You Can Ask Your Food Questions and Get Answers! - For prepared foods the labels tell you a lot about what is in it. Ingredients are listed in the order of how much is in the food. The percentages of vitamins, fat, sugar, and calories per serving are also there, as well as how big a serving size is for that food. Choose more foods that are lower in calories, fat and sugar per serving.
Don’t despair, we know it seems as if everything you like isn’t very healthy but there are several foods that most kids like a lot that can be made healthier! Here’s a few examples – we’ll keep adding more !
YUMMY SUBSTITUTES: Instead of drinking soda mix ½ sparkling water and ½ 100% fruit juice of your choice
MIX AND MATCH: Pick what you like, but use less of it and more of something healthier. For example, use one slice of cheese or a thinner slice on your sandwich. Put on more mustard, use a little less mayo.
LATE NIGHT MUNCHIES
Eating late at night isn’t useful for your body because all you are going to do is rest. It is better to have your larger meals during the day when you are more active. So, if you get hungry after 8:00 p.m. and you have already had dinner, try not eating and keep busy until bedtime. If you are hungry, try snacking on fruits such as a handful of raisins or a banana, or vegetables such as carrots or celery.
PARTIES/EVENTS/SLEEPOVERS
If you run into the situation where you are somewhere and there just aren’t any healthy choices, or it would be a big deal to get something healthier, there are still ways to stick to your goals.
Before you go to an event with lots of yummy junk food (such as cookies, ice cream, chips, and candy) here are some tips
- Eat a few healthy things you like at home
- Drink Water (fun fact – lots of times when we think we are hungry, we are really just thirsty!)
At the Event
- Take Smaller Portions
- Eat Slowly and Really Enjoy What You Eat
- Choose Just Your Favorites, Not Everything Available