Eating is part of our daily routine that we just go about it mechanically and end up ingesting food just to keep our hunger pangs at bay. But eating can actually be fun and adventurous for you and your kids. Discovering new, mouthwatering and nutritious meals everyday and sharing it with your kids help in educating them with proper nutrition and prove that good isn’t necessarily bland.
Before setting out on my gustatory exploration, I checked out the food pyramid or nutrition guide from the Nutritionist and Dietitians Association of the Philippines(NDAP) website to guide me in preparing nutritious meals for my family.
In the food pyramid, Food groups are classified according to its nutritional value and our body needs. At the bottom of the food group is water or beverages, followed by carbohydrates group which is composed of grains, root crops, bread and noodles, then fruits and vegetables, milk and milk products, meat & poultry, fish, shellfish, dried beans and nuts, sugar or sweets, and the topmost is fats and oil.
Although specific serving sizes are cited in the pyramid, certain allowances can be made depending on your child’s built and physical activity. Remember this is just a guide, the key is balancing your food groups and making sure that your kids consume more of the items at the bottom part of the pyramid than those on top. As much as possible use the natural flavors of your ingredients and use seasoning sparingly.
Notice that under the food group lie the base of the pyramid where exercise and hygiene plays a big role in keeping our bodies healthy. I guess our nutrition doesn’t stop at eating right.
You’ve got great insights about food pyramid, keep up the good work!