Feeding Our Children

By Eve Prang Plews
Licensed Nutrion Counselor
(Originally published in Sarasota's Natural Awakenings magazine August, 2010)

          Yes, they’re our children – even if you never had a kid or raised a kid.  They are the bodies and minds that will govern you as future politicians and leaders, care for you as physicians and other health care helpers and be your future family.  Thus any support you give to build good brains and functioning bodies is to your advantage ultimately, even if they’re not your kids.  No population is more tragically affected by plate after plate of nutrient stripped processed foods than our children. 

          There is no shortage of calories in the American Kid Diet.  That is obvious!  Every other TV show and fast food joint beckon kids to eat food-like altered substances loaded with fats and sugars that fail the definition of FOOD: a substance consumed to keep alive an animal or human and enable it to grow. 

          Advertising could influence kids to eat fresh fruits, vegetables and less processed choices, but the odds are against it. The U.S. Department of Agriculture spent $268 million to promote real food.  A measly amount compared to the $11 BILLION food-makers spent to push their non-foods on the public.  Produce doesn’t stand a chance against those 98 – 2 odds!

          When a child isn’t getting good fats from foods such as nuts, seeds, avocado, egg yolks (especially) and fish, the developing brain will make do with whatever fats it can derive from available sources such as pizza, hot dogs and pretend chicken.  This is especially detrimental for developing brains because bad fats interfere with normal cell signaling or firing.  Eating burgers, fries and nuggets regularly will slow brain function, dull thinking capacity and set the stage for the poor lipid profile that leads to heart disease and diabetes.

          Kids need adequate protein early in the day to learn well. Amino acids from protein foods like egg, poultry, fish plus lean pork, beef and lamb don’t just feed the brain, they are mood food too. The chemicals that allow cells to talk to each other – the neurotransmitters – are made of protein. Learning, memory, coordination, alertness are just a few of the control arenas that require adequate dietary protein to function vibrantly.

          WHITE FLOUR: In the book, Are Your Kids Running on Empty?, food biochemist Paul Stitt explains what happens when they refine flour. They take 30 nutrients out of wheat flour and put back eight, and can call it “enriched”. The marketing of soft white “wonder” bread started after World War II.  Now it is used in pasta, pizza, cookies, doughnuts, cakes, buns, rolls and fillers in hundreds of foods.  What percentage of your or your kid’s diet is synthetically enriched flour?

          SUGAR AND HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP: According to studies from Washington State University, the average child consumes 275 pounds of sugar a year.  That’s 20 pounds a month! or 12 ounces of sugar a day from all sources of sugar, high fructose corn syrup and juice flavored drinks.        

          How can parents stand up to this constant onslaught of TV commercials, some actually viewed at school? Make a strong commitment to give your kids only the foods that can help them grow the best, most optimal brain and body possible. It’s really NOT hard once we decide that our hopes for our children are always to see them succeed physically, emotionally and mentally. A nutrient rich diet, (as organic as possible) builds a strong, healthy body and a powerful brain. 

          Without a strong commitment to health, any food within reach or drive-thru on the way home becomes OK.  Children need food as close to the way it occurs in nature as possible. The more processed the food is, the more poisoned.  So stop buying the junk already!  Remember, when you replace a poor quality food with a healthier replacement, the first few days are the hardest.  By the end of the second week, most kids have forgotten about the “give-up” food.  After three weeks, the new “like-it” food will be in place.  Have courage! Stick to your commitment! 

          Kids are motivated by their dreams to become dancers and firemen, doctors and astronauts, ballplayers and musicians.  Use phrases that put emphasis on better choices:

• Eat for better grades, smart kids don’t eat fake food.
• Fish sharpens your mind
• Fuel your brain, athletes say most of the game is mental
• Good breakfast equals good grades
• Soda dehydrates muscles, water gives you an edge
• Well watered brains think better, well watered muscles are stronger longer
• Gorillas don’t eat French fries and burgers, they eat plants to grow super strong

            KEEP HEALTHY SNACKS AND DESSERTS READY AND AVAILABLE

DRINKS:  If your kid thinks water is boring, add 1-3 drops of non-caloric flavored Stevia.  It comes in a myriad of liquid flavors. Try Root Beer or Lemon Mandarin or add to bubbly seltzer!

FRUIT:

• Healthy shake with frozen berries and vanilla yogurt
• Frozen grapes or pineapple
• Apples or celery with peanut butter –yummm.
• Watermelon cubes, pineapple spears, fresh berries
• Real fruit Popsicles
• Dates stuffed with an almond or cream cheese or roll in coconut  

VEGETABLES

• Raw vegetables get eaten with Ranch dressing, guacamole or hummus
• Keep an easy-open frig container full of carrots, celery, cucumber, grape tomatoes, snow peas, jicima (sweet & crunchy)

DAIRY

• Healthy shake with frozen berries and vanilla yogurt
• Blend equal parts of cottage cheese and Ranch dressing for a tasty, high protein dip.
• Vanilla yogurt sprinkled with granola and toasted coconut 

               PROTEIN

• Hard boined or devilled eggs
• Chicken or turkey tenders with a little Bar-B-Que sauce - baked in a 350* oven for 15 minutes
• Baked chicken legs

              GRAINS

• Whole grain crackers
• Air-popped popcorn

They will soon become your kids’ favorite.

     Eve Prang Plews is a Licensed Nutrition Counselor.  She has been in practice in Sarasota for 22 years.  Her clinic, Full Spectrum Health, is located at 2106 Bispham Road, Sarasota, FL 34231. The phone number is 941-952-1200.

     Her previous articles are available on Eve’s Blog at www.fullspectrumhealth.com

Eve radio show, No Nonsense Nutrition airs Mondays 9-10 AM on WSLR 96.5 LPFM.

Stream it live from www.wslr.org.