With new research showing that our kids think lollipops and chips are healthy, while apples are bad for you, we really feel like we and other parents around the country need to educate our kids about food.
These findings coincide with the launch of Kellogg’s Powering Play - a game-based nutritional workshop, developed in conjunction with the GAA, for this summers Kellogg’s Cúl Camps initiative. Run by trained GAA coaches and senior inter-county players, the workshops will arm children with important nutritional knowledge that’s relevant to their lives and also fun.
Presenter and mum-of-one Mairéad Farrell is a fan of the Kellogg’s GAA Cúl Camps and is aware of the benefits this new nutritional element will have.
“I spend my days running around after my eight-year-old son, Dara and as a busy parent, while you try to teach your kids about nutrition and eating right, sometimes they just don’t get it.
“I know that Dara will come home from Kellogg’s GAA Cúl Camps boasting about how one of his GAA idols told him about healthy food powering his play. This approach is bound to stick with him.”
The Kellogg’s Powering Play pilot module will be held in 14 selected Kellogg’s GAA Cúl Camps this summer and is designed to encourage children to think about powering their play through nutrition.
But until those great camps kicks off, here are some other fun ways to teach your child about healthy eating and getting their day off to the best start:
It’s important to have breakfast so that you ‘break’ the overnight ‘fast’, after being asleep
A healthy balanced breakfast will kick-start your day and fuel your morning, helping you to concentrate, and giving your kids the energy they need play all the Kellogg’s GAA Cúl Camp games.
(Top tip – get the first of your 5 a day in at breakfast. Add some fruit to your kid’s favourite cereal or make a fruit smoothie with a low-fat yogurt)
A balanced breakfast contains some carbohydrate such as a fortified grain based cereal with milk and a piece of fruit.
Here are some suggestions:
- A grain based breakfast cereal with low-fat milk is the perfect start for a growing boy or girl. Fortified cereals are ones that provide key nutrients.
- Scrambled egg/ an omelette
- Yoghurt, fruit and granola/muesli
- Porridge
- Wholegrain toast with grilled mushrooms/ beans/soft boiled egg
