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Kids & Company Blog
Food Hacks for Parents!
Parenting seems to be most successful when a few tricks and life hacks are added into the equation - whether it’s how to get the kids ready in the morning, get them to do their homework, or even how to get them to eat. Children’s diets are often either a hit or a miss - there is no in-between! As parents, it is our job to add more superfoods into their diets to make sure they are getting their vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein and healthy fats from each meal and snack.
Superfoods are important, as they help you maintain your weight, fight illness, and help you live longer. But what is a superfood? There’s no official scientific definition of a superfood nor is there one set list, but it’s commonly known that superfoods contain high levels of much-needed vitamins and minerals. They can also be a source of antioxidants, which are substances that shield our bodies from cell damage and help prevent disease. Here is a link of superfoods that we either serve on our menu, or that are easily accessible for you to help plan your family meals for a new, healthier 2018!
If you’re struggling to get your kids to eat certain foods there are simple hacks that you may do to change their minds. Many studies have shown that kiddies are more likely to eat foods that are in interesting shapes and bright fun colours rather than the foods that are dark and unappealing. There is an easy way to make their foods look fun and yummy by using cookie cutters when preparing foods such as pancakes, sandwiches, casseroles or eggs. These fun shapes are sure to encourage your kids to finish everything on their plate!
At Kids & Company we incorporate lots of appealing colours by serving a variety of fruit and vegetables at all our meals and snacks to keep your kiddies excited about their food. We also take photos of all our food so that objectively we can view exactly what the children are seeing when their food is served. Try assembling lots of different colours of fruit and veggies at home to enhance the visual appearance of your meals. You will see that your kiddies will start to dig in, adding another scoop on their plates!
We don’t believe in grinding up food because your children should be able to see the healthy foods they are eating and understand why. However, some kiddies have a problem with textures or are just going through a picky eating stage and grinding up fruit and veggies is a good idea so that they will be more likely to enjoy their food. Try grinding up foods in a smoothie or really any sauce you are serving and your kids will be raving for more!
Another food hack that your kids will love is DIY anything! If you allow your children to participate in some of the meal preparation it will help your kiddies be more interested and excited about what they are eating. Whether this consists of going to the grocery store with you or helping cook, kiddies like to be engaged and will definitely be more likely to eat something that they participated in making! So, when you are busy shopping and selecting foods to cook and enjoy with your family, consider including some amazing superfoods and lots of fruit and veggies in different colours and shapes. These foods will do all the work in providing an incredible amount of healthy benefits for your little ones.
Next time you’re in the kitchen don’t do all the work alone, include your little ones and have some fun with it! Be strong and healthy!!
Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @kidcochildcare and on Instagram @cheflisaruscica!
Cheers,
Chef Lisa Ruscica
Chief Food Ambassador
Posted on: Wednesday January 31st, 2018
Posted by: Lisa Ruscica
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119 Avenue, Part of the Kids & Company Family
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Morgan Crossing
Surrey Professional Centre
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Brightstart Cloverdale, by Kids & Company
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Bloor Christie
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Liberty Village
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Victoria
Walpole South
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Tech Town
Under The Sun West Deptford, part of the Kids & Company Family
West Quincy
Sweet Kiddles Westlake, part of the Kids & Company Family
Whitby
ABC Kiddie Kampus East Mountain, by Kids & Company
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Sweet Kiddles Avon Lake, part of the Kids & Company Family
Abington
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Sweet Kiddles Beachwood, part of the Kids & Company Family
Bedford (Dellridge Lane)
Larry Uteck (Southgate Dr)
Pine Village South End, by Kids & Company
Braintree 1
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Brampton
Pine Village Brighton, by Kids & Company
Pine Village Brookline, by Kids & Company
Burlington Children’s Centre
Burloak
Appleby
Beacon Hill
Brightstart Burnaby, by Kids & Company
Bow Trail
Livingston
Midlake
Millrise
Royal Oak
Britannia Crossing
Marda Loop
Evanston
Beltline
Aviation Crossing
Gulf Canada Square
Royal Oak Out of School Care and Child Care
Glendeer: New – Open for Enrollment
Pine Village Kendall Square, by Kids & Company
Pine Village Porter Square, by Kids & Company
Canton
Jackson
Lincoln Park
Harrison
West Loop
Fulton
Sweet Kiddles University Circle, part of the Kids & Company Family
Cochrane
Brightstart Coquitlam, by Kids & Company
Dartmouth
Dover
Walpole North
Eastern Passage
Ellerslie
Edmonton Ice District
Baturyn
Diamond
Friendly Frog
Meadowlark Park
St. Charles
St. Dominic
Sunshine Factory
Tamarack
Jagare Ridge
Horse Hill
Fraser
Century Park: New – Open for Enrollment
Islington
Etobicoke (Bloor & Islington)
ABC Kiddie Kampus Exeter, by Kids & Company
Apple Hill Academy Freehold by Kids & Company
Halifax
Hamilton
Hammonds Plains
Route 39
Schaffner
Swatara
Apple Hill Academy Howell by Kids & Company
Sweet Kiddles Hudson, part of the Kids & Company Family
Hummelstown
Pine Village JP Revere, by Kids & Company
Pine Village JP South Street, by Kids & Company
Kamloops
Eagleson (South Kanata)
Crayon College, by Kids & Company
Tyke Town Lake St. Louis, by Kids & Company
ABC Lake St. Louis, by Kids & Company
Kids World
Langley (200th St.)
London Richmond
Sackville
Apple Hill Academy Manalapan by Kids & Company
119 Avenue, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Dewdney House (Infant/Toddler and 3-5), Part of the Kids & Company Family
Dewdney Church (Preschool/OSC/3-5), Part of the Kids & Company Family
Edge, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Webster’s Corner, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Harry Hooge, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Alouette, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Silver Valley, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Whonnock, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Under The Sun Marlton, part of the Kids & Company Family
Sweet Kiddles Medina, part of the Kids & Company Family
Milton
Lougheed, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Stave Falls, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Briskham, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Robert Speck Parkway
Mississauga Gateway Centre
Nanaimo
Pine Village Needham, by Kids & Company
Ottawa Barrhaven
New Westminster
Pine Village West Newton, by Kids & Company
Pine Village Newton Highlands, by Kids & Company
North Vancouver
North Van Esplanade
O’Fallon South
ABC O’Fallon, by Kids & Company
Oakville Cornwall
Oakville Dundas
Joshua Creek
Oakville West (3471 Wyecroft Rd)
Okotoks
ABC Kiddie Kampus Old Forge, by Kids & Company
Ottawa Albert
Ottawa Westboro
Palmyra
ABC Kiddie Kampus Pittston, by Kids & Company
Brightstart Port Coquitlam, by Kids & Company
Port Moody
Marina Bay
Randolph
Red Deer
Richmond
Head Office
Schaumburg
Sherwood Park
St. Albert North
St. Albert Grandin
ABC St. Charles, by Kids & Company
Tyke Town St. Peters, by Kids & Company
ABC St. Peters, by Kids & Company
Stoney Creek
Under The Sun Stratford, part of the Kids & Company Family
Sweet Kiddles Strongsville, part of the Kids & Company Family
Morgan Crossing
Surrey Professional Centre
King George
Brightstart Cloverdale, by Kids & Company
Sylvan Lake
Bloor Christie
Bloor (Bloor St. East)
Consumers
Finch
Front
Scotia Plaza
Stockyards
St. Andrew’s Church
Liberty Village
Rosedale
Queen West
Tyke Town Troy, by Kids & Company
Vancouver West
Cambie
Langford
Victoria
Walpole South
Waterdown
Tech Town
Under The Sun West Deptford, part of the Kids & Company Family
West Quincy
Sweet Kiddles Westlake, part of the Kids & Company Family
Whitby
ABC Kiddie Kampus East Mountain, by Kids & Company
Winnipeg
West York
Queen Street
Keystone Early Learning Academy, part of the Kids & Company Family