Kids in the Kitchen
By Abigail Natenshon
Author of When Your Child Has An Eating Disorder

www.AbigailNatenshon.com  empoweredkidZ   

Food and food preparation need not be a mystery for kids. We need to eat in order to live; we need to eat healthfully in order to live healthfully. Healthy eating entails eating varied, balanced, nutritionally-dense meals and snacks throughout the day.  Though there are no “bad” foods, we know that nutritionally-dense foods are more easily used by the body to grow strong bones, muscles, blood, and brain cells. As a child, you need to learn which foods and snacks are more nutritious for you and which are less so. Learning to feed oneself in a healthy way is an important and natural part of living.

Children need to become adept at choosing, combining and preparing nutritious foods for themselves, their siblings and friends when parents are not available, and parents need to make sure to stock their pantries and refrigerators with these foods for their hungry offspring.

Let’s look at some easy, quick and healthful snacks that even very young children can make and enjoy all by themselves:

• Peanut butter on crackers
• Cheese on crackers
• Apples with peanut butter
• Baked apples with cinnamon and raisons and, if you like, Marshmallow Fluff
• Washed raw vegetables, fresh fruits, or dried fruits
• Pudding
• Yogurt, cottage cheese, cheese slices or sticks
• Soup in a cup
• Hard boiled eggs
• Cereal and milk
• Leftovers from the night before
• Pre-washed and cut bagged salads with dressing
• Nuts, sunflower seeds, trail mix
• Hummus