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It’s a fact that kids nowadays are becoming fussy when it comes to eating healthy diets. With all of the negative publicity surrounding them, many parents are trying to find ways to make sure that their kids get the nutrition they need while also getting something they like to eat.
Instead, consider preparing healthy meals with vegetables, fruits, lean meats, and dairy products. Many children won’t even notice that you are not feeding them their “traditional” foods in the form of a hamburger or hot dog. Kids often respond to vegetables, fruits, and dairy items in a different way, and this can help you get your kids to eat vegetables and dairy over the next several meals that they have. When you combine these foods with a variety of other types of healthy meals, they will usually start to enjoy vegetables and fruits more, especially after the first few times that you introduce them to them.1
Another thing that you can do is to set up your child’s meal schedule around a particular type of diet.2 For instance, if your child is only eating diets that consist of “junk foods”, you may want to make sure to set up their daily diet around these types of foods. You can do this by simply making healthy choices for snacks throughout the day so that they aren’t tempted to snack on things like potato chips or chocolate.
What is Oatmeal? And Why Should You Be Eating it?
Just as bagels, cereal, and eggs are some of America’s best-loved breakfast foods, so is oatmeal. In fact, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) even recognizes oatmeal as one of seven common food ingredients that work towards promoting healthy eating.3 Along with granola, bagels, rice cakes, and other favorites, oatmeal has been one of America’s most beloved breakfast foods, packing an impressive punch in every serving. In addition to packing a host of nutrients into every serving, it’s also been proven to help lower cholesterol levels, increased fat loss, improved blood sugar levels, and more. So what is oatmeal made up of and how can you benefit from its health benefits?
Oatmeal is rolled oats, which are essentially all types of oats, including barley, which gives oatmeal its rich and hearty flavor. While both kinds of oats can be used for the making of different breakfast cereals – the type of oats used for baking creates a truly delicious and nutritious snack that’s easy to make and incredibly versatile.
What Are the Benefits of Oatmeal?
If you’re not yet convinced oatmeal is good for you, here are some reasons that make it a very good start to your day. Remember, oatmeal is nutritious and provides many health benefits. You can improve your health by simply adding oatmeal to your diet. So, what are the benefits of oatmeal?
One of the best things about oatmeal is that it is so versatile. You can enjoy oatmeal as a great start to your day or you can enjoy it as a dessert later in the day. It is delicious any way you like it and you can even use it to replace sugar in your children’s diet if you choose to do this. That is one reason oatmeal is so popular with parents.
Another great thing about oatmeal is that you can enjoy it all year round. Sure, some days the weather is perfect for a nice big bowl of cereal but you don’t have to go through the trouble of making a special breakfast every time. You can just take a big bag of oatmeal out of the cabinet and you can enjoy it with yogurt, fresh fruit, or even dessert toppings.4
Oatmeal is one of the best-known and most delicious forms of fiber. It provides numerous health benefits, which makes it a perfect addition to any diet. It is especially important for people who are suffering from hypoglycemia.5 Oatmeal can also reduce the cholesterol levels in the body which in turn can reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke. It can also provide relief for individuals who suffer from constipation.6
One of the benefits of oatmeal which many people do not realize is that it contains significant amounts of both magnesium and phosphorus which are needed for proper cell function. Magnesium levels in the body are depleted when you have insufficient amounts of calcium and phosphorus. In addition to helping to maintain the correct levels of calcium and phosphorus in the body, oatmeal benefits also include providing your skin with the minerals and nutrients needed for healthy cell function.7
There are many benefits to eating foods such as oatmeal that contain either magnesium or phosphorus. However, these two nutrients play an even greater role in weight loss. The benefits of oatmeal in helping to control your cholesterol and blood pressure while helping to promote healthy skin make these two nutrients a perfect fit for anyone who is interested in weight loss.8
What is the Best Type of Oatmeal For Kids?
With all the varieties on the market today you may be wondering which one is best for your children. In general, if you want to find a quick and easy to prepare breakfast cereal then one serving of quick oats is the best choice for kids. However, there are still other types of oatmeal available that provide a different taste or texture and are best for different ages.
For example, some oatmeal is rich and full of nutrients while others are very low in fat and have a high protein content. Some oatmeal also comes in different flavors.9 For those who don’t like the taste of the flavored varieties they can choose the original variety. These quick oats are still packed with the nutrients your child needs but they have a more subtle sweet flavor, so it isn’t as overwhelming.10
Even with all the choices you have for the best type of oatmeal for kids, there are still some things you need to keep in mind. For instance, you want to make sure the quick oats you purchase are not made with cornstarch or white flour. These types of oatmeal will not provide the nutrition your child needs and will take extra time to prepare. Therefore, if you are in a hurry you may want to choose another option. It’s important to find the best oatmeal for your child so they get the most benefits from eating it.
Image Credits
Lets Eat Healthy / February 11, 2020
Very Well Fit / March 24, 2021
Clean and Delicious / September 27, 2019
1 “Nutrition for kids: Guidelines for a healthy diet – Mayo Clinic.” https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/childrens-health/in-depth/nutrition-for-kids/art-20049335 Accessed 10 Aug. 2021.
2 “Kid’s Healthy Eating Plate | The Nutrition Source – Harvard TH Chan ….” https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/kids-healthy-eating-plate/ Accessed 10 Aug. 2021.
3 “U.S. Department of Agriculture | USAGov.” https://www.usa.gov/federal-agencies/u-s-department-of-agriculture Accessed 10 Aug. 2021.
5 “9 Health Benefits of Eating Oats and Oatmeal – Healthline.” 19 Jul. 2016, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/9-benefits-oats-oatmeal Accessed 10 Aug. 2021.
5 “7 Reasons to Eat Oatmeal Every Day | Everyday Health.” 20 Mar. 2019, https://www.everydayhealth.com/columns/bonnie-taub-dix-nutrition-intuition/reasons-why-you-should-eat-oatmeal-every-day/ Accessed 10 Aug. 2021.
6 “Oats: Health benefits, facts, research – Medical News Today.” https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/270680 Accessed 10 Aug. 2021.
7 “Oats | The Nutrition Source | Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health.” https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/food-features/oats/ Accessed 10 Aug. 2021.
8 “7 Amazing Benefits of Eating Oatmeal | Eat This Not That.” 10 Nov. 2020, https://www.eatthis.com/health-benefits-oatmeal/ Accessed 10 Aug. 2021.
9 “Different Types of Oats: Health Facts, Cooking Tips, and Recipes.” 9 Aug. 2020, https://totaste.com/different-types-of-oats/ Accessed 10 Aug. 2021.
10 “Steel Cut, Rolled, Instant: What’s the Difference Between Types of ….” 22 Jan. 2021, https://www.allrecipes.com/article/whats-the-difference-between-types-of-oats/ Accessed 10 Aug. 2021.
