Children's diet - fruit and vegetables

baby carrot

cherry tomatoes

Colourful and crunchy fruits and vegetables can be an enjoyable part of your child’s diet. They also have many benefits for your child’s health. Both vegetables and fruit contain essential nutrients that are important for your child’s growth and development. If you eat and enjoy fruit and vegetables every day, your children will usually follow your example.

Children learn by example
Most babies eat fruit and vegetables as one of their first solid foods. After the first year, you may notice your child become fussier as they become more independent eaters. Often this fussiness may include fruit and vegetables.

Parents may worry if their child starts to eat less fruit and vegetables from time to time, but usually it causes no harm. It is not possible to force children to eat more fruit and vegetables. The best way is to set a good example for them by making fruit and vegetables a daily part of your whole family’s diet. It may take time, but this is how children learn best. So keep trying.

The benefits of fruit and vegetables
There are many reasons for everyone to enjoy eating a wide variety of vegetables and fruit. Vegetables and fruit provide important vitamins such as vitamin C and folic acid. They also have other plant substances that are thought important to help prevent certain diseases.

source: http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Childrens_diet_fruit_and_vegetables

Amazing Facts About Fruits

Fruits are highly nutritious and are part of a healthy diet. But most of us consume them without knowing much about them. Here are some interesting and amazing facts about fruits which you may be surprised to know about.

Eating apple can make you stay awake which is equivalent to consuming a cup of coffee.

Olive trees can live for more than 1,500 years.

Strawberries are the only fruit having their seeds outside.

When tomato, which contains vitamin C, is eaten with burger or meat, the body makes better use of iron in the protein food.

Blackberry juice can be used to dye cloth navy blue or indigo.

Dwarf apple trees produce larger fruit than semi-dwarf trees.

Banana plants grow an inch or more during night.

Many years ago, explorers used watermelons to carry their water.

Health facts of fruits and veggies

Dieters can eat all the fresh fruits and vegetables, under a new system unveiled Monday by Weight Watchers.

The new Points plus System replaces Weight Watchers' Points plan, which has been used by tens of millions. According to Karen Miller-Kovach, the company's chief scientific officer, Weight Watchers wanted to reflect the latest nutrition science. The formula to calculate the new Points Plus values is based on the amounts of protein, fiber and fat in foods. She also said, it also factors in how hard the body has to work to process food into energy.

In the Points Plus system, a medium croissant with a pat of butter gets a 7, 3 oz of ham and one slice of whole wheat toast with a pat of butter gets a 6 where both breakfasts have 270 calories.

Miller-Kovach says, Fresh fruits and most veggies were given zero points so they would be more enticing since most Americans don't eat enough of them.

Tips for buying fruits

While shopping fruits from your grocer make sure that you are selecting the best ones so that you enjoy the fruit as well as save your money. Here are some tips which will help you to buy fresh fruits:

• Bananas should be free from blemishes, bruises and other injuries. Ripe bananas should be firm and bright yellow in color. Do not buy bananas which are overripe.

• While buying oranges, see to that it is bright orange in color, firm and heavy. Do not buy oranges which are light weight and having rough skin texture since it lacks flesh content and juice.

• Pineapples should have dark green leaves and must be heavy in size. Larger the fruit, more the edible flesh. It can be ripened quickly by making it stand upside down. Avoid pineapples which have discolored and decayed skin.

• Buy grapes which are bright colored and firmly attached to the stem. Do not buy soft or wrinkled grapes which are symptoms of decay.

• Lemons should have firm, smooth and lustrous skin. Smaller and firmer lemons give more juice than larger ones. Avoid lemons having dull yellowish color since they might have high acidity content.

Sapodilla health benefits

Sapodilla is a delicious tropical fruit which has season all round the year. The pulp of the fruit is soft and is made up with sugars like fructose and sucrose which rejuvenates the body with energy. It is rich in vitamins, minerals and also has a high content of fiber.

 Not only the fruit, but also the leaves and seeds of sapodilla have medicinal values. Decoction of its leaves cures cough and cold whereas the liquid extracted from crushed seeds removes stones from kidney and bladder and also acts as a medicine in treating venomous stings and bites.

Minerals such as potassium, copper and iron present in sapodilla are very essential for health as they involve in various metabolic activities.Since it has a ratio of good potassium and low sodium level, it reduces the risk of heart related diseases.

The fruit is also rich in vitamin c and vitamin A. vitamin C protects the body by developing resistance against various infectious agents and vitamin A enhances vision and helps in maintaining healthy skin.

Strawberry health benefits

Strawberry is a bright red colored fruit which is very tempting to eyes.It has a great taste and is commonly liked by everyone. It is an aggregate fruit since it has seeds on outside rather than inside.

Strawberry is a very nutritious fruit which has the ability to clean the blood from harmful toxins. It helps to relieve from high blood pressure since it has a rich content of potassium and magnesium.

