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    Raising Fit Kids: Healthy Nurtition, Exercise, and Weight


    Of course you want good nutrition for your children. And you know that means making sure they're eating a balanced, healthy diet. But when you get nutrition advice from other parents, your pediatrician, and the media, it can be tough to decide which direction to follow.

    A good place to begin sorting out the nutrition puzzle is to learn about the basics. Here, we lay out the details on five nutrients that a growing body has to have every day. The payoff? A child with strong bones and teeth, a well-regulated digestive system, oxygen-rich blood, and healthy nutritional habits the child can carry throughout life.


    Calcium helps make strong bones and teeth, and this nutrient is most important during the years when bones are growing. Foods that are highest in calcium come from the cow -- low-fat milk, cheeses, and yogurt. But some leafy vegetables and fortified juices are also good sources of calcium. Here are some ways to give your child the calcium he needs:

    1. Start his day with a bowl of cold or hot whole-grain cereal topped with skim or low-fat milk and sliced fresh fruit.
    2. Serve low-fat yogurt, smoothies, or cheese after school and between meals for a nourishing calcium-rich snack.
    3. Calcium-fortified juices and cereals are fine nondairy alternatives to help meet your child's daily requirement.

    Snack idea. Boost your kids' calcium intake by blending low-fat chocolate milk, a banana, and ice into a delicious smoothie for a quick meal, dessert, or snack.


    Grandma called it roughage and everyone, kids included, needs plenty of it each day to keep their digestive system working well. Here’s how to get your kids used to the taste of fiber-rich foods, which they can come to love.

    1. A bowl of high-fiber cereal is a great start to meeting your child's daily needs. Read food labels to find whole-grain cereals that provide 3 grams or more of fiber per serving. Usually, the more sugar in a cereal, the less fiber. Add sweetness to cereal with fresh, canned (unsweetened), or frozen fruit.
    2. Have cut-up whole fruits and veggies on hand to help your child meet the recommended five or more daily servings of fiber. Keep fruit juice to a minimum. Whole fruits and vegetables contain much more fiber and less sugar than most juices.
    3. Beans are loaded with fiber and protein. Drain and rinse canned beans and toss into soups, stews, salads, scrambled eggs and omelets, and salsas.

    Snack idea. Spread crunchy peanut butter onto celery sticks and top with raisins for a kid-favorite "ants on a log" snack.

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