36 THE QUEENS COURIER • WELLNESS • APRIL 18, 2019 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
wellness
Encourage healthy eating habits in kids
As a parent, instilling healthy eating
habits in your children at an early age
can aid in proper growth and development.
Eating well goes a long way toward
maintaining a healthy weight, increasing
energy levels and improving moods
while also reducing risk of obesity and
other chronic issues such as heart disease
and diabetes later in life.
Set your children on a path to making
lifelong nutritious choices with these tips:
Foster independence. Allowing your
children to help with shopping and meal
prep can aid in them taking ownership
of what they’re eating. Start by divvying
up easier tasks such as setting the table
then work toward creating snacks and
meals on their own. Th ese Rainbow Fruit
Parfaits are simple for kids to assemble
- just set the ingredients out and let
them layer - and can serve as a healthful
on-the-go breakfast or aft er-school
snack.
Off er balanced options. Children
require balanced diets made up of all
three major food groups, including fruits
and vegetables, for proper development.
Looking for the Produce for Kids logo
next to nutritional, family-friendly items
at the grocery store is an easy way to
identify healthy food choices while also
supporting local organizations that help
children and families in need.
Be a role model. Typically, your children
will follow your behaviors, which
includes the types of foods they select at
mealtimes. Eating a rainbow of fruits and
vegetables can help ensure your family
is getting a complete range of nutrients.
For example, a recipe like this Rainbow
Buddha Bowl provides a combination of
fresh and roasted vegetables that can be
customized to meet your family’s tastes.
Th inking about how many colors you
eat in a day may inspire your kids to do
the same, which can foster a lifetime of
healthy eating habits.
To fi nd more healthy meal inspiration,
including more than 500 registered dietitian
and family-tested recipes, visit produceforkids.
com.
Rainbow Fruit Parfaits
Recipe courtesy of Produce for Kids
Prep time: 10 minutes
Servings: 3
• 1/2 cup sliced strawberries
• 2 mandarins, peeled and segmented
• 1/2 cup chopped pineapple
• 2 kiwis, peeled and chopped
• 1/2 cup blueberries
• 1/2 cup red seedless grapes
• 1 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
In parfait glasses, layer strawberries,
mandarins, pineapple, kiwis, blueberries
and grapes.
Top each fruit parfait with yogurt.
Rainbow Buddha Bowl
Recipe courtesy of Jodi of Create Kids
Club on behalf of Produce for Kids
Prep time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4
• 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and
diced
• 1 cup broccoli fl orets
• 1/2 small purple cabbage, sliced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste
• 2 cups quinoa, cooked according to
package directions
• 1 cup red cherry tomatoes, quartered
• 1/2 cup yellow cherry tomatoes, quartered
• 1 avocado, sliced
• 4 tablespoons yogurt ranch dressing
Heat oven to 425 F.
Place sweet potatoes, broccoli and cabbage
on baking sheet lined with parchment
paper. Toss with oil and season with
salt and pepper, to taste. Bake 15-20 minutes,
or until potatoes are soft .
Divide cooked quinoa into four bowls.
Top with roasted sweet potatoes, broccoli,
cabbage, red tomatoes, yellow tomatoes
and avocado.
Drizzle with dressing.
Courtesy Family Features
/WWW.QNS.COM
