7 Ways to Encourage Healthy Eating Habits in your Child

One of the most ideal traits of being a responsible parent is the ability to establish healthy eating habits in their children. With these habits, you allow your children to maintain a healthy weight and optimal growth. When you display healthy eating habits yourself, it is easier for your kids to pick up these habits and even apply it in their lifestyle as they grow into adulthood. 

 

Healthy eating habits include portion control and cutting down fats and sugar from their snacks and drinks. Though there may be a lot of ways to reduce their fat intake, a few tried and tested tips can get you going. Some of the ways to promote healthy eating habits include:

 

Make meal choices for the family instead of dictating what to eat 

 

Having a wide selection of healthy foods available in the house makes it easier for kids to choose according to their preference. Using this strategy, you can keep them healthy without forcing them to do so. Stash away the unhealthy choices like sodas, chips and other processed grocery goods that contain a lot of sugar and unnecessary fats. 

 

Let them eat slowly

 

When children eat at a slower pace, it is easier for them to detect fullness which avoids overeating in some cases. If they ask for a second helping or serving, let them have it in a smaller portion compared to their first and load it up with more veggies. Also let them wait for a few minutes for their brains to register fullness and reconsider eating more.

 

 

Always eat meals together as a family 

During mealtime, make sure that you are open to pleasant conversation and avoid arguments. When mealtimes are unpleasant, it sends signals to children’s minds and they’ll associate eating with stress. Chances are, they will eat faster in order to leave the table as soon as they can.

Let your children be involved in preparing food

This includes shopping for meals for the family. These simple activities can give you hints about your children’s preferences and you can adjust what to prepare for next time. While you’re at it, insert opportunities to teach them about nutritious foods and its benefits so that they become mindful not just in eating, but also in selecting what to buy for the family. When they think that they are in charge, it makes them feel good for being the ‘good one’ in the family. 

Carefully plan for snacks

Stick to your plans when it comes to snacks. Being mindful of snack times will avoid overeating tendencies in children. Most parents ignore this and just go about giving in to their child’s request for yet another snack. Unknowingly, this increases the intake of unnecessary and unhealthy sugars and fats in their system.  Help them develop healthy eating habits by planning ahead for nutritious snacks. 

Don’t use food to punish or reward your children

The moment you withhold food as punishment for misbehavior, it makes children worry if their portion is sufficient for their consumption. They might mistake the thought that you are giving them very little because they did something wrong. It might give them anxieties thinking they don’t have enough. Depriving them will increase their chances to overeat as well. Similarly, when you use food as rewards, it will make them think that these little treats are more valuable than the healthier fruits and vegetables and they might ignore the latter because they’ll aim for the sweeter “reward”. 

Make sure they get plenty of water

Nothing beats the habit of drinking the right amount of water everyday in order to maintain a healthy system. Especially for kids who are heavy on sweetened drinks and snacks, combat the risk of obesity by drinking water throughout the day. This method not only cleanses their system, but also hydrates them. 

It is important to keep an eye on your child’s diet but don’t restrict them to the point that you’ll shut down sweet treats forever. Balance is key in maintaining healthy eating habits in your child. Without it, they can either overeat or undereat and lack the nutrition their bodies need to function well. 

For more tips, head on over to Creative Learning Academy for more insights about parenting. 

 

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7 Toddler Activities to Try at Home

Having a toddler can be overwhelming. Toddler age is a time when curiosity and creativity begin. It can be challenging to get your toddler to do the right thing and not focus too much on the wrong activities. 

These fun toddler activities to try at home will keep them engaged and develop their learning abilities. Always check your toddler’s limitations and capabilities to handle such activity. They have a short attention span so getting their full attention can be tricky.

Color Matching with Cars

This is one of those activities for toddlers that will help them recognize colors at an early age. In this activity, all you need are toy cars and some colored construction paper (rainbow colors are perfect).

Line up the pieces of paper on the floor (either randomly or one single line – depends on the space you have at home). Bring the toy cars out from storage. Then point to each piece of paper telling your toddler the color name as you go. The papers will be their parking spaces. You may guide your toddler at first as they park their car on each piece of paper. You can be as creative by drawing parking lines on each paper. 

As you go along, you can start to let your child do this on their own. Let your kids’ imagination work. The papers can be a walking path or even houses.