The anti-oxidants present in strawberries helps in reducing the risk of cancer and other heart diseases.The ratio of vitamin c content is high in strawberries compared to other nutrients which neutralizes the effect of the oxidants and prevents from infections and cold.

Also the iodine content in strawberry is responsible for proper functioning of brain and nervous system enhances the memory function.

It also has beauty benefits for skin. The strawberry facial mask removes the impurities and reduce the inflammation in the skin.The salicylic acid present in it destroys the dead cells present in the skin thereby making it look brighter and shining.

Avocado health facts

• Avocados contain vitamin E, lutein and beta-carotene in abundance.
• Vitamin E is an antioxidant which prevents the damage of cells and tissues
• The beta-carotene content in avocados helps to maintain the cholesterol levels.
• The fat content in it is good for health and it can be given for babies at the initial stage.
• Avocados raises the level of high density lipoprotein(HDL), which is considered as the bad cholesterol thereby reducing the risk of heart problems.
• They contain a healthier monounsaturated fatty acids which absorbs the phytochemicals from other foods and helps in digestion, which also contributes to weight loss.
• Their potassium content lowers the blood pressure
• Folate and vitamin k are other important nutrients found in avocados. folate helps in cell development and vitamin k helps in calcium absorption.
• Avocado is a fruit which has a rich nutrient content consisting of vitamins, minerals and proteins protecting us from a number of diseases.
  

Fruits carving

A list of fruits carving:

fruit expo 2011

Fruit expo is to be held on Sunday, 16 October 2011 and Monday, 17 October 2011.

Overberg Fruit and Wine expo takes place at the Villiersdorp. It is presented in the year 2011 by Agri Mega as a partner for the Villiersdorp Agricultural Society.

The expo, focusing on the Overberg’s Fruit and Wine industry, will, like the Agri Mega week of the small grain sector, make its mark in the Western Cape.

It promises to be a display window of great substance where producers, input providers and the general public can be interactive to the advantage of all concerned parties. They invite all input and service providers in the fruit and wine industry to get applications forms early and book display and demonstration space to present and market products.

Eating fruit and vegetable skin could fight cancer

Eating the skins of fruit and vegetables could boost your dietary intake of vitamins, battle cancer and increase your energy levels. All fruit and vegetables have a bio-synergy; means the nutritional ¬benefits of each part are non-breakable by the others.

Kiwi fruit


Kiwi fruit is high in antioxidants and have anti-cancer, anti inflammatory and anti allergenic properties. The skin contains three times the antioxidants of the pulp. It fights off bugs such as Staphylococcus and E-coli, responsible for food poisoning.

If regular kiwi skin is too bitter for you, go for gold kiwi fruit, which is sweeter, less hairy skins, but with the same benefits.

Pineapple

Along with fibre and vitamin C, a pineapple’s real benefit lies in an enzyme called bromelain, that breaks down food and dead human tissues linger in the digestive system quickly, and protects the stomach. Don’t panic it’s the tough core of the pineapple, not the prickly skin you should be tucking into. The core of a pineapple contains twice the bromelain concentration of the surrounding fruit.

Press and crush the core and add the juice to smoothies. It can be gristly, but the left-over pulp can be added to soups or casseroles.

Broccoli

Broccoli stalks can be less flavorful than the florets, but they are notably higher in calcium and vitamin C and the stalks are also high in soluble fibre. Those little florets might look more tempting, but there’s every reason to eat the stalks.


Shred the stalks into thin strips and add to stir-fry or serve steamed.

healthy fruits and vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are part of a well balanced and healthy eating plan. There are many ways to maintain a healthy weight. Using more fruits and vegetables along with whole grain, nuts, and beans is a healthy one. Diets rich in fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of some types of cancer and also other chronic diseases. Fruits and vegetables also provide essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other substances that are significant for good health.

Follow the below tips to cut calories and eat fruits and vegetables throughout your day:

• Substitute some spinach, onions, or mushrooms for one of the eggs in your morning omelet.
• Substitute vegetables such as lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, or onions for 2 ounces of the cheese and 2 ounces of the meat in your sandwich.
• Add a cup of chopped vegetables, such as broccoli, carrots, beans, or red peppers, in place of 2 ounces of the meat.

Nutritional fruits for skin

Most of the women spend rather a bit of money to make their skin looks younger and good. But many of us don’t realize that eating items are also affects their appearance.

Follow the below steps:

Consumes large amount of water as you can Your skin loses wetness to the air, especially in the wintertime. You must want to drink at least eight glasses per a day.

Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables Try for 5-9 servings per a day. Fruits and veggies are high in antioxidant vitamins such as Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and beta-carotene are especially helpful for skin appearance. Rich sources of these includes are Strawberries, navel oranges, sweet red and yellow peppers, broccoli, dark green leafy vegetables, carrots, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, nuts, and seeds.