Monthly Archives: March 2013

Child Fitness, Child Health, SYN Digital Enrollment Director

Many Kids’ Meal Items Offer Little Nutrition Study Finds

I just read this article from CNN discussing the findings from a nonprofit health advocacy group which found that most kids’ meals fail to meet the standards for basic nutrition and had to share it.

 ‘Obesity on the menu’ for kids, group says

Among the findings, of the nearly 3,500 meals studied 97% failed to meet basic nutritional standards. In addition, 50% of kids’ meals had more than 600 calories and 66% overshot the standards for sodium content.

If there is good news in all of this, it’s that healthy options are on the rise for kids’ menus in restaurants across the country. The director of the National Restaurant Association, Joy Dubost says that today 3% of kids’ meals are healthy, compared with just 1% four years ago.

What do you think about the findings? Do you try to encourage your kids to order more nutritious menu options when dinning out?

 

Child Fitness, Child Health, SYN Digital Enrollment Director

Make A Healthy And Quick Breakfast For Kids

We’ve all been told that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It gives us energy, improves brain function, and primes our metabolism for the day. But children can be hard to please when it comes to giving them the nutrition they need. That’s why  it’s important that we make a tasty, healthy, and quick breakfast for kids.

I know what you’re thinking. “Sure that sounds good now, but my kids never have the time for breakfast.” I can relate, which is why I’ve compiled a list of fast and healthy breakfast foods for kids on the go.

Plain yogurt is high in fiber and has good bacteria that helps aid digestion but quite frankly, tastes like sour cream. Adding honey, granola, nuts and fruit to the mix will make it much more kid friendly while also adding other vitamins and nutrients that your kids can eat while getting ready for the day.

Scrambled eggs are a great source of protein and can be made in minutes. One way to make them more wholesome is to add a splash of milk and some low-fat shredded cheese. This makes for a creamy egg that has both protein and calcium. No time to sit at the table and eat? Heat a soft tortilla shell, dice some bell peppers into the eggs, then spread the eggs and peppers into the shell. Top with some fresh salsa (at least that’s what I do) and you’ve got eggs on the go.

Fruit smoothies are easy to whip up, and because you are making them, you can eliminate the sugars and preservatives found in store bought drinks. Cut up your kids favorite fruits and blend them with low-fat milk or juice and you’ve got a sippable breakfast that kids can even help make.

Another quick breakfast for kids is oatmeal. Like plain yogurt, is boring on it’s own but has fiber and “sticks to your ribs” as my mom always says. Try adding fruits (blueberries, apples, bananas, strawberries) honey, cinnamon, or a dash of maple syrup. It’s quick, filling, and healthy.

There are also plenty of healthy cold cereals that are quick and nutritious. Just be sure to avoid the overly sweetened chocolate, “fruit flavored” and marshmallow varieties.

Preparing breakfast the night before can always help too. Cut up a fruit salad, bake some homemade bread (banana, cranberry/orange, and zucchini all taste great) or make and freeze pancakes that are just as fast as store bought brands while also being healthier provided you go easy on the butter and syrup.

Breakfast is indeed the the most important meal of the day. It gets us going and keeps your kids full at school so they can better concentrate on learning. The best news is that a quick breakfast for kids doesn’t take up your whole morning or leave them with only unhealthy options.

Try some ideas out and let us know what you think! Better yet, share your ideas for healthy on-the-go breakfast ideas.

Child Safety, Online Safety, SYN Digital Enrollment Director

Keeping Our Kids Safe Online

The speed at which technology is progressing is so rapid that keeping your kids safe while they are online can seem like a more daunting task than maintaining their physical safety in the busiest of public settings.

I’m 29 years old, and I didn’t learn how to use the Internet until I was in the 8th grade because at the time it was still not the commonplace medium it is today. Now I see toddlers struggling to hold a smart phone against their ear to talk to dad while running errands with mom.

As children become familiarized with technology at younger and younger ages we as a society must recognize the unique risks associated with what, when, and where they can access potentially harmful information or be putting themselves at risk.

Don’t assume that simply changing your browser’s security settings will do the parenting for you. Bare in mind that your kids most likely know at least as much about how to adjust those setting as you do!

Keeping the computer in a central location is a good start so you can keep your eyes on what your kids are looking at. But just having a computer in a common area isn’t enough anymore. Be sure that your kids don’t have game consoles, laptops, tablets, or smart phones in their room because they could be accessing or revealing potentially harmful information without you being any the wiser.

While you’re watching them, pay attention to who they’re talking to and what they post. What may seem like a harmless post to them could compromise their safety. Don’t allow them to give out personal information to anyone they haven’t met in person such as their name, address, phone number, or anything that could tell a stranger where to track down your child.

After they’re done using the computer review the browser history and check their favorite sites often so you know exactly what they see. Set the security and privacy settings on your browser that you feel is appropriate for children their age and let them know that you will be checking them often to make sure that they stay set where they are.

Additionally, when using the computer for homework be sure that they aren’t plagiarizing other peoples’ work. It is so easy to find information then copy and paste it to a book report, but that could land them in serious trouble. Be sure to tell your kids about the rules and rights that people have in creating and submitting content online.

There is no doubt that the Internet is a wonderful learning tool and makes communication easier than ever. But much like the real-world, the Internet requires some adult supervision to keep your child safe.