09/02/2022
Timeline photos
“Do you name foods ‘grow foods’ and ‘whoa foods’?” Someone asked recently. Actually, no I don’t. Because kids can actually grow quite well on "whoa foods." They have calories, they have nutrients. 🤔⠀
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I like to be as accurate as I can with my kids at their age level. ⠀
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Big Macs absolutely help kids grow. Soda absolutely contains energy, which can help kids grow as well. And then there are super "grow foods" like dairy, which really needs to be eaten in moderation, if at all. So, I’m personally uncomfortable with the idea of “grow foods” and not grow foods. ⠀
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Instead, for preschoolers, I talk about what foods do in our bodies. I use actual nutrition principles and make a message that is understandable to a 3yo. Then I model “sometimes foods” in our family menu (but rarely discuss it). Here are my basic messages:⠀
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🍞Sugary foods, grains - helps us move and run, give us energy⠀
🥚Meat, eggs, beans, dairy (protein), nuts - make our muscles strong⠀
🥞Coconut, avocado, olive oils and butter (fats) - help our brains think⠀
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For fruits and veggies, I usually break it down by color. Although this is not accurate for every single veggie, I think it’s a good framework to get started. ⠀
❤️ Red: gives you a strong heart⠀
🧡 Orange: helps you see in the dark⠀
💛Yellow: helps your body heal cuts⠀
💚Green: gives you super powers to fight off sickness⠀
💜💙Blue and Purple: Give you a strong brain⠀
💟White: gives you energy⠀
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Do you have a favorite nutrition message for your kids?⠀
Lunch supplies like the veggie cutters i used in this photo are in the Kids Eat in Color Amazon store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/kidseatincolor
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