11 heathy foods
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- July
- 8
I’m always looking for the healthiest food I can get my little guys to eat.
So when I saw this list of The 11 Best Foods You Aren’t Eating on the New York Times’ health blog, I
quickly looked it over to see if there was anything my boys were already eating and if there was anything I might be able to get them to eat.
This list was specifically common foods you could find in just about any market, anywhere, anytime, which accounts for the canned pumpkin and frozen blueberries.
I was pleased to see that I eat quite a few items on the list at least every now and again (beets, cabbage, cinnamon, pumpkin seeds, turmeric, blueberries and canned pumpkin (at Thanksgiving, at least, in pie form, does that count?).
Dried plums — a prune by any other name — you couldn’t pay me enough to eat. We tried to convince my older boy that prune juice was great. Problem was, I couldn’t bring myself to even smell it, never mind drink it. I’ll never try to make my kids eat prunes. It really ticks me off, actually, that the produce industry has conspired to rename them dried plums so as to take away the stigma. Hey – raisins don’t have a stigma and we don’t have to call them dried grapes! For the record, I like plums a great deal. And grapes and raisins.
For the full details on exactly what about each of these foods makes them good, check out the above link, but here’s the basics:
1. Beets. Best fresh and raw.
2. Cabbage. Eat it raw. We put it on salad all the time and Rafael has been known to eat a bowl of the stuff. Woo-hoo!
3. Swiss chard. Recommended: chopped and sauteed in olive oil.
4. Cinnamon. A serving suggestion is to sprinkle it on oatmeal. I’m going to try this.
5. Pomegranate juice. Rafael loves apple juice, and Markus isn’t very picky about his juice. This could work. Do they sell it in juice boxes? (Environmentally unsound, I know. But really easy when we’re at the park.)
6. Prunes. ‘Nuff said. Suggested to wrap them in prosciutto and bake them. Oh, please.
7. Pumpkin seeds. I might be able to get the little guys to try this. Markus might be a bit young to eat these, but Rafael should do well.
8. Sardines. We had these all the time when I was growing up. But they’re such fishy fish. I do love fish, though, and these are all but mercury-free. Don’t know that I can get the little guys to eat it, but it’s worth a shot. Suggested: choose those packed in olive or sardine oil.
9. Turmeric. Serving suggestion: “Mix with scrambled eggs or in any vegetable dish.”
10. Frozen blueberries. Sure, fresh is always better, but if they’re frozen you can eat them all year ‘round. Rafael likes these. I think I can get Markus to eat them.
11. Canned pumpkin. Mmmm. Pumpkin pie. I doubt that’s exactly what they had in mind, but still.
Photos via sxc.com
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, July 8th, 2008 at 8:00 am by Amy Vernon.
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I’m off to the grocery store right now so this is very handy to see. I’m so addicted to your blog (have I noted that before?)
Have you ever tried a prune? They are actually quite delicious and kids like them. Prunes and prune juice are two different things. There is tons of research about the health benefits of prunes. They have been shown to actually reverse bone loss. Plus they contain fiber, potassium, and other key nutrients. I dare you to try one! You might be surprised.
Yeah, I have tried prunes. I know they’re really good for you. I just cannot stand them. Really. And I’d be perfectly happy if Rafael and Markus were willing to eat them. I just can’t. And won’t.
This is a great list! Mind if I snag it for a post later this week? I promise to give FULL credit!
This blog is must read for mothers whose kids are small. As they always keep looking for the healthiest food she can get her little baby to eat.
thanks for the kind words, veggie and julia; never mind if you crib from us and give full credit… i do it all the time!!