Combining healthy eating and children
Today we're looking at nutrition, especially for our little ones. With the help of Jacqueline Shum, we give you 6 tips on how to give your children a healthy diet and tell you what foods to avoid. Jacqueline also shares her recipe for spring rolls in this article.
Our children expend energy, they need a lot of elements to develop well. By offering them a healthy, unmodified, simple and natural diet, they will have the energy and vitality they need to live life to the full!
Our 6 tips
As parents, you can contribute to your children's health and well-being through many things, including food. For their healthy lunches or vitamin-packed lunch boxes, here are some tips to apply:
- Play with colours and presentation. Don't forget that you eat with your eyes first!
- Adopt a proportion of 50% vegetables, 25% proteins and 25% starchy foods. We can't tell you enough: eat organic! No GMOs, no added pesticides, fair production, respecting the seasons and nature.
- Vary your food to avoid too much gluten, lactose and meat. You can even plan a 100% vegan meal.
- Pay attention to the acid-base balance. Too much acidity promotes an inflammatory environment. For example, with cherry tomatoes, double the amount of cucumber.
- Stock up on durable and reusable containers. You can find original and fun boxes with compartments.
- If possible, involve your child in the preparations. Children love to experiment and will happily eat what they have prepared themselves, with great pride!
Foods to avoid
Sugary foods, lack of protein and lack of good fats will have a negative impact on your children's health.
Sugary foods will tire their system, unbalance their insulin secretion, make them hyperactive, decrease their concentration and favour an inflammatory terrain (hello viruses!).
Foods to remember
A lack of protein will affect hormones, the muscular system, and the proper functioning of enzymes.
A lack of good fats, such as omega 3, will reduce metabolism, promote inflammation and infection, and make blood vessel membranes less flexible.
Jacqueline's spring roll recipe
Quality spring rolls that are incredibly easy to make, delicious and healthy! For young and old alike, they are a great lunch, light dinner or appetizer. Ingredients:
- 1 cucumber
- 3 peppers
- some carrots
- aromatic herbs
- germs
- fennel
- roast beef or smoked tofu or smoked salmon - whatever you prefer!
- peanut sauce (preferably homemade)
- rice leaves
Some tips:
- Cut the vegetables very thinly to prevent the rice paper from tearing.
- Soak your rice paper for a few seconds in 70 degree water (not boiling water!).
- Place the rice sheet on a cloth to dry before placing all the ingredients.
- Once dried, arrange the ingredients of your choice on the rice paper.
- Close it on itself to obtain a nice and delicious spring roll.
With a little organisation, these rolls can be prepared in about ten minutes. Enjoy!