These days it can be hard to tell who works longer … us or our kids.
For them, hours of school is followed by hours of homework and often nights spent practicing a sport or other after school activity. Our kids need real food to fuel them through the long days so they don’t hit a wall or experience that midday slump.
According to the World Health Organization, adequate nutrition can raise your productivity levels by 20 percent on average. Let me take you back to 8th grade health class for a minute (in case you missed this part looking at the cute guy or girl in front of you) Most of what we eat will be broken down to Glucose. Glucose is like fuel for your brain.. it keeps its alert. Certain foods release glucose fast. Others release it at a more steady rate. Eat a cookie on the way to soccer practice and you’ll get a glucose burst for about 20 minutes… then your brain will crash. Eat some almonds or granola on the way and you will keep your attention span steadier for longer.
While your teenager might need more to eat in terms of calories and protein than your elementary aged child… both children need nutrient rich foods to keep their bodies full and their minds fit.
Lean protein products, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, healthy fats.. that’s what our kids should be eating. You’ve probably heard that list before. But when the alarm clock goes off and your child announces they need to finish a project right now or you look at the calendar and realize both kids have to be in different places at the same time… that list goes right out the window and thoughts of just getting through the day flood your brain. Bye bye healthy dinner. Hello, quick and fast.
With just a little planning though, you can still make quick, fast and healthy happen all at the same time! Utilizing make ahead meals, and kitchen tools like a blender and a crockpot truly can revolutionize the way you feed your family a healthy, delicious, simple dinner. Here are some ideas to get you started!
