Dietician Keri Glassman: ‘Take a Deep Breath’ When It Comes to Feeding Kids
 Courtesy Nutritious Life |
When moms at school find out fellow mama Keri Glassman is a dietician, they ask all sorts of questions:
Are my kids eating too much? Not getting enough? Are they getting proper nutrients? Ingesting too much mercury?
Her answer to them all? “Take a big deep breath,” the Nutritious Life writer tells PEOPLE Moms & Babies.
“Your children are probably thriving and growing, so you just have to chill out and stop the talk about it.”
In fact, Glassman says a subtle approach to eating right is best. “Be creative with the foods your children eat, then constantly incorporate new foods without the pressure,” she adds.
She also shares these tips:
Be a good role model. “You have to eat healthy for yourself,” Glassman says. “And you can’t just eat well when you’re out with friends, but have to let your kids see it, too, even if you’re not sitting down to eat with them.”
Don’t be sneaky. “I believe in incorporating nutrients into foods always,” she says. “I make whole-wheat pancakes for my kids, but put in pumpkin, flaxseed — I’m always adding something to beef up the nutrition.” She suggests letting your kids learn about and taste different foods, as well as offering them new foods all the time.
Serve whole foods. “Kids are always snacking on these foods that don’t provide nutrients: chips, crackers, pretzels,” Glassman says. “Replace those with whole grains, veggies, protein, milk, yogurt or cheese.”
Eat breakfast. “That’s a hugely important habit to build,” she says. “Studies show that kids who eat breakfast perform better in school. And it also gets your metabolism going, your energy up, your brain functioning.” Glassman serves her children Thomas’ Bagel Thins (below), and offers toppings like hummus and cream cheese.
Don’t make dessert a nightly treat. “It shouldn’t be a big deal,” she explains. “It’s an indulgence. But don’t make it the second part of the meal. If you focus on dessert, it sets you up — you don’t want your kids to only be eating dinner so they can have something ‘bad’ for them afterward.”
Skip the fast food. “I hate to say ‘never ever,’ but there’s never a need for it,” Glassman says. “If you’re on the run, or on a road trip, get the grilled chicken sandwich, not something deep-fried.” Though she says there’s nothing wrong with the occasional burger and fries, you’re obviously better off choosing healthier foods.
Get your kids involved. “Take them to the farmers market or grocery store, let them pick out some items and build a recipe around that,” she suggests. “Make it fun in the kitchen, too — they can shake, stir, pour or mix.”
For more advice from Glassman, visit her website, nutritiouslife.com.
 Courtesy Thomas’ Bagel Thins |
– Kate Hogan
