Summer Survival Tips No.1 - First Up It's the Fruit Brigade!

The 'summer holidays' are here and we thought it might be helpful to
begin sharing a few foodie tips that might just help towards keeping
your children happy, calm and in tip-top shape all summer long......

First up, it's the best of the fruit brigade to feed your children:

Mangoes are a true wonder-food, loaded with beta-carotene, vitamin C and
E as well as phenols such as quercetin and small amounts of the full
spectrum of other vitamins and minerals. They are also an excellent
source of dietary fibre, which helps to eliminate wastes effectively
from the body and can relieve constipation. Mango hedgehogs are always
a (messy!) hit with children.

Pears make an excellent nutritious snack, rich in vitamin C and
potassium and although not well-researched scientifically, they are
considered to be one of the least likely foods to trigger an allergic
reaction. They are loaded with alkalising minerals, fibre and water,
all of which are helpful for poor digestion and constipation - symptoms
that often accompany food intolerances.

The saying 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away' is now firmly grounded
in science and it is thus a good idea to encourage apples as part of
your child's staple diet. Apples are a wonderful source of fibre and
are perfect for a good gradual release of energy for children. If a
child finds eating a whole apple boring, why not try adding chopped
apple to fruit salad or cereal or try cooked apple for a change.

For a healthy, tasty snack try offering watermelons and / or orange
melons as they are a rich source of antioxidants and vitamin C. Try
blending watermelon, flesh and seeds, to make a quick refreshing drink
for your children and they will also get the nutrients that hide inside
the seeds such as zinc, which is essential for growth and immunity.

Kiwi fruits are fun for children to eat if you simply slice the top off
and let them scoop out the flesh with a teaspoon (just like a boiled
egg!). Weight for weight kiwis contain 50% more vitamin C than oranges
and that's just one of their immune-boosting antioxidants. They contain
other antioxidant phytonutrients, including flavonoids and carotenoids
and also contain potassium. Like most fruits kiwis are also a good
source of lubricating fibre.

Blueberries are increasingly renowned as a wonder-food and an appealing
fruit for little children. They are a dense concentration of
antioxidants such as vitamin C and anthocyanidins. The antioxidants in
blueberries have a particular propensity for protecting the eyes and the
skin and they may even help to support brain function.

Providing a variety of fruits is the key to a healthy diet, so use these
fruity tips along with your own favourites to provide as much variety as
possible; it's much healthier and they're much less likely to get bored too!

From the Nutri Supplement, No 111