Healthy options for fussy eaters

Posted to Waverley Leader (22/7/2010) on 23/11/2010 at 1:43 AM
Commenting on "Healthy options for fussy eaters"
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/lifestyle/story/healthy-options-for-fussy-eaters/

Children don't like to be told just to eat fruit and vegetables. Besides fun, they want to find out more!

Let them find out the names of fruit and vegetables. Maths questions can be set about the fruit and vegetable prices, per kg or per meal, discount calculation supermarket promotion.

Outdoor activities can include growing fruit trees and vegetables the organic way, and in biology lab by hydroponic. Combining with other sciences, children can learn about energy in joules, the chemistry of salt and sugar; classify them in terms of carbohydrate, protein, fat, acid, alkali, soluble and non-soluble fibres, various vitamins and minerals.

In English classes, children can have show-n-tell their trips to fruit and vegetable farms; present essays or short stories related to fruit and vegetables. To go further, act out in drama classes the fruit and vegetables characters.

Children should learn about the unhealthy effects of not eating enough fruit and vegetables. They should be shown pictures or documentaries on children suffering from various vitamin deficiencies, obesity; in extreme cases side effects that can lead to cancer.

Monash hospital fights fat

Posted to Waverley Leader (12/11/2010) on 14/11/2010 at 1:34am
Commenting on “Monash hospital fights fat”
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/monash-hospital-fights-fat/

I get very upset when people use derogatively the term "junk food" on food items that could be good for the children if taken in moderation.

Anything eaten in excess will have undesirable effects, including the so-called healthy foods. Fried food can increase appetite, and may be used as a motivator and enticer for someone to consume his/her meal with other "healthy" foods.

Steam Dim Sims can be considered as a reasonable balance diet - the “skin” is made out of flour which contains protein and carbohydrate; the minced meat is protein; some may contain cabbage which is a form of fibre. The meat does contain fat, but the fat content in a Dim Sim would not be as high as that of butter being spread on a piece of toast.

I can't really see why Sushi be a much better food than pizza. The seaweed sheet is high in salt and possible iodine. While it may reduce fat intake, it increases the chances of high blood pressure, and causes side effects for iodine intolerant consumers.