Bath Time with Toy Animals

The great thing about this activity is that it is cleaning disguised as an enjoyable water game. Toys eventually need a good wash and toddlers will have fun in the process. This is a good opportunity to let your toddler review animal names and sounds. Learning animal sounds can be advantageous for a toddler’s language development.

For this productive, fun, and educational activity, you will need a large container, washcloth, plastic animals, water, and a bit of soap. You might need a shower curtain liner to keep water off the floor and lessen the mess. Fill the tub with water and put all the animals in. Let your toddler wash the dirt away. Let them pretend they are giving each animal a bath. Once done, lay down the animal on the washcloth to dry.

Indoor Color and Shape Game

One activity to try that will help your child learn about different shapes and colors is this simple indoor game. Draw colored shapes on a large art paper and tape it on the floor. Let your child come up with all sorts of ways to play with this activity. They can walk from one side to another on the same color or the same shape.

Roll and Hop Shape Game

Another fun idea to introduce shapes and colors is this game for toddlers. This is also a great opportunity to develop their gross motor development. You will need a large cube, painter’s tape (test on the floor first to make sure that the finish will not be damaged), and a marker to draw the shapes. You can also check online and print out some downloadable shape cards.

Use the print-outs and tape them to the cubes. You may also choose to draw the shapes instead. Using the painter’s tape, make the corresponding shapes on the floor.

The cube will serve as the “dice” for this game. Let your child roll the dice and then hop on the corresponding shape. Have fun playing until your toddler gets tired.

Cotton Ball Races

While you might have difficulty getting your toddler to understand the dynamics of this game, this is still one that is great for their motor skills. This is good for the little muscles in their tiny hands. You will need cotton balls, squeeze bottles, and painter’s tape for this activity. Use the painter’s tape to mark the start and finish lines on the floor. Demonstrate to your child first how to squeeze the bottle to make the cotton balls move. Once your toddler understands the concept, you can let the race begin.

Learn How to Count Through Number Paths

This fun learning activity is suitable for toddlers – crawling or walking ones, and even for preschoolers. Not only do they learn to count and familiarize themselves with numbers, it can also help them improve their motor skills.

For this activity, you will need construction paper, markers, and tape (clear or masking tape). Cut the papers in half and write 1-10 on each piece. Tape the numbers on the floor in order with some space in between. You might need to have the papers closer together if you have a toddler since their movements are not that big yet.

Let them go at their own pace and count the numbers as they go along. If they start to walk backwards, count the numbers in descending order. You can also be creative and use colored paper. Let them review colors as well while moving from one piece of paper to another.

Walk the Line

Another fun motor skill activity for your toddler is by using colored tapes. Tape some fun lines on the floor – be as creative as possible. Create a red zigzag line, blue straight line, or a curvy green one.

Simply let your child walk along the lines, one foot in front of the other. Make sure that they stay on each color while keeping their balance. If you want to make it harder for them, have them walk sideways or backward.

Final Thoughts

Toddlers are capable of learning so many things through play and everyday interactions with their parents at home. Doing these fun activities as much as possible is a great way to encourage your toddlers to learn and explore at their own pace in a stress-free way.

Need more fun learning toddler activities to try at home? Visit Creative Learning Academy for more resources that will help your toddler develop their skills.

 

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How Can Families Celebrate National Tater Tots Day?

Every February 2nd, people celebrate National Tater Tots Day. People dedicate this day to remembering how good bite-sized potato nuggets taste. They savor this treat whose name  literally means baby potatoes.

How tater tots came to be?

Tater tots came to life through two brothers, Nephi and Golden Grigg. Aided by their brother-in-law, they began playing with the idea of frozen food. They leased a plant on the border of Oregon and Idaho back in 1934. By 1952, they bought the plant and began Oregon Frozen Foods Company. After a number of years, it transformed into Ore-Ida.

To create tater tots, they season potatoes with different spices and bake them into casseroles. This makes tater tots anall-around food. From a meal, side dish, or even a snack, people just keep eating them. They dip it, pop it, or just merely savor its taste.

Recipes to try for National Tater Tots Day

Read through this for different recipes that your family will enjoy  this National Tater Tots Day!

