the effort to eat a food you dislike, you're showing that even if you don't like something the first time you eat it, it's important to try again.

2. Take it one bite at a time.
If you stick a huge portion of broccoli in front of your children and expect them to eat it, you've made a bad decision. For one thing, serving large portions may lead to unhealthy eating habits – especially when you force your child to eat the entire plate. Start with letting them try one bite. If they like it, give them a small portion. If they don't, try again next time. It might take 10 to 15 tries before kids start to like a particular food!

3. Pair new foods with old favourites.
If your kids like pizza, try adding broccoli as a topping – or let them put peanut butter on celery. By combining new things with foods that your children are already familiar with, it might be easier to sneak some healthy additions in.

4. Recruit their help in the kitchen.
By making your children a part of the cooking experience, they can become more familiar with new foods, their textures and smells. Giving them the chance to assist in preparing their dish is almost like letting them build something: They'll always be curious as to how it turned out, and as a result, they'll want to eat their culinary creation.

5. Make food fun.
Still stumped? Encourage your child to play with his or her food using a clever device like Food Face plates. Reminiscent of those old ‘Wooly Willy’ magnet-facial-hair novelties, your picky eater will have fun moving the green beans or carrots around to make different faces. If kids are entertained by their meals – in addition to feeling different food textures – they might be more interested in how the food tastes.

Supplementing with Foodstate multivitamins is the easy way out, but can ensure your children stay healthy while you get the FUSSY eaters’ taste buds to enjoy the new health food.

This will ensure your children stay healthy while you have the peace of mind that comes with knowing your kids are getting the nutrition they need. And all of that without the usual mealtime drama.

Winter is coming. Is your family ready?
If your health was an episode of SA’s Got Talent, IMMUNITY would be the golden ticket to the finals!

Immunity is your body’s ability to fight the bugs that try to invade and make us sick.

But when we’re facing weather that cycles through all the seasons in a single day; when we’re working full time and our kids are at school all day - getting sick is easy.

Taking the time you need to get over it? Not so easy.

Even if we’re bravely facing the ‘flu ourselves, when the kids are sick, they need a mom or dad a home with them, helping them to get better.

Surely there are better ways to spend your leave - and your precious time with your kids - than looking after snotty, grumpy children who ache all over?

A healthy body is a happy body. And so is a healthy family.

Help your child (and the rest of your family) build a strong IMMUNITY for the winter!
Your bodies need to be ready for any of the 101 Rhino viruses or flu attacks. Everything from belligerent bacteria to a simple sore throat ... Fungus that makes your skin itch ... Parasites lurking in the gut (spreading diarrhea to everyone in the neighbourhood!).

An invincible immune system will protect your loved ones from them all!
Spend your hard-earned leave on a family holiday this year, not sick leave. Make sure you invest in immunity for you all, and start enjoying every moment today!

If you’d like to know more about boosting immunity for everyone in your family, please call me on  +27 082 214 9254     or email info@ourkidshealth.co.za

I’d love to help!          Yours in health,         Melinda