Children who are picky eaters don’t make it easy for their parents to feed them the highest quality foods with the most benefits. Foods with antioxidants are powerhouses that can boost a child’s health, but you may be wondering how to get more in your child’s diet. Try these easy changes and watch your child consume the food you want them to eat.
Superfood Snacks
Snack time is a great time to offer superfoods that are packed with antioxidants. Certain fruits and vegetables are full of antioxidants that can protect a child’s cells and health. Sit out a platter of fruits and veggies daily for snacks instead of offering boxed snack foods that are full of sugar but no substance. Experiment with different dipping sauces for veggies and sit down to mindfully eat snacks with your child. Ask them about the subtle difference between the taste of a strawberry versus the taste of a raspberry. Make snack time healthy and informative, and don’t allow unhealthy snacks to sneak into this time.
Ditch the Soda
An easy way to pack a child’s diet full of antioxidants is to offer tea or juice instead of soda. Sugary drinks are addictive and don’t offer any kind of health benefits. All that sugar may compromise a child’s immune system. There’s no need for soda, and juice and tea can be just as tasty while still offering tons of benefits.
According to Matchaisland, catechins are among the most powerful antioxidants, and one specific catechin called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) makes up 60% of the catechins in matcha. You can pick up green tea just about anywhere, so create tea time and enjoy a cup with your child regularly. Choose high quality tea and juice, and don’t even bring soda into your home.
Visit the Source
It’s true that fruits and vegetables can be bought from the grocery. However, if you want to make antioxidant consumption a full experience for your child, visit a farmers market or go to a place that allows you to pick your own berries. When a child has a chance to be a part of the food sourcing experience, he or she is more likely to be intrigued enough to try the food. Seeing where food comes from has an impact on a child. Visiting a farmers market or farm also allows you to talk about how foods that come from the ground or are grown offer much more for our bodies than processed boxed food we buy off the shelf. Make eating foods with antioxidants a hands-on experience. With a bit of intentional effort, you can have your child consuming healthy, antioxidant-rich foods in no time. The benefits to their health will follow them through life.
