15 October 2019

Healthy Meal Planning for Children, Yellow Brick Road Nursery and Crystal Valley Nurseries, Dubai, UAE

Nursery children often seem too busy exploring the world to slow down and eat. Others may be fickle about food or refuse to eat what's served at mealtimes. Toddlers need about 1,000 to 1,200 calories a day, but often don't eat a lot at one sitting; that is where snacks come in.

Healthy, well-timed snacks can help balance out an uneven diet keeping them from getting hungry which leads to them being cranky. Preparing fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein and calcium-rich foods boosts nutrient intake for toddlers.

Milk and milk-based drinks make very good choice since it is an excellent source of calcium and protein which helps in their bone development. Milk intake also aids in children's overall growth and development however, milk consumption should also depend on different factors such as age, height, weight and if a child may be lactose intolerant etc.

Raw fruit juices are another option since these are very nutritious, containing multivitamins and lots of fiber. Preparing freshly squeezed fruit juices at home gives an assurance that it is 100% healthy; no hidden sugar, flavourings and preservatives.

Children tend to get used to the same kind and appearance of foods. What better way to make mini-meal time amusing is to prepare the food choices in a 'Bento Box' - a container divided into sections for holding different small varieties of food. It is appealing to the eyes of children especially when different fruits or vegetables are cut in small portions. Biscuit cutters in different forms can also be used when cutting sandwiches or cheese. This type of meal preparation is packed with love at the same time nutritionally balanced and visually pleasing making children look forward to 'mini-meal' times.



Check out Pinterest for more
ideas on 'bento-boxing'



The following tips from our expert panel at Yellow Brick Road Nursery and Crystal Valley Nursery will help your child enjoy mini-meal time every day. Enjoy and happy mini-meal preppin'!


Try freezing yoghurt, making it more like an ice cream type
~ Use biscuit cutters to cut cheese or bread into interesting shape or make smiling face by arranging pieces of fruits on a slice of bread.
Let your child help you prepare 'mini meal' together; allow them to put sliced fruits in containers or let them cut the bread. It gives them a great sense of     fulfillment and knowing they helped prepare it.
Ensure that snacks are easy to pick-up, finger-friendly and bite-sized since they would be feeding themselves especially when they are at the Nursery.
~ Use ice packs and cool bags to keep food fresh.
Be creative and enjoy the process of preparing it.

Additional mini-meal options for your children:

Sandwich fillings (required to be kept at correct temperature)
  • Lettuce, tomato and cucumber
  • Cheese and pickle/cucumber
  • Hummus
  • Cottage cheese/labneh
  • Cheese spread
  • Marmite/Vegemite

Savoury Items (required to be kept at correct temperature)
  • Rice dishes
  • Noodles
  • Pasta salad
  • Cheese and crackers
  • Stringy cheese
  • Baby bel cheese
  • Cheese dips
  • Vegetables
  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Sweet peppers yellow, orange, red
  • Carrot sticks
  • Celery sticks
  • Cucumber chunks
  • Baby sweet corn
  • Grated carrot and raisin salad

Breads
  • Use different breads such as Arabic, brown, wholemeal, rolls or wraps
Fruits
  • Seedless grapes 
  • Satsuma's, tangerines
  • Small Bananas
  • Cherries (stones out)
  • Apples cut and brushed with lemon
  • Plums
  • Dried fruit - apricots, dates, raisins
  • Pineapple/ watermelon/ melon
Sweet Items 
  • Malt loaf
  • Flap jack
  • Biscuits
  • Yoghurt/ fromage frais
  • Tea cakes
  • Fruit Loaf
  • Muller rice
  • Muffins
  • Banana/ carrot cake
Occasional Treats - not everyday
  • Gingerbread man
  • Nut-free cereal bars
  • Pop corn - unsweetened
  • Yoghurt covered raisins
  • Dried fruit snacks
Drinks
  • Raw fruit juice - 100% no added sugar
  •  Milk/ yoghurt drink
  • Water

No comments: