Discover the Path to Healthy Eating!

Jennifer Lee, the creator of the game Crunch a Colour™ shared this great (and free!) healthy eating map for kids called "The Road to Healthy Eating". The best part is you have the option to download or print this creative game for your little ones. Your kids will learn how to make healthy eating choices and have fun at the same time! There are many other fantastic printables on this site that will keep your kids entertained for hours. Click here to find out more about what the Crunch a Colour website has to offer!

I'd love to hear about your experiences with The Road to Healthy Eating and Crunch a Colour™ 

Thanks to Jennifer for sharing this awesome game with me :)

Jenna

Crunch a Colour!

I came across a game called Crunch a Colour when I was yet again, browsing the aisles of Chapters. I decided to buy it since I figured it could come in handy in the future when I am a dietitian, or when I have kids of my own.

The description on the box says,
"For less than the cost of a pizza, you can completely change the dynamic at your dinner table! Created by a mom, Crunch a Color™ is an engaging game that gives kids points for eating a balanced and colorful plate of veggies, fruits, proteins and grains. Bonus points for good manners and trying new foods! To win, earn at least 30 points, 3 color cards, and 1 protein card in a meal. Everyone can win! Play the game in one meal, or over the course of a week using the Crunch a Color™ reward chart that is included. Kids have fun racking up points and collecting the veggie characters while trying new foods, learning about healthy eating, and practicing good table manners."


I think this game is a great way to get your little ones to try new foods and learn more about healthy eating. It is important for children to eat a variety of different foods in order to get the most nutrition out of their diets. By serving your kids foods of many different colours, you will be exposing them to a wide variety of nutrients. Vegetables and fruits are a great example of colourful foods that are loaded with vitamins and minerals that will help your kids stay healthy. The Crunch a Colour game will get your child interested in vegetables and fruits, which will hopefully make them more willing to eat them regularly!


You can use this diagram to help you make a rainbow of vegetables and fruits with your kids:

Little Grocery Helpers

I remember when I was a kid I would always go grocery shopping with my parents and throw everything and anything into the cart. As much as I would have loved to have every sugary cereal, baked good, pudding and potato chips that I grabbed off of the shelf, I was often only allowed to choose one. Now that I'm older, I'm happy my parents didn't let me do the grocery shopping as a kid...or else there might have been trouble!

It's not always fun saying no to your child's favourite (...and sometimes very sugary) foods, but getting your kids involved in grocery shopping doesn't have to be a chore.  Have your kids create their own healthy grocery lists by clicking HERE! Kids will love being able to choose their own groceries and soon you will be able to say "yes yes yes" to what they toss into the cart!  You can print off their final grocery list and let them find the foods at the store. Giving kids independence will make them feel special and with this awesome tool, you can feel good about giving your kids the control. 

Here is what the site looks like:

Give it a try!

Jenna

Kids in the Kitchen!

“When families work as a team in the kitchen, children are more likely to develop cooking skills and life long healthy eating habits.” - Margarett Best, Minister of Health Promotion and Sport in Ontario.

Many of my snack ideas suggest ways to get your kids involved in the preparation. You may be wondering why it is so important to involve your kids in snack and meal prep. Here are some of the many reasons why:

• Involving your kids with food prep teaches them basic cooking skills that will last a lifetime. You can teach them how to measure, mix, blend, chop and stir properly.
• Making snacks and meals together is also a great way to bond with them since it is a fun social activity. 
• Giving your kids their own task to complete will help them develop confidence and independence. 
• It is a great way to encourage teamwork since each family member will add his or her own contribution to the snack or meal.
• Getting kids in the kitchen enhances their creativity because they can arrange their snacks the way they want. There are many fun snacks outlined in my blog that give kids the creativity to make their own snacks using their own ideas.
• Involving kids in food prep can be a fun way to teach them about the importance of eating healthy. You can explain to your kids that eating healthy foods like fruits and vegetables can make them grow big and strong – this was always motivation for me to eat healthy foods as a kid! 
• You can also teach your kids about food safety and the importance of using appliances and utensils carefully.

As you can see, kids can learn a lot about food by helping you make their snacks and meals and it is a perfect way to spend quality time together as a family.

Ask your mini-chefs to help you make their next snack or meal!

Tip: If you have questions about feeding kids nutritious and delicious meals or other healthy eating tips, speak to a Registered Dietitian at EatRight Ontario. Call toll-free 1-877-510-510-2 or email your question at www.ontario.ca/eatright.

Quotation from: http://www.eatrightontario.ca/en/Articles/Nutrition-Month/Get-your-kids-in-the-kitchen-and-Celebrate-food%E2%80%A6fr.aspx

Photo credit:http://www.loveatfirstbite.net/cooking_classes.html