Calories and Kids

Hey, wouldn't it be nice if your kids automatically ate healthy and you didn't have to teach them? Too bad most of the adults don't eat healthy either, but if you fall into the category of wanting too, then you've come to the right spot for help. Teaching your kids about calories is essential to their health, which is obvious. However, we aren't just talking about in the next couple years, but the rest the rest of their life. Heck, you might even learn a few things along the way and be healthier yourself.

The first thing to understand is that counting calories is generally not advised by nutritionists nor is it healthy for your children. So if you're out there doing it right now, or making a meal for a child and keeping track, then stop. To be honest, an active elementary child can easily burn 2,000 calories a day. If you have one that isn't very active, they can still burn around 1,500 a day.

See, when we are fighting to give our children healthier bodies, there is a lot more at stake. Obesity is becoming a major concern in children and we are partly to blame. If you're one that likes to look at a calorie chart keep in mind that there is a difference in the food you consume. Getting the same calories from soda and fast food as fruits and veggies is one thing, but there is a such thing as bad calories so stick with the latter choices.

Sometimes we will be worried about overeating and if that's the case then have a discussion with your child about moderations. Even though the body has "craving sensors" you can turn them off by offering substitutes. Plus, since children eat different then parents, if you aren't consuming empty calories then they will be easier to burn throughout the day.

All of this is serious to think about, but if you take one thing away from this article it's going to be the following. If your child consumes 500 more calories then they will burn each week, he/she will gain an extra pound of excess body fat in a week. You would be surprised at how often this occurs throughout the world. Below you will find a nice little chart that portrays a proper intake for both gender and age. You might want to utilize it the next time you are preparing meals throughout the week.

Average Nutritional Recommendations for Children

?1000 - 1400 for a 2 to3 year old
?1400-1600 for a 4 to 8 year old
?1600-2000 for girls 9 to 13 years old
?1800-2200 for boys 9 to 13 years old
?2000 for girls 14 to 18 years old
?2200- for boys 14 to 18 years old

Quick Dinner Ideas

Some people tend to think of the winter as a lazier time of year, but that is usually not the case. When you combine work, your children’s sports and other activities, along with slow winter driving, you are probably getting home during the week later than ever. When you get home late, getting dinner on the table as quickly and easily as possible becomes a priority.

Many pasta dishes are very quick and easy. Spaghetti doesn’t take long at all; start boiling your pasta water as you cook your hamburger. When the meat is done cooking, simply drain it, add a jar of sauce to the pan, and let it simmer while your noodles cook. Meanwhile, throw a loaf of garlic bread into the oven and you’ve got a hearty meal in less than 30 minutes.

Put a spin on soup and sandwich night by serving you own baked subs. Buy your favorite deli meats and cheese, along with some sub buns. Assemble the meat and cheese on the buns and bake them in a 350 degree oven till warmed through. Then, take them out of the oven and add your choice of condiments sand veggies. Serve with a big bowl of soup and you’ve got a very satisfying winter meal.

Breakfast Suppers are quick to cook and can be an interesting change of pace. To save time, buy some frozen hash browns and serve those along with some bacon, scrambled eggs, and toast. You can buy pre-cooked bacon to further speed up the process.

The above dishes could be cooked in less than 30 minutes, but if you happen to have about an hour to get dinner on the table, grab a cooking bag and get ready for a great family meal. You can make a great roast chicken by simply adding the chicken, baby carrots and potatoes to the cooking bag.

For extra flavor, add a few cloves of garlic, an onion chopped into quarters, and a few pieces of celery. Consult the chart that comes with the cooking bags for the exact degree and time needed to cook the size of chicken you have.

The winter is a great time to enjoy your favorite comfort foods. Thankfully, many of them can be on the table in under an hour!