Fruit and Vegetable Survival Guide: How to Get Your Kid to Eat Them
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When your adolescent or teenage son goes to treatment for addiction and/or alcoholism, he is going to learn about nutrition. Addiction is a disease that affects the mind as well as the body in addition to the spirit. An increasing amount of research is proving that the health of the stomach, which is directly related to what is put in the stomach, directs the health of the brain. Successful recovery depends, in part, on a healthy and well-balanced nutrition based diet. Vitamins and minerals are especially important for supporting the healthy recovery of internal organs, skin health, brain health, and much more. Unfortunately, teenage and adolescent boys can be excruciatingly picky, stubborn, or neglectful when it comes to their choices in food. Training a teenager to pick up an apple with peanut butter instead of a processed microwaveable treat can be difficult. These methods can help you make dishes your teenager loves while sneaking more fruits and vegetables into their diet.
Sneak fruit and vegetable juice into baked goods
Young boys love coming home to a plate of fresh baked goods like brownies, cookies, or other grab and go treats. As home bakers move away from processed ingredients, they are moving toward healthier sugars and more superfoods. Choosing alternatives to honey is a great way to sweeten a treat, as is using natural fruit juice. Pear juice, white grape juice, and pineapple juice are natural, fruit based ways to sweeten a baked good. As for vegetables, when a recipe calls for a portion of water, opt for juiced vegetables instead. Spinach and kale water down very quickly and can be used in place of water.Replace pasta with vegetables, then serve with more vegetables
Not every family has to go gluten-free, vegan, or paleo to be healthy. However, these food movements have created some healthy alternatives for families. Lasagna can be made with sheets of vegetables. Pasta can be made out of spiralized vegetable ‘noodles', or many companies are making lentil, pea, chickpea, black bean, and other veggie based pastas. When making a pasta dish, serve with more vegetables. Traditional pasta sauces can be made with a vegetable alternative, like avocado pesto or walnut bolognese.Get creative with fruit
Fruit can be used in a variety of ways to keep things fresh literally and figuratively. Smoothies are a great way to combine fruits and veggies for breakfast, lunch, or snacks. Fruit can also be used to make ice cream, or fruit pops. Blend fruit with protein packed yogurt to combine fruits and minerals with necessary probiotics. Try turning favorite snacks into fruit based snacks like a fruit pizza. Having fresh fruit available by hand is a proven technique for kids. Rather than bowls of chips or candies, opt for bowls full of grapes, strawberries, apples, and easy to peel oranges that make for quick and delicious snacks.When you are looking for a treatment center for your son to recover, you want to find a facility that customizes a plan of care to meet the every need of your child. Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center provides a foundation building, life cleansing, long term residential treatment program with academic support. Here, the family can heal together and learn to live a happier, healthier life. Call us today for information: 662-598-4214
