"Man can never stop dreaming. The dream is the nourishment of the soul as food is the nourishment of the body. "
Paolo coelho
Munch on life with gluttony and playfulness!
Discover new things with enthusiasm!
Be happy and show it when you feel real joy, conversely let you know immediately when things are wrong and keep nothing to yourself ...
We recognize there character traits in our children from which we adults should draw inspiration a little more often!
Our children absorb our lifestyle, they observe us attentively and know how to surprise us by taking actions where the habits we have daily are simply mimicry. Our lifestyle, the choices we make have an indisputable impact on them and their well-being.
Childhood is a beautiful period of recklessness but also a rather intense period. Many things evolve at the same time: they grow, discover and learn new things daily, they have an energy expenditure that tires us just by watching them swarm from the back of our sofa ... so yes without a fuel that is at hand. at the same time healthy, nourishing, which gives them pleasure and allows them to grow well, it can get complicated. Hence this famous example that we give them every day ... our food choices undoubtedly also impact theirs and play on their mood.
Be careful, this is not about writing that if they only eat fruits, vegetables, whole starchy foods (if not nothing) and never sugar (well see) they will always be perfectly fine ... no ... food and mood seem to go hand in hand. Why? Like us children can be a bit more irritable or tired when they are hungry and therefore just be in a bad mood. They can also have stomach aches when they digest a meal that is too large, (moreover which would not be exhausted?) Too rich, not sufficiently balanced and therefore be much more tired by this digestion which requires them energy. considerable.
Adults we are aware of the importance of our food choices, but children are naturally attracted to certain foods that are not (always) the most suitable according to the meals of the day (strange to want only chocolate for dinner!) What parent has not noticed that the nervousness rate is at its peak after swallowing crocodiles right before bed? Thanks to the sugar and artificial colors ...
The effects of artificial colors:
For the first time the problem of artificial dyes and their impact on children's moods was noticed when it was discovered that those who ate them were behaving in "strange" ways.
The children were hyperactive, had mood swings, allergic reactions, anxiety, and even physical manifestations, such as headaches. According to pediatrician Dr. Greene, a growing body of evidence indicates that artificial colors are linked to many health risks and that they are dangerous for children. Dr Greene suggests that natural dyes exist and therefore there is no reason to use artificial ones.
The results of research conducted by the Food Standards Agency showed that the additives significantly increased hyperactivity. Based on this information, parents of hyperactive children have been advised to remove additives from their diet. According to several accounts, the elimination of artificial dyes reduces the hyperactivity, stress, and sometimes rash behavior that children can have.
About sugar ...
Research indicates low sugar intake improves a child’s mood and concentration. It is suggested to minimize sugar intake to reduce anxiety and increase concentration in children. Indeed, researchers have found that children who ate breakfasts with a low sugar intake performed better on memory tests. They focused longer and had fewer behavioral problems.
White sugar has no nutritional value for our body, it is devoid of vitamins and minerals and yet it is found everywhere ... hence the importance of reading the labels in the products we choose. On the other hand, unrefined natural sugars such as muscovado, rapadura or whole cane sugar add more flavor to a preparation, while having a higher sweetening power than white sugar. LCane sugar, also called whole sugar or "whole sugar" is sugar that has not been refined. Without the bleaching process, the cane sugar has a real richness in its composition: minerals, vitamins AND proteins. Much more interesting than white sugar from a nutritional point of view! Potassium, magnesium and calcium are also found in high concentrations. There is also the choice of Agave syrup (low glycemic index), honey (aromatic and with a strong sweetening power so we use less) or even maple syrup (rich in minerals). In short, white sugar has many competitors with incomparable benefits.
Place vegetables at the center of their food education:
You can learn to love a food, and especially a vegetable: food tastes are above all a matter of education and habit. Children are real sponges, they record and reproduce the behaviors they see on a daily basis. It's the same with food, they act by mimicry imitating the eating habits of their parents. So don't expect children to like vegetables if they are not part of your daily diet ...
Give them the example of crunching in raw vegetables (carrot sticks, radish, cauliflower) are not only a concentrate of vitamins in the pure state (fundamental for their growth and their well-being) but also a good introduction to make them want to take it more regularly (without mayonnaise of course ...)
Colors and presentation also change! It is very easy to draw a sun with raw vegetables, it brings a more playful and less "forced" side so that they end up swallowing them. If you want to discover some of our simple and easy "neither seen nor known" recipes, we will deliver a few here (add the recipe for sweet potato, lentil, carrot soup?
Other tips can make them realize the importance of a healthy diet: explain the impact on their health, their growth, their skin, the planet, respect for the seasons and the local etc… by going to the market to see the colored stalls, by feeling the atmosphere there, by talking to the producers, by discovering new tastes here and there, by letting them choose those that make them want… they have access to a other dimension: the origin of what they eat and can thus build stories, place faces and get an idea of where what they have on their plate comes from.
Once they are a little older, it is a pleasure to cook with them, they feel important to participate in the creation of a dish that they love. Then sharing what they have cooked together makes them proud, especially if they see that it is a real pleasure for everyone.
Rich in vitamin D, fruits and vegetables give energy and act on the’mood:
Fruits are an excellent source of vitamins, most of the B vitamins (except B12), the antioxidant vitamins C and E, and beta-carotene. These are not the only antioxidants, since fruits are full of polyphenols, carotenoids and flavonoids that fight against oxidative stress. They also provide minerals, potassium, magnesium (banana), manganese, calcium or iron.
Vegetables are an interesting source of water-soluble vitamins: vitamin C, provitamin A or beta carotene or group B vitamins, they are particularly rich in potassium. There are also calcium (especially in cabbages), magnesium, of iron and copper (spinach) or even sulfur (cabbage, onions, garlic, leeks, turnips, radishes). Green vegetables are also the second source of calcium intake behind dairy products (Calcium is of particular importance in bone mineralization, muscle contraction and in the transmission of nerve impulses). They are our main source of vitamin C playing a role essential in our body by its antioxidant and stimulating effect on the immune system, and cattributing to our hydration! Indeed, water is the main constituent of vegetables, representing on average 90% of their composition! They are thus an excellent way to provide the body and the skin with the amounts of water we need daily.
And the fibers in all of this?
Essential for health, ensuring the proper functioning of our body, fibers allow good intestinal transit. Thanks to their action of cleaning the digestive system, they eliminate waste that the body does not need. What's good for the gut is also good for the brain! According to some studies, consuming fiber can reduce the effects of stress and anxiety. Where are they mainly? In dried fruits and legumes, in whole grain products but also in vegetables and fruits.
Food is a notion of sharing, of discovery, of memories. Nourishing the body as much as the soul, it is fundamental to the well-being of everyone and even more for that of a child in full development. A balanced diet, learning the concepts of benefits that it brings us and especially the notion of pleasure are part of a virtuous circle comprising, among other things, the values and education we want to provide to our children. Food goes hand in hand with the environment in which they grow and thrive. It is up to us to find the right balance according to their characters and especially their needs. The most important thing is to be attentive to them, to know how to adapt to each one and to teach them to communicate in order to best adjust whatever we can offer them.