Thursday, April 15, 2010

5 EASY SUBSTITUTES TO HEALTHIFISIFY YOUR KIDS TODAY (WHY, YES, I DO LIKE TO MAKE UP WORDS RANDOMLY)

OFFICIAL DISCLAIMER: We don't claim to be uber health nuts 'round here, but we do try to eliminate unnecessary sugars and fats when we can.

I don't doubt that there are a million things we're doing wrong (and would love to hear your tips), but here are a few really simple, really inexpensive tweaks we've made to our own daily meal routines in order to ensure we're still getting the nutrition we need without adding in all the bad stuff.

The Top 5 Things Saia & Chago (would) Recommend (if they were aware they were being snowed):

FOR THEIR...WE ELIMINATE...BY SUBSTITUTING...
BREAKFAST
Morning leche
  • the need for strawberry or chocolate syrups (although you're trying to ensure enough calcium intake)
  • 2/3 vanilla soy or almond milk, 1/3 2% milk, microwave for about a minute (tastes like a Starbucks Vanilla Steamer)
Pancake and waffle syrup
  • excruciatingly high sugar content
  • a drizzle of Blueberry flavored Blue Agave Nectar (naturally sweetened honey)
French Toast
  • overuse of sugar and syrup
  • French toast bread, cut a hole in the middle, place on the griddle, and drop in an egg, no need for syrups (Egg in a Nest...mmm...yummy!!)
LUNCH
PB&J
  • white flour breads and high sugar jellies
  • 100% whole wheat bread, low-sugar (not NO SUGAR because that's just got aspartame or something) jellies, natural low-sodium reduced fat peanut butter, and banana slices
AFTERSCHOOL SNACKS
Salty craving
  • high-sodium high-fat chips and dips
  • low-butter microwave popcorn seasoned with parmesan or other cheese flavoring
Sweet craving
  • candy
  • yogurt cup with granola (or cheerios), blueberries, and strawberries
DINNER
Pasta
  • white flour pasta and heavy-sodium (canned) spaghetti sauces
  • whole wheat pastas, tossed in olive oil, garlic salt, and fresh ground pepper, a couple of basil leaves and some halved sweet grape tomatoes (you can also top with grilled chicken slices, or grilled shrimp)
Fish
  • deep fried fish or chicken strips (or nuggets)
  • grilled, baked, or microwaved wild salmon seasoned with bbq sauce, or lemon, garlic, and cilantro, or (my favorite) Asian Sesame Seed Low-Fat Salad Dressing
Frozen pizza
  • a ton of extra empty calories and really high sodium content
  • only ultra-thin crust margherita pizzas, sprinkled with our own shredded cheeses, grilled shrimp or chicken, chopped veggies, etc
DESSERTS
Ice cream
  • high fat, high sugar content in overly sweetened ice creams, sugar cones, and toppings
  • low-sugar frozen yogurt in a plain wafer cone with a maraschino cherry on top
Popsicles
  • high-sugar, high-fructose, high-corn syrup (despite what those commercials say)
  • all-fruit, all-natural frozen popsicles

Obviously, this isn't an all-inclusive list. But I ramble enough as it is, so I thought it was best to stop before...well, see, now there I go.

So...What are some of your quick and cheap meal substitutes?
...

4 comments:

Jo Anna Guerra said...

And the way that I know I ramble is that I titled the table "Top 5 Things..." and then, apparently, went on and on.

Jo Anna Guerra said...

See. I'm doing it again.

Jo Anna Guerra said...

Dammit.

Woo222 said...

Yes! Healthy is yummy too!! My parents used many of your substitutions too and I'm glad! I still eat that way as an adult :)