As a Holistic Health Care provider to families, I have noticed such a tremendous increase in the number of health complaints children experience these days. Chronic ear infections, allergies, skin problems like eczema, and behavioral problems are all too common today. While these can be complicated health problems, most if not all of these problems begin with what your child is or is not eating.
Healthy foods play an important role in living an overall healthy life, but getting kids on board the health train can be quite a challenge sometimes. Once they have tasted the forbidden fruits; processed, fast and junk foods, it seems like that is all they want! Kids have small pallets which is why they are perfectly content eating the same foods over and over. They don't like too much change or fancy flavors. Instead they like the basics, simple tastes and ingredients without too much fan fare. This is exactly why processed foods, which tend to be very bland, are so appealing, but in order for little nervous, digestive and immune systems to develop the most healthy, little bodies need a good supply of health promoting nutrients like healthy fats, healthy proteins, lots of vitamins and minerals which are not found in processed foods.
Studies have shown direct links between processed foods, sugars, food colorings, flavors and added sugars to behavioral problems, learning delays and disorders, allergies and increased rates of infection and sickness in children. A reduction of unhealthy fats, sugars, salts and processing chemicals is the best step you can take to immediately improve your child's health and eliminate health concerns. One of the best ways to ensure your child is getting lots of the good stuff, and not as much of the bad stuff is to eat more foods made at home and reduce the amount of foods that are already made, think foods out of a box, can or at a restaurant. The more foods you can make at home, the more chemicals, additives, sugars and unhealthy fats you cut out of your child's diet.
Here are 3 kid favorite recipes made the fresh and healthy way!
Macaroni & Cheese
Ingredients:
2c Coconut Milk
3 tbs. Buckwheat Flour
1 tsp. Dijon Mustard
1/2 tsp. Minced Garlic
1/2 tsp. Paprika
1/2 tsp. Sea Salt
1/4 tsp. Nutmeg
4 ounces shredded low-fat organic sharp cheddar cheese
1 1/4c Chopped Broccoli Florets
3/4 pound Elbow Quinoa Pasta
6 c baby Spinach Leaves
Directions:
Boil Pasta. For the last 30 seconds thrown in spinach and allow to cook just until wilted.
Whisk together 1 cup of the Coconut milk, flour, mustard, garlic, paprika, salt and nutmeg
Pour the remaining 1 cup of coconut milk into a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat
Whisk flour mixture and cook, whisking constantly until mixture has thickened
Remove from the heat and whisk in cheddar cheese until melted
Lightly steam broccoli
Drain pasta and spinach and add cheese sauce, along with broccoli
Cook over medium heat until mixture is hot
Remove and serve!
Healthy Pizza
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons flax seed oil, divided
3 cloves organic garlic, minced
1 bunch of organic asparagus
Handful of fresh organic spinach
¼ c Chopped Broccoli Florets
1 Organic Tomato Sliced
1/2 cup fresh snipped chives
1/4 tsp Celtic or Himalayan Sea Salt
1/4 tsp. fresh ground pepper
1 sprouted flax seed or other seed based pizza crust, spouted is best (can be found in the frozen section of most natural grocery stores)
1 c basil cashew cheese or low fat organic mozzarella cheese
Ingredients Basil Cashew Cheese:
2 cups of soaked cashews
1/4 cup oil (olive, hemp or flax)
The juice of 1 organic lemon, freshly squeezed
2 garlic cloves
1/2 teaspoon Black pepper
1/2 teaspoon Sea salt
1/4 c fresh basil, minced
Directions Cheese:
Put all your Basil Cashew Cheese ingredients into the blender and blend mixture until it becomes creamy.
You can serve as is or refrigerate for a few hours if you want a more firm consistency.
Directions Pizza:
Preheat oven at 450
Mix the flax oil and minced garlic
Trim asparagus to about 6 inch spears then toss in a bowl with the remaining oil
Spread a thin layer of basil nut cheese onto pizza crust
Top with veggies
Drizzle with remaining oil and garlic
Cook in oven until pizza crust is desired crispness (should not be long, just long enough to crisp crust but not over cook veggies)
Enjoy!
Fresh & Healthy Home Made Spaghetti
1 bunch of Organic on the Vine Tomatoes
1 tbs. Coconut Oil
1-2 tsp. flax oil
1/4-1/2 small Organic Sweet Yellow Onion
3 cloves Organic Garlic
1/4 c Fresh Organic Basil (Minced)
1/4 c Fresh Organic Oregano (Minced)
1 tsp. Celtic or Himalayan Sea Salt
1 tsp. Coarse Black Pepper
1/2 pound Quinoa or Rice Spaghetti Noodles
Directions:
Place coconut oil is a pan over medium heat
Add chopped onion and garlic
Cook until light golden brown
Place basil, oregano, salt, pepper and tomatoes in a food processor and process until blended thoroughly
Add to onions and garlic and simmer over low heat
Cook pasta and drain
Mix flax oil with noodles
Mix noodles with sauce
Serve and enjoy!
Getting your kids healthy and keeping them that way doesn't have to be complicated. In fact, by moving them to a natural, whole diet you are likely to see most, if not all of their health problems disappear. Take little steps and be a good example. Most of a child's diet habits are determined by their parents. Be mindful of what you are eating and what you keep around the house.
Contact me directly to discuss your child's health concerns and to schedule an appointment for an individualized approach to treating your child's health care needs naturally and holistically.
No comments:
Post a Comment