Food For Kids.....A Healthy Meal Plan for Children

Food For Kids is a 7 day healthy meal plan for children developed by Chef Joseph Ciminera.  Chef Ciminera is the host of a PBS cooking show called Taste This TV!  For the past several years, Chef Ciminera, has researched and perfected his healthy meal plan to help fight childhood obesity.  He has brought his recipes and tips to a Food For Kids DVD. (Click here for info)  I was contacted by Taste This TV! to share this information with my readers.  

Here are some facts about childhood obesity from the TasteThisTV.com website.   

Almost 7 million American children and teenagers are believed to have high cholesterol levels.

Overweight kids are on a fast track to cardiovascular disease and diabetes, diseases that we usually associate with middle-aged adults.

Recent reports reveal that up to 40 percent of children with newly diagnosed diabetes have type 2 diabetes, the type closely associated with obesity.

Leisure time is so often spent watching television and DVD movies, playing computer games, surfing the web, or chatting on the internet, rather than outdoor play and activities.

Furthermore, portion sizes have increased quite dramatically leading children to consume more food.

Over the past two decades, the average portion sizes of food have increased by 50 to 135 calories, while the average beverage serving increased from 8 to 20 ounces.

Another factor that impinges upon the nutritional quality of a child's diet is the fact that many American families don't eat meals together very often.

Chef Joseph Ciminera presents a variety of healthy breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack recipes in his Food For Kids DVD.  Recipes such as:

Berry Banana Smoothies

Fruit Kebobs

Whole Wheat Pizza Muffin

Chicken Meatball Subs

Baby Pasta Primavera

The chef also gives eating and food tips that will help parents make better choices for their kids.  Tips such as:

Buy Multi-grain breads and Whole grain pastas

Buy cold cuts that do not contain nitrates

Use more olive oil instead of butter when cooking

Nuts, raisins and granola make great snacks

Cut sandwiches and vegetables in fun shapes (using cookie cutters) to keep food fun

Disclosure:  Taste This TV sent me the Food For Kids DVD for my review.

Chef Joseph Ciminera

As a mom of two teenage daughters, I am always challenged with providing them with balanced nutrition and better food choices.  I try to offer fruit and vegetables frequently.  I give them a variety of breads to make their school lunches with such as multi-grain, wraps or the new sandwich thins.  It isn't easy.  My daughters love chips, ice cream and desserts. (what kid doesn't, right?)  But, I know the more I offer them healthier choices, the more they will eat better which will follow with them into their adult life.  It really is all about balance.  I love to bake and I don't want to deprive my girls of special treats but I do want to teach them good eating habits as well.  Increasing fruits, vegetables and whole grains is not only good for my daughters, it's good for me and my husband too.

Do you have any tips and healthy meal choices that you provide for your family?  I would love to hear about them.  Feel free to leave a comment and tell me about them.  

Mom's Cooking Club Lesson:  There are hundreds and hundreds of choices when purchasing food in the grocery store and just as many choices when preparing meals in the kitchen.  I appreciate resources such as Food For Kids and the program that Chef Ciminera has developed.  Other great resources are:  Let's Move (Michelle Obama's initiative on fighting childhood obesity), USDA, plus so many great blogs like Meal Makeover Moms.  These are just a few examples of resources that will help you feed your family healthier and teach you about nutrition.