Cajun Tater Tot Waffle topped with Fresh Avocado Lump Crab Salad

Ingredients

Fresh Avocado Lump Crab Salad

• 4 ounces Lump Crab Meat
• 1 ounce Mayonnaise
• 1 ounce Yellow Bell Pepper, diced
• 1 ounce Avocado, diced
• 1 tsp Lemon Juice, fresh squeezed
• 1 tsp Fresh Garlic, chopped
• 1 tbsp Fresh Parsley, chopped
• Kosher Salt, to taste
• Black Pepper, to taste

Pickled Charred Tomato Chive Relish

• 2 ounces Charred Cherry Tomatoes, quartered
• 1 ounce Red Onion, fine diced
• 1 tsp Sugar
• 1 tbsp Chives, chopped
• 1 tsp Red Wine Vinegar
• Kosher Salt, to taste

Cajun Tater Tot Waffle

• 32 ounces Frozen Tater Tots, Thawed
• Cajun Seasoning, to taste
• Kosher Salt, to taste
• 1 ounce Fresh Parsley, chopped

Method

• Combine all ingredients for the crab salad together and fold together lightly; careful not to break up the crab or bruise the avocado. Set aside for future use.
• Combine all ingredients for the charred tomato relish together. Set aside for future use.
• Preheat waffle iron, per instructions.
• Spray top and bottom of the waffle iron with non-stick spray.
• Place thawed tater tots in a tight, even layer into the waffle iron; making sure each one is touching each other.
• Sprinkle Cajun seasoning, salt and parsley on top of tater tots.
• Close the waffle iron, and follow waffle iron cooking instructions.
• Remove the finished waffle and place on a plate.

Chef’s Tip: Top the waffle with the Avocado Lump Crab Salad and garnish with the Charred Tomato Chive Relish!

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Potato Tot Casserole

Ingredients for the braised beef

• 5 pounds beef short ribs, trimmed, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• ½ tablespoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 yellow onion, peeled, quartered
• 1 carrot, peeled, quartered
• 1 stalk celery, quartered
• 24 ounces stout (substitute other strong beer, beef stock or mushroom stock)
• 6 cups beef stock
• 1 sprig thyme
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch, mixed with cold water to form a paste

For potato tots

• 12 large Idaho russet potatoes
• 5 tablespoons vegetable oil, plus 2 cups for frying
• 4 tablespoons kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon black pepper
• 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

For casserole

• Braised beef (ingredients above) plus reserved braising liquid
• 2 cups pearl onions, cooked
• 2 cups cremini mushrooms, cooked, quartered
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons black truffle paste
• Potato tots (see below)
• 1 cup gruyère cheese, grated
• 2 tablespoons fresh chives, chopped

*Note: If you cannot find truffle paste, replace the gruyère for grated truffle cheese. Unfortunately, truffles are so unique that there isn’t a substitute, especially in a dish that already uses mushrooms.

Preparation for braised beef

1. PREHEAT the oven to 325°F. Season the short ribs with salt and pepper. Heat a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the vegetable oil and sear the beef on both sides, working in batches. Then remove it from the pot.
2. KEEP the pot over medium heat, add the tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes. Add the onions, carrots and celery; brown slightly. Add the stout. Turn down the heat to low and reduce the liquid slightly. Place the beef back in the pot and add the beef stock, thyme and bay leaves. Bring to a simmer, cover and braise in the oven until tender, 30 to 40 minutes.
3. REMOVE the meat from the braising liquid and reserve. Strain the liquid into a saucepan, bring to a boil and whisk in the cornstarch to thicken slightly.

Preparation for potato tots

1. HEAT the oven to 350°F. Wash the potatoes well with water to remove all dirt. Lightly prick the potatoes with a fork and toss with 4 tablespoons vegetable oil and 2 tablespoons salt.
2. SPREAD the potatoes out on a large baking sheet. Roast until tender, about 1 hour. Remove from the oven and allow to cool to room temperature, about 1 hour. Discard the skins.
3. CUT the potatoes in half and press the flesh through a baking grate into a large mixing bowl. Season with 2 tablespoons salt and 1 tablespoon black pepper, then fold in 4 tablespoons olive oil.
4. LINE a half sheet tray with parchment paper and lightly grease with 1 tablespoon vegetable oil. Firmly and evenly, press the potato mix into the tray. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to chill overnight.
5. CUT the potato mixture into about 1-inch squares. Heat 2 cups of vegetable oil in a shallow fry pan to about 325°F. Carefully place the potato squares into the oil and fry until golden and crispy, flipping as needed and working in small batches so not to crowd the pan. Remove from the oil and drain on a paper towel-lined plate.

