“Food can be
very transformational, and it can be more than just a dish. That’s what happened to me when I first went
to France. I fell in love. And if you fall in love, well, then
everything is easy.”
--Alice Waters
It is that time
of the year again. Back to school! New school clothes have been
purchased. New lunchboxes are
ready for the first day of school. Parents are loading up at the grocery store on foods for school
breakfasts, lunches, and afterschool snacks.
All kids (and parents)
need breakfast. What are the ingredients for a healthy breakfast?
- protein (such as eggs, Greek yogurt, beans, and lentils)
- whole grains or carbohydrates containing dietary fiber (such as quinoa, whole fruit and vegetables)
- healthy fats (such as avocado, olive oil and nuts)
What should you NOT
eat? Avoid foods that cause blood
glucose and insulin levels to spike excessively high. After all, what goes up must come down. If food
comes in a box and the first ingredient is “sugar” or “refined wheat flour” pass
it up and choose something else! Refined
carbohydrates turn to sugar as soon as they hit your mouth. Highly processed carbohydrates, such as
Honeybuns, Sugar Smacks, Fruit Loops, or instant oatmeal, turn kids little
yo-yos of uncontrolled energy. Extreme
highs and lows in blood sugar have been shown to lead to overeating,
bad moods, and lack of focus.
Parents want simple, easy breakfast ideas. At a
recent back-to-school bash for Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Lucie, Indian River, and Okeechobee Counties, Growing Healthy Kids was invited to share ideas about healthy breakfasts and snacks for young children. We made dozens of healthy breakfasts parfaits
for the kids and parents and EVERYONE loved them! Here’s the recipe…
GROWING HEALTHY
KIDS: Easy Parfaits
Ingredients:
- ½ cup vanilla Greek yogurt (if using plain yogurt, add a little local honey)
- ½ cup fresh or frozen fruit (such as sliced bananas, pineapple, blueberries and/or strawberries)
- ¼ cup organic granola
Layer in a cup or dish and enjoy for breakfast or an afterschool snack!
Do you live in Vero
Beach? Then stop by Patissiere on Old
Dixie in downtown Vero, ask for Christian Garcia, the owner, and pick up a bag
of the homemade granola. It is one of my
favorite granolas and makes a delicious, healthy topping for parfaits.
In gratitude,
Nancy L.
Heinrich, MPH
Founder, Growing
Healthy Kids
