The American Heart Association estimates that
one-third of children in the United States are overweight or obese. How we got to
this point as a society is difficult to determine – lack of family-based time, rise
of fast food, rise of video games, decline of outdoor activities, decline of
small family-run farms and many other factors that are worth considering. No
matter who or what is to blame, America’s army of moms can help improve their
child’s
odds of overcoming these factors.
odds of overcoming these factors.
As the Holiday season approaches, it’s important
for parents to keep in mind how holiday meals and treats will affect their
child’s health. However, there’s no reason to celebrate the holidays in fear.
Holiday celebrations can still be enjoyable and healthy for families – and
Halloween is no exception.
The following tips can keep your children on
course for making healthy and nutritional choices – even when candy is the main
focus.
1. Fuel your children’s bodies with a warm and
healthy meal, like our Tomato Basil Pumpkin Soup (recipe below).
Serve it alongside whole grain bread before they go out trick-or-treating. This
can help ensure that your child will be well fed and less tempted to eat their
candy before it’s brought home and approved by you.
2. In preparation for Halloween, challenge your
creativity by getting your kids involved in making spooky critters with fruits,
vegetables, nuts/seeds and healthy spreads or dip instead of starting the
Halloween season off with candy and sweets.
3. Choose beverages wisely. Kids will get plenty
of extra sugar this time of year. Focus on water instead of soda, sports drinks
and juice. Consider soda water or seltzer with a lime or lemon.
4. Encourage portion control. A few small pieces
of candy can easily be intertwined into a solid foundation of fruits,
vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and low-fat dairy with out causing harm.
5. Avoid the sugar crash. Rather than letting the
kids eat candy on an empty stomach, allow a small treat after a healthy meal or
snack.
6. Encourage physical activity. Keep your kids
moving with fun outdoor Halloween-oriented games. Aim for 60 minutes of
activity each day.
7. Make your own treats. Packaged treats often
contain partially hydrogenated oil (also known in the industry as trans fats),
high fructose corn syrup, excessive sodium, additives and preservatives.
Halloween should be a safe and enjoyable way to
kick off the holiday season. Candy can be a special treat and part of a
well-rounded diet if it’s kept in proper orbit amongst the solid, healthy food
groups. You can easily maintain the fun and festive spirit of Halloween by
making the simple and healthy choices listed above.
Pumpkin Soup (with Tomato and Basil) - vegan
1lb. pumpkin
½ lb. carrots
1 White onion
3 stocks celery
Vegetable stock
½ lb. tomatoes
2 tbsp. chopped basil
2 tbsp. olive oil
Directions
Coarsely chop carrots, celery and onion (Mirepoix), and sauté (on low heat) with
the 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, cut pumpkin in half and peal skin off (you may cut it in half and
steam the pumpkin for 10 to facilitate this process). Remove seeds and pulp.
Cube the pumpkin into roughly 2 inch pieces and add to Mirepoix.
Add the vegetable stock and set to simmer.
Using a gas burner, chef torch or oven (if you do not have gas) blacken the
tomatoes and remove skin. Add to pot and simmer a total of 20 minutes.
Remove from heat and blend with an immersion wand or in small batches in a
blender.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Once ready to serve garnish each bowl with a pinch of the chopped Basil.
Note: for a non-vegan version use butter in combination with you olive oil to
sauté your Mirepoix, and finish your service bowl with a tbsp. of heavy cream.
© All copyrights reserved 2013
property of Rainbow Chefs 2013
www.rainbowchefs.com
(855) 485- CHEF
Svetlana Elgart’s Biography
Svetlana Elgart is the CEO and founder of Rainbow Chefs. She
has spent the last 17 years working with children in many different capacities.
For the past few years she has been developing curriculums and researching the
tremendous health issues that many children face today because of consumption of
processed, high fat unhealthy foods. It has been her lifelong dream to make a
difference in the life of as many people as possible by educating them life
lessons through culinary arts. She believes that educating people of all ages
on nutrition, how to cook healthy, easy and nutritious meals, learn the basics
of manners, etiquette, and gardening will help them attain a healthy lifestyle.
This is what led her to open the doors of Rainbow Chefs (formerly known as Les
Petit Chefs Academy) where she is successfully making a difference in the life
of as many people as possible.
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