Preparation for the casserole

1. PREHEAT the oven broiler to medium-high. Heat the braised beef in a large sauté pan with the thickened braising liquid, pearl onions and mushrooms. Once hot, add the heavy cream and fold in the truffle paste.
2. DIVIDE the mixture between 6 metal dishes and top each with fried potato tots. Sprinkle gruyère cheese over the top. Broil until the cheese is melted. Garnish with chives and serve.

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Now, what are you waiting for? Try out these recipes and feast with your families!

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Top 3 Recipes to Make for National Chocolate Cake Day

Throughout the year, people celebrate a number of different holidays. Be Black Friday or Thanksgiving, people have assigned almost every single day to any holiday that they could think of. But what’s so special about chocolate to have a day for it?

Chocolate, just like wine, is fermented. This happens when farmers harvest cacao pods, clean them, free them from the white material, and dry them out. Cacao beans undergo the process of fermentation. Little by little, the papery shell gets removed and reveals the cacao nibs. Afterwards, chocolatiers grind them into a cocoa mass and separate it into solids and butter. Others then process the mass and mix in milk and sugar. Some transform it into white chocolate by just using chocolate butter, milk, and sugar. People celebrate National Chocolate Day every October 28! Remember to mark that on your calendars as it’s a very chocolatey day!

What recipes can you try for National Chocolate Day?

A lot of people wonder how to incorporate chocolate into almost anything that they eat. Now, we have these three (3) recipes that you may try in order to celebrate this very chocolatey day!

Chocolate Chip-Date French Toast

Ingredients

For the French toast:

• 6 large egg yolks (save the whites for your ultra-healthy breakfast tomorrow!)
• 1 1/2 cups whole milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
• 1 teaspoon grated orange zest
• 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
• Kosher salt
• Unsalted butter, for frying
• 1 small loaf challah bread, sliced 1 inch thick
• Small handful of semisweet chocolate chips
• 4 dates, pitted and chopped

For the syrup:

• 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon bourbon

Directions

1. Make the French toast: Whisk the egg yolks, milk, vanilla, orange juice and zest, brown sugar, cinnamon, garam masala and a pinch of salt in a large glass baking dish.
2. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. Put a wire rack on a baking sheet and place in the oven.
3. Set a large skillet over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon butter. While the butter melts, prick a few holes on each side of a slice of bread with a fork. Lay it in the egg mixture and, using either a fork or your hands, push the bread into the egg mixture so the bread loosens up a little and soaks up the liquid. Flip and repeat.
4. Using a slotted spatula or tongs, pick up the bread, allowing the excess egg mixture to drip off, and lay it in the hot pan. As the first side is cooking, 2 to 3 minutes, push chocolate chips and chopped dates into the soft, uncooked side of the bread. Be assertive! Then flip and cook 2 to 3 more minutes. Remove and set on the rack in the oven to stay warm. Repeat with the remaining slices of bread, adding more butter to the pan if needed.
5. Meanwhile, make the syrup: Combine the maple syrup and bourbon. Warm it in the microwave, if you want. (You can make the syrup the night before; store in a jar in the fridge, then warm before serving.)

Chocolate Lasagna

Ingredients

• 36 Oreo cookies
• 6 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1⁄4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk, cold
• 1 (12 ounce) container Cool Whip, divided
• 2 (4 ounce) packages chocolate instant pudding
• 3 1⁄4 cups milk, cold
• 1 1⁄2 cups mini chocolate chips

