Sacred Heart - Inspiring Health

Smart Snacking Snacks keep both you and your children fueled throughout the day. Popular options such as cookies and chips, however, provide empty energy that leaves you all feeling worn out by mid-afternoon. Healthy snacks to keep stocked include: • Celery sticks with small containers of peanut butter, cream cheese, or yogurt • Pita chips and hummus • Easy-to-eat fruit such as berries and apple slices • Popcorn topped with grated Parmesan cheese rather than high-fat butter "When parents change their habits, their children are also affected," says Heather Krieger, RD, CD, Dietitian at HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Joseph's hospitals. Recommended Reading If you're interested in exploring this topic further, Heather Krieger, RD, CD, Dietitian at HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Joseph's hospitals, suggests these books by the renowned eating specialist Ellyn Satter: • Your Child's Weight: Helping Without Harming • Secrets of Feeding a Healthy Family: How to Eat, How to Raise Good Eaters, How to Cook WHEN PARENTS TAKE THE TIME TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES ABOUT SMART FOOD CHOICES, THEIR CHILDREN BENEFIT AS WELL. AS ANYONE WHO has memorized the phone number of their local pizza place or served peanut better and jelly with a side of Goldfish crackers can attest, it's tempting to allow convenience to guide meal preparation when life gets busy. That easy dinner, however, can create habits that are much harder to break in the future. "People retain the behaviors they develop during childhood regarding food well into adulthood," says Heather Krieger, RD, CD, Dietitian at HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Joseph's hospitals. "So it's important for parents to model good choices." To begin learning more about simple, healthy meals, Krieger recommends websites such as MyPlate (cnpp.usda.gov/myplate) or Choose My Plate (choosemyplate.gov). "Start with small changes," she says. "Children are like sponges, so if you allow them to be involved in the decision-making process, they will learn from it." Such changes should include: ✳ Eliminating sugar-sweetened drinks by choosing water or milk instead. ✳ Decreasing your amount of processed foods as much as possible. ✳ Making things fun by creating theme nights or sampling fruits and vegetables that are a variety of colors. ✳ Cooking and eating together—because when children choose what to eat and have a hand in making it, they are more willing to try new things. "It's a win-win deal," says Krieger. "By getting healthy, we can instill great lifelong habits in our children." Concerned about the example you're setting? Talk to your child's pediatrician about whether your family might benefit from speaking with a dietitian. Don't have a pediatrician? Visit sacredhearteauclaire.org or stjoeschipfalls.org to find one near you. LEARNING Teach by 1 4 I N S P I R I N G H E A LT H

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