Here is a cute recipe adapted from one I saw in Potpourri magazine. It is always a good idea to serve a vegetable at snack for a little extra "insurance" towards making sure kids get all of the vegetables they need in a day!
Buried Treasure Eggs
12 large eggs
1 cup skim milk
1/2 green bell pepper, diced
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
1/2 orange bell pepper, diced
1/2 onion, diced
salt and black pepper to taste
Combine the eggs and milk in a bowl and mix together using a whisk. Heat a medium skillet over medium heat and pour the egg/milk mixture in. Cook and stir until the eggs are thoroughly cooked. Add the peppers, onion, salt and pepper. Serve warm. Encourage the children to search their eggs for the different colors of "buried treasure" (the peppers)!
Crediting information:
Makes 8 servings, each serving creditable for 1 meat/meat alternate and 1/4 cup of the vegetable requirement at lunch or supper for 3-5 year old children. (Or makes16 servings meat/meat alternate at lunch or supper if not counting the vegetables toward the vegetable requirement). If served at snack, makes 48 servings of meat/meat alternate for 3-5 year old children.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Online Resources for Providers
I just came across a new nutrition website called "The Taste Buddies" for kids aged 6-10. The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) has just launched this colorful site which has healthy activities, kid friendly recipes and fun nutrition facts. Check it out here.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Whole Grains
Have you been trying to eat more whole grains and/or serve more whole grains to the kids in your care? If you said yes, you are not alone! According to a recent study by the International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation, most people are trying to consume more whole grains. The study found that 73% of the respondents said that they were trying to eat more whole grains, and 72% were trying to include more fiber in their diets. This is very encouraging, however, the study also showed that many people are still confused about just why they should be eating more whole grains.
What are whole grains? All grains start life as whole grains. For example, wheat plants growing out in a field contain wheat seeds. The wheat seeds, or "kernels" are whole grains. Seeds contain 3 key parts: the bran, the germ, and the endosperm. To be considered a whole grain, the seed must retain all of its 3 key parts. When grains are refined, such as when "white" flour is made from wheat seeds, some of the 3 key parts are removed. White flour (also known as "wheat" flour on food labels) contains only the starchy endosperm of the seed, the bran and the germ have been removed. This strips important nutrients from the flour. Food manufacturers often "enrich" the flour and add back some of the missing nutrients, but they do not add them all back.
What do you miss by eating refined grains? The bran which contains antioxidants, B vitamins and fiber and the germ which contains B vitamins, protein, minerals, and healthy fats. When the bran and germ are removed you lose 17 key nutrients and food processors are only required to add back 5 of the lost vitamins and minerals. They cannot add back the antioxidants.
Why are whole grains important in the diet? The medical benefits of eating 3 servings of whole grains per day instead of refined include:
Your next question may be "That's all great but how do I know which products are truly whole grain"? This is an excellent question because food companies often engage in deceptive practices when trying to get you to buy their product. The answer lies in reading the labels carefully, and I have blogged previously about this here I have also previously blogged about whole grain recipes for use in your child care home using millet, barley, and whole grains in general.
What is your favorite whole grain recipe?
What are whole grains? All grains start life as whole grains. For example, wheat plants growing out in a field contain wheat seeds. The wheat seeds, or "kernels" are whole grains. Seeds contain 3 key parts: the bran, the germ, and the endosperm. To be considered a whole grain, the seed must retain all of its 3 key parts. When grains are refined, such as when "white" flour is made from wheat seeds, some of the 3 key parts are removed. White flour (also known as "wheat" flour on food labels) contains only the starchy endosperm of the seed, the bran and the germ have been removed. This strips important nutrients from the flour. Food manufacturers often "enrich" the flour and add back some of the missing nutrients, but they do not add them all back.
What do you miss by eating refined grains? The bran which contains antioxidants, B vitamins and fiber and the germ which contains B vitamins, protein, minerals, and healthy fats. When the bran and germ are removed you lose 17 key nutrients and food processors are only required to add back 5 of the lost vitamins and minerals. They cannot add back the antioxidants.