Directions

1. Begin by crushing 36 Oreo cookies. I used my food processor for this, but you could also place them in a large ziplock bag and crush them with a rolling pin. When the Oreos have turned into fine crumbs, you are done.
2. Transfer the Oreo crumbs to a large bowl. Stir in 6 tablespoons melted butter and use a fork to incorporate the butter into the cookie crumbs. When the butter is distributed, transfer the mixture to a 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Press the crumbs into the bottom of the pan. Place the pan in the refrigerator while you work on the additional layers.
3. Mix the cream cheese with a mixer until light and fluffy. Add in 2 Tablespoons of milk and sugar, then mix well. Stir in 1 and 1/4 cups Cool Whip. Spread this mixture over the crust.
4. In a bowl, combine the chocolate instant pudding with 3 and 1/4 cups cold milk. Whisk for several minutes until the pudding starts to thicken. Use a spatula to spread the mixture over the previous cream cheese layer. Allow the dessert to rest for about 5 minutes so that the pudding can firm up further.
5. Spread the remaining Cool Whip over the top. Sprinkle mini chocolate chips evenly over the top. Place in the freezer for 1 hour, or the refrigerator for 4 hours before serving.

No Bake Chocolate Oat Bars

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 3 cups quick cooking oats
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup peanut butter

Directions

• Prep: 30 m
• Ready in: 3 h 30 m

1. Grease a 9×9 inch square pan.
2. Melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar and vanilla. Mix in the oats. Cook over low heat 2 to 3 minutes, or until ingredients are well blended. Press half of mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Reserve the other half for topping.
3. Meanwhile, melt chocolate chips and peanut butter in a small heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring frequently until smooth. Pour the chocolate mixture over the crust in the pan, and spread evenly with a knife or the back of a spoon.
4. Crumble the remaining oat mixture over the chocolate layer, pressing in gently. Cover, and refrigerate 2 to 3 hours or overnight. Bring to room temperature before cutting into bars.

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Hopefully, this makes your National Chocolate Day more sumptuous!

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5 Ways to Prepare Your Child for Preschool

Starting preschool is a major milestone for any child. This stage in their lives brings huge change and involves a whirlwind of emotions. While preschool offers a plethora of benefits to young children, the transition isn’t always as easy as most parents wish it would be. But don’t worry. There are ways you can make it more exciting for your kids.

How to prepare your child for preschool?

Take a look at this list and learn about some helpful tips to prepare your child for preschool.

Establish a set schedule

Establishing a schedule at home is one of the most helpful ways to prepare young kids for preschool. Getting used to following a specific routine can help ease the transition to preschool. Routines teach children about time, order and sequencing, which are part of the many things they will learn in preschool. So, while classes have not started yet, start establishing schedules for your child at home. Establish a specific time for getting up, eating meals, playing outside, reading books, and other activities. Adapting to a particular routine will make it a lot easier to adjust to the structure of a preschool setting.

Develop independence by practicing self-help skills

Try giving your little one simple tasks to develop their independence. Some examples include making their bed in the morning, dressing up, taking off their coat, lacing up their shoes and more! Make it more exciting by turning it into a game. You can give them a little reward for every task they finish to further encourage the habit. However, it would be best if you take time to make them understand what these activities are for. Let them know that those are some of the things they will practice in preschool. This approach isn’t only going to help ease your child’s transition to preschool. It will also boost their sense of independence knowing they can accomplish certain things without an adult.

Make time for reading

Making it a habit to read to your child every day will not only help prepare them for preschool. It will also enhance their vocabulary and language skills. There are a plethora of books about preschool that are available. Also, try to take them book shopping with you on a weekend. Let them choose books they would be interested in. Then, establish a regular schedule for reading every day. You can do it before bedtime or after playtime.

Visit the new preschool

Before classes officially begin, take time to visit the preschool with your little one. This will help increase their comfort in the new environment. It is also best to do your visit while preschool is in session. Introduce your child to the teacher. Then, allow them to become familiar with the classroom as well as other areas of the preschool. It’s also a great idea to allow them to play in the playground. This will make them feel more comfortable in the preschool setting and give them something to look forward to.

Emphasize the fun things about preschool

Most young children dread the idea of school. They hate the thought of being without their parents. The general idea of preschool isn’t something that they look forward to. But there’s something you can do to change that! Talk about preschool with your child as if it’s the most exciting things that can happen to them. Highlight the fun things they can do at school like playing with other kids, making new friends, playing games in the classroom, singing songs, listening to stories and a lot more!

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Preparing kids for preschool seem like a daunting task but it’s not as difficult as you think. Use this guide to help ease the transition to preschool. Also, be sure to enroll your child in a preschool that focuses on holistic growth and development – Creative Learning Academy. Please feel free to contact us for more information.

 

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