103: How to Raise a Healthy Eater

On today’s show, we’ll be talking about how to raise a healthy eater, one nourishing bite and sip at a time.

This episode is sponsored by Fresh Avocados – Love One Today®, a leading source of the healthiest reasons and tastiest ways to enjoy fresh avocados. A science-based resource, it provides recipes and articles to help make it easy for consumers and health professionals to learn more about the nutritional benefits of fresh avocados and ways to include them in everyday menus.

As a mom of two grown boys, I’ve been in the family food and nutrition trenches for quite some time now, and so it’s no surprise that I’m often asked by listeners about the how-tos of raising a healthy eater especially when families are busy, kids are finicky, and unhealthy snack foods are a constant temptation. Well, on today’s show I’ll be giving you my top tips for raising healthy eaters including strategies on how to stock your kitchen as children progress from starting solids to school age and how to reduce the amount of added sugar in your family’s diet. I’m a firm believer that when families make the healthy choice the easy choice, they set a good example and help to build a foundation for life-long healthy eating.

On the show, I also share a new, no-sugar-added recipe for Chewy Avocado, Apple, Banana and Oatmeal Cookie. This recipe is ideal for toddlers and kids, and it does double duty as a snack or dessert.

But wait, there’s more. On the show, I’ll also tell you about this Avocado and Mango Smoothie. And yes, you guessed it: No added sugar.

Show Highlights:

• Get my top 7 tips for raising your kids or your grandkids to be healthy eaters
  • Set the tone for yourself and family from Day One
  • Take a strategic/thoughtful approach to transitioning infants to solid foods
  • Focus on fresh fruits and vegetables
  • Rethink your drink
  • Get Creative
  • Eat and prepare meals together as a family
  • And don’t deny dessert … but do pay attention to making them “better for you” and lower in added sugar
• CDC research shows that about a third of all US children are overweight… and that diseases with risk factors linked to poor nutrition like diabetes that were once unique to adults are now impacting our kids
• More research featured on LoveOneToday.com about the role of avocados in maternal diets that suggests eating avocados may support breastfeeding by supporting the production of nutritious breastmilk. So even before the baby arrives, whether you are the mom, the dad or grandparent, you can help set the family up for success by stocking the pantry with healthy, fresh foods like avocados.
• Make mealtime easier with the following free resources:
  • 7-Day Meal Planner
  • Supermarket Shopping List
• 9 out of 10 Americans don’t eat the recommended number of fruit and vegetables servings each day. If you could only make one change to your family’s diet, I’d steer you in the direction of eating more fresh fruits and veggies.
• Learn about my Fruit First strategy at breakfast.
  • Serve fruit before things like cereal or waffles are presented. Kids will gobble it up, because they’ll be hungry. Plus, fruit is naturally sweet and kids love it
  • Make my pumpkin pancakes
  • Whip up a fruit smoothie
  • Smash avocado on whole grain toast
• Get strategies for reducing added sugar from your family’s diet
• NEW recipe for No sugar added Soft and Chewy Avocado, Apple, Banana and Oatmeal Cookie
• Thirsty for a new smoothie recipe? Try this one from Love One Today for Avocado and Mango Kick-Starter Smoothie
• Tips for how to freeze fresh avocados (so you can use them up later!)
• A family dinner recipe for Avocado Shrimp Tacos
• The latest guidance from the USDA on nutrition: Resource: 2020 – 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans