As parents, we know there’s nothing quite as important as having your child in the pink of health — a big part of that is making sure they eat well!
Children enrolled at Star Learners spend a major part of their day with us and enjoy up to three meals in our schools. It is vital we provide healthy, nutritious tasty meals and help them cultivate good eating habits.
Do you know that choosing the right type of grains can aid your little one’s digestion and metabolism? There are also foods to boost the immune system of your little ones! Read on to find out how you can incorporate some of these foods into your child’s diet, just like how we’ve done in our child care menu!
1. Whole Grains
Whole grains are crucial because they offer so many nutritional benefits:
- Fibre, which helps food move well through the digestive system and reduces constipation. Daily intake of sufficient fibre is vital for your child’s bowel to function properly
- Essential minerals for growth, including iron and magnesium, which help transport oxygen in the blood and builds strong bones
- Antioxidants, which strengthen one’s immunity
- Phytochemicals that lower the risks of developing chronic diseases and certain types of cancers
At Star Learners, we incorporate whole grains into our menu as much as we can. Our little ones enjoy meals of wholemeal bread with fruit jam, multigrain and brown rice with steamed fish and soup, and even chicken bolognese with wholemeal spaghetti! This ensures they receive the nutrients necessary for their growing needs.
2. Leafy Greens
We bet you saw this coming! Vegetables are important sources of vitamins, minerals, and fibre. Dark leafy greens, in particular, are very rich in nutrients.
Leafy greens like spinach, kale and broccoli are packed with Vitamin A and Vitamin C, both of which support immune function. Both vitamins are also good for your little one’s heart, brain, and gut.
One challenge for parents, of course, is that children tend to not enjoy both the taste and texture of most vegetables. Still, leafy greens are arguably among the easier ones to sneak into your child’s meals.
Here’s a tip: Dice the vegetables into small, unnoticeable pieces and stir them into soup or porridge. It is undoubtedly one of the best ways to get our children to eat their greens.
Alternatively, you could also steam veggies like broccoli and carrot till soft, mash them up and mix into your child’s rice. Or shape them into patties and pan-fry them for a midday snack!
3. Soy products
Trying to make a move towards plant-based eating? Good news is, your child can join you too. Start by letting your little one get accustomed to the taste of soy products. Other than being an excellent source of protein, soy also contains zero cholesterol, is low in saturated fat, and is a good source of fibre and micronutrients.
The easiest way to introduce soy to children would be through soy milk. Thereafter,expose them to other types of soy food such as tofu, edamame, or if your child is an adventurous eater, tempeh.
Full of B vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids, soy products can help little ones with metabolic activity, as well as improve their brain function. At least one serving of soy product per day is recommended as part of your growing child’s healthy diet.
4. Lean Proteins
Proteins are essential for the growth and repair of body tissues, and provide the fuel and energy little bodies need to move and be active every day. While most children get enough protein from a usual diet, we need to ensure they are getting protein of the right kind.
Nutritionists say: Stick to the basics when it comes to opting for the best sources of protein. Choose lean protein like chicken and limit the amount of red meats such as beef or pork. When cooking lean protein,
- Use herbs and spices for seasoning instead of salt or butter
- Bake or grill the meat instead of frying
- Remove the skin before serving
Beans and lentils are also an excellent option and they’re easier to incorporate into everyday meals than most people think. Instead of ice cream, encourage your child to try traditional desserts such as green bean soup. Else, blend up peas like hummus and turn them into flavourful dips to serve with no-salt tortilla chips – most children won’t even realise they’re eating beans!
5. Healthy Starches
If your child enjoys starchier foods, do include root vegetables into his or her daily meals. Try carrots or sweet potatoes as they mostly taste sweet. These foods are high in Beta-Carotene, which is converted into Vitamin A in the body, an essential vitamin to build a healthy immune system.
For starters, let your child try some roasted baby carrots. If he or she is up for more, whip up some sweet potato mash or even bake some sweet potato fries as a treat!
6. Fruit
Every child loves a snack or two in between meals. Instead of biscuits or bread, take this chance to expose them to different types of fruit! Chock-full of nutrients, fruit tends to be well-received by children too, since most of them are sweet and flavourful!
Some of the easiest ones to include in your child’s diet are citruses like oranges (which boast a lot of vitamin C), bananas (rich in vitamin B6) and apples (which have boron and vitamin C). Most fruits also offer loads of dietary fibre, which help keep your child’s digestive system healthy.
At Star Learners, children enjoy a serving of seasonal fruit with their lunches. By introducing them to a variety of fruits throughout the year, we help our children develop healthy eating habits and a love for fresh, wholesome foods!
Ensure your child’s diet is healthy at home too!
At Star Learners, we regularly review our meal options with our gourmet partner to ensure the best possible nutrition for children under our care. All our centres are participants in the Healthy Meals in Pre-schools Programme, an initiative by the Health Promotion Board to provide healthier meals and educate children on eating right.
Through our efforts, many of our centres have even achieved the board’s Platinum Tier Award, indicating that we’ve been recognised as a Healthy Pre-school. Look out for specific centres’ accreditation when you click on them here! We are committed to ensuring happy and healthy children and urge parents to inculcate healthy lifestyle and eating habits at home too.
Learn more about the different ways we ensure our children develop holistically by visiting one of our centres. Register your interest at any of our 43 Star Learners centres island-wide today!