Why are whole grains important in the diet? The medical benefits of eating 3 servings of whole grains per day instead of refined include:
- better weight maintenance
- decreased stroke risk
- decreased type 2 diabetes risk
- decreased heart disease risk
- decreased risk of some cancers.
Your next question may be "That's all great but how do I know which products are truly whole grain"? This is an excellent question because food companies often engage in deceptive practices when trying to get you to buy their product. The answer lies in reading the labels carefully, and I have blogged previously about this here I have also previously blogged about whole grain recipes for use in your child care home using millet, barley, and whole grains in general.
What is your favorite whole grain recipe?
Monday, August 2, 2010
Wildwood Conference
It's August already?!? I simply cannot believe that August is upon us, but that just means that the Wildwood Conference is only about 3 months away. We are all starting to get excited about the conference and we are getting speakers lined up and ironing out all of the details. The conference will once again be held at Children's Hospital. (Check out this link to see the flyer for the conference). If you haven't already marked your calendar, please do so now. It is going to be so much fun, and we can't wait to see you all there!
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Upcoming Wildwood Workshops
Are you looking for an opportunity to learn about nutrition for children, mingle with your peers, and earn some continuing education hours? The newest Wildwood workshop, "Scrumptious Snacks and Marvelous Meals" will be offered on Thursday, August 12 at the Denver County Association Meeting. This meeting will be held at 7 pm at the Salem United Church of Christ at 5300 E. Florida Ave, Denver 80224. Additionally, the workshop will be presented on Wednesday, September 22 at the Jefferson County Association Meeting at 8 pm. The address for that meeting is the Clement Community Center at 1580 Yarrow Street in Lakewood.
This workshop is full of tips for serving healthy meals and snacks to the children in your care. If you attend, you will also receive lots of recipes and menu ideas. This workshop will be offered throughout the state during the next year. If neither of these locations is close to you, keep watching for more dates, or call your program rep. to see when a workshop will be offered in your area!
This workshop is full of tips for serving healthy meals and snacks to the children in your care. If you attend, you will also receive lots of recipes and menu ideas. This workshop will be offered throughout the state during the next year. If neither of these locations is close to you, keep watching for more dates, or call your program rep. to see when a workshop will be offered in your area!
Friday, July 16, 2010
Choking Prevention Poster
Friday, July 9, 2010
More Web Resources
If you are a Denver Post subscriber, you may have noticed that a nutritional website developed by a Boulder company is in the running for a prize from Michelle Obama's campaign to fight childhood obesity. The website, ZisBoomBah.com, is the only entry from Colorado to make it into the finals in the "Apps for Healthy Kids" competition (which is part of the Let's Move! campaign started by Michelle Obama).
ZisBoomBah is a free website that is aimed at kids ages 9-12. Kids can design their own meals by dragging and dropping foods onto their plate. Once they have filled up their plate, they can "Add It Up" and various meters rate the nutritional value of the foods chosen. My kids liked this aspect because it allowed them to see the nutritional value of the choices that they made. The website also has nutrition videos, recipes, and kids can even email the meals they have created to their parents.
If you want to check out some more of the nutrition websites that are in the running in the "Apps for Healthy Kids" competition click here. There are some other contenders which also offer nutrition games for kids. Additionally, this link will allow you to vote for your favorite one after July 14.
ZisBoomBah is a free website that is aimed at kids ages 9-12. Kids can design their own meals by dragging and dropping foods onto their plate. Once they have filled up their plate, they can "Add It Up" and various meters rate the nutritional value of the foods chosen. My kids liked this aspect because it allowed them to see the nutritional value of the choices that they made. The website also has nutrition videos, recipes, and kids can even email the meals they have created to their parents.
If you want to check out some more of the nutrition websites that are in the running in the "Apps for Healthy Kids" competition click here. There are some other contenders which also offer nutrition games for kids. Additionally, this link will allow you to vote for your favorite one after July 14.
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