Healthy Summer Snacks in favor of Kids

With summer around the corner, lots of parents are trying to put together a healthier diet for their babies. All of us know that meals a day won't continue to grow children nutritionally satisfied all day. Children always ask their parents for a snack. It is a part of their every day method.

Some fun and healthy snacks contain, fruit smoothies, trail mix, whole grain muffin, low fat microwave popcorn, and string cheese. For example, you can place on the table in small bowls some cheerios, dried fruit, chopped nuts, mini chocolate chips, and along with your child generate his own trail mix. This way the child concentrates more on the fun part of generating the snack and less on the fruits nutrition.

The same idea goes for fruit. You can let your child be creative by allowing him to select and select his favorite fruits. One time your child has selected the fruit; you can generate a smoothie, add the fruit in to vanilla yogurt, or even melt some dark chocolate to dip the fruit. The possibilities are limitless. When it comes down to children and food always try to keep snack time fun and fascinating.

You ought to also keep in mind to always incorporate something that you know the kid enjoys eating in to the new healthy snack. There's lots of healthy foods out there that are delicious; the trick however is in the way you present these foods to children.

Amazing Facts About Fruits

Fruits are highly nutritious and are part of a healthy diet. But most of us consume them without knowing much about them. Here are some interesting and amazing facts about fruits which you may be surprised to know about.

Eating apple can make you stay awake which is equivalent to consuming a cup of coffee.

Olive trees can live for more than 1,500 years.

Strawberries are the only fruit having their seeds outside.

When tomato, which contains vitamin C, is eaten with burger or meat, the body makes better use of iron in the protein food.

Blackberry juice can be used to dye cloth navy blue or indigo.

Dwarf apple trees produce larger fruit than semi-dwarf trees.

Banana plants grow an inch or more during night.

Many years ago, explorers used watermelons to carry their water.

What fruits can a diabetic eat?

Diabetics usually avoid eating fruit because of the high sugar content present in most of the fruits. But fortunately, there are fruits that do not affect the blood glucose level which a diabetic can enjoy.

Avocados are rich in monounsaturated fat which helps to increase the good cholesterol and reduce the bad cholesterol in the blood. This reduces the risk of heart diseases which is more common to diabetics. Also the vitamin E content found in avocados reduces the nerve damage in diabetic patients. But it should be consumed cautiously since the fat content in it may lead to obesity and complicate diabetes. Half of the medium-sized avocados can be served for diabetics.

Grapefruits are good in treating diabetes. The rich amount of antioxidant in it lowers the blood sugar levels. Naringenin which is found in grapefruit never hinders the insulin production, in turn increases the body’s sensitivity to insulin. It also promotes weight loss which is a vital part in diabetes treatment. Grapefruit shows better results when consumed during meal times.

Apples are proved beneficial in curing diabetes because of its rich pectin content which improves the glycemic control in diabetic patients. It also decreases the insulin requirements of the body by up to 50%. Apples are abundant in Myricetin, a plant polyphenol which protects the diabetic Red Blood Cells (RBC’s) from the harmful effects of oxidative stress and reduces the risk of diabetes.

So next time when you visit a diabetic friend, gift him these fruits which might help your friend to fight against the complications of diabetes.

Tips for buying fruits

While shopping fruits from your grocer make sure that you are selecting the best ones so that you enjoy the fruit as well as save your money. Here are some tips which will help you to buy fresh fruits:

• Bananas should be free from blemishes, bruises and other injuries. Ripe bananas should be firm and bright yellow in color. Do not buy bananas which are overripe.

• While buying oranges, see to that it is bright orange in color, firm and heavy. Do not buy oranges which are light weight and having rough skin texture since it lacks flesh content and juice.

• Pineapples should have dark green leaves and must be heavy in size. Larger the fruit, more the edible flesh. It can be ripened quickly by making it stand upside down. Avoid pineapples which have discolored and decayed skin.

• Buy grapes which are bright colored and firmly attached to the stem. Do not buy soft or wrinkled grapes which are symptoms of decay.

• Lemons should have firm, smooth and lustrous skin. Smaller and firmer lemons give more juice than larger ones. Avoid lemons having dull yellowish color since they might have high acidity content.

Sapodilla health benefits

Sapodilla is a delicious tropical fruit which has season all round the year. The pulp of the fruit is soft and is made up with sugars like fructose and sucrose which rejuvenates the body with energy. It is rich in vitamins, minerals and also has a high content of fiber.

 Not only the fruit, but also the leaves and seeds of sapodilla have medicinal values. Decoction of its leaves cures cough and cold whereas the liquid extracted from crushed seeds removes stones from kidney and bladder and also acts as a medicine in treating venomous stings and bites.

Minerals such as potassium, copper and iron present in sapodilla are very essential for health as they involve in various metabolic activities.Since it has a ratio of good potassium and low sodium level, it reduces the risk of heart related diseases.

The fruit is also rich in vitamin c and vitamin A. vitamin C protects the body by developing resistance against various infectious agents and vitamin A enhances vision and helps in maintaining healthy skin.

Strawberry health benefits

Strawberry is a bright red colored fruit which is very tempting to eyes.It has a great taste and is commonly liked by everyone. It is an aggregate fruit since it has seeds on outside rather than inside.

Strawberry is a very nutritious fruit which has the ability to clean the blood from harmful toxins. It helps to relieve from high blood pressure since it has a rich content of potassium and magnesium.

The anti-oxidants present in strawberries helps in reducing the risk of cancer and other heart diseases.The ratio of vitamin c content is high in strawberries compared to other nutrients which neutralizes the effect of the oxidants and prevents from infections and cold.

Also the iodine content in strawberry is responsible for proper functioning of brain and nervous system enhances the memory function.

It also has beauty benefits for skin. The strawberry facial mask removes the impurities and reduce the inflammation in the skin.The salicylic acid present in it destroys the dead cells present in the skin thereby making it look brighter and shining.

Avocado health facts

• Avocados contain vitamin E, lutein and beta-carotene in abundance.
• Vitamin E is an antioxidant which prevents the damage of cells and tissues
• The beta-carotene content in avocados helps to maintain the cholesterol levels.
• The fat content in it is good for health and it can be given for babies at the initial stage.
• Avocados raises the level of high density lipoprotein(HDL), which is considered as the bad cholesterol thereby reducing the risk of heart problems.
• They contain a healthier monounsaturated fatty acids which absorbs the phytochemicals from other foods and helps in digestion, which also contributes to weight loss.
• Their potassium content lowers the blood pressure
• Folate and vitamin k are other important nutrients found in avocados. folate helps in cell development and vitamin k helps in calcium absorption.
• Avocado is a fruit which has a rich nutrient content consisting of vitamins, minerals and proteins protecting us from a number of diseases.
  

healthy fruits and vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are part of a well balanced and healthy eating plan. There are many ways to maintain a healthy weight. Using more fruits and vegetables along with whole grain, nuts, and beans is a healthy one. Diets rich in fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of some types of cancer and also other chronic diseases. Fruits and vegetables also provide essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other substances that are significant for good health.

Follow the below tips to cut calories and eat fruits and vegetables throughout your day:

• Substitute some spinach, onions, or mushrooms for one of the eggs in your morning omelet.
• Substitute vegetables such as lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, or onions for 2 ounces of the cheese and 2 ounces of the meat in your sandwich.
• Add a cup of chopped vegetables, such as broccoli, carrots, beans, or red peppers, in place of 2 ounces of the meat.