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Easy to Keep New Year's Resolutions for Kids
Tips for a Happy, Healthy and Fun New Year from Celebrity Chef Lorena Garcia
Miami, FL-With the start of a new year, there is so much emphasis on healthy eating and getting in shape-for adults. But, what about children? With childhood obesity and diabetes reaching alarming levels, Miami-based celebrity chef Lorena Garcia says it's just as important to make sure your kids are included in any new year's health-based resolutions.
Garcia, the founder of Big Chef, Little Chef, a philanthropic organization that teaches children and families how to take control of cooking and eating habits, recommends starting with small changes.
First, involve children in the cooking. Tasks such as cutting up ingredients or helping to stir together ingredients go a long way, helping them become invested in the meal. As children become part of the preparation, they're usually more willing to eat whatever is on their plate. In addition, cooking together is a great way for family members to spend more quality time with each other.
Start out with a few new items a week.
- Since breakfast is the most important meal of the day, make sure kids are getting a nutritious start. Try Lorena's Apricot and Ricotta Cheese Toast and begin the day with a healthy blend of fruit, carbohydrates, fat and protein.
- A couple of days a week, instead of a pre-packaged after-school snacks, try vegetables or fruit with a dipping sauce. (Kids love to dip their food!)
- For dessert one night, try a ‘parfait buffet' instead of cookies or cake. Substitute vanilla yogurt in place of ice cream and allow kids to choose from a variety of healthy toppings such as berries, granola or nuts.
- Sometimes it's okay to keep a secret! Try adding a portion of whole wheat flour when baking. When making a smoothie/milkshake add some flax seed. Mix whole grain cereals with sweeter varieties. In time your little one will learn even their favorite treats can be healthy.
Teaching kids healthy eating is fun and something that they can be part of prepares them for a healthy lifestyle as an adult AND it can make it MUCH easier to keep your own new year's resolutions.
About Lorena Garcia
Lorena Garcia was born in Venezuela and is a graduate of the world-renowned Johnson & Wales University Culinary Arts School. She trained in top restaurants in Paris, Italy, Japan, Korea, Thailand and China. She is the owner and executive chef of the celebrated ‘Elements' restaurant in Miami's Design District. Garcia's media background includes hosting regular cooking segments on both the Univison and Telemundo cable television networks. Her personal style and approach to cooking have landed her on the pages of Cosmopolitan, Vogue, Kiplinger's and Entrepreneur among other top lifestyle publications and her ‘Big Chef Little Chef' program in which she works with school aged children and their parents to teach them about nutrition and how to cook and eat properly, has been reported on by hundreds of media outlets across the U.S. and Latin America.
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