HRM Parent Blog

In this week’s post, I am issuing my first HRM Simple Family Challenge, which will increase your family’s long-term health and wellness.  Up for the challenge?  Then read on!

Superfoods are whole foods that do more than just provide energy -- they also have the amazing power to turn regular kids into Superkids!

A diet rich in Superfoods boosts immunity, energy and overall wellness and supports healthy development.  Introduce these nutrient-dense foods to your children early so they develop a taste for them and can make them a lifelong habit.

Your challenge is to introduce at least one new Superfood to your family’s diet and educate your kids about the specific health benefits of that food.  Give your kids the credit they deserve:  their sharp little minds are capable of making good, informed choices - it’s your job to give them the information they need to do this.

There are so many Superfoods to choose from, I can’t possibly list them all in this short post, so for this first challenge I’m giving you three “easy sells” to choose from:

1. Wild Salmon:  This one is an easy sell to kids because it’s “brain food, and makes you super smart”.  I told my kids I can actually see their brains growing when they eat it, which prompted a chorus of:  “Is my brain growing now, Mommy?”

Wild Salmon is lower in mercury and higher in healthy Omega-3 fats than farmed salmon.  Omega-3s boost brain development, counter depression and reduce inflammation throughout little (and big) bodies.  Baked or broiled, sauced or naked, whole or canned, salmon’s a winner!

 2. Sweet Potatoes:  Also a pretty easy sell, they can be prepared any way kids like to eat regular potatoes:  baked, roasted, mashed, or in soups and stews.  They can even be sweetened with maple syrup and cinnamon to satisfy a sweet tooth.  Sweet potatoes are loaded with beta carotene (kid speak: “supersight”), potassium, iron (“superstrength”), fiber and vitamins E & B6.

3. Berries:  Blueberries are highest in antioxidants, but all berries are terrific Superfoods.  I tell kids that antioxidants are Superheroes who stop the evil Free Radical in his tracks.  Without enough antioxidants, the evil Free Radical can take over your body and make it really sick.

Throw berries (frozen or fresh) on & in everything:  smoothies, yoghurt, whole-grain baked goods, cereal, home-made popsicles.  For a morning treat, try blending a cup of berries until smooth and then combining with some maple syrup (over low heat) to make a delicious syrup alternative for whole-grain waffles and pancakes.  For a terrific healthy waffle recipe, check out my Yummy Cinnamon Flax Waffles on the Simple Balance blog (January 7/11 post, just click on the website link below).

Good luck and health to you!

Wendy McCallum, LLB, RHN, is passionate about providing busy parents with the tools & support they need to feed their families wholesome food, so everyone can play, learn, and feel better!  She is a mother of two terrific HRM kids, ages 6 & 7.  For information and recipe ideas, visit her website