Bruce 4play

On a recent visit to the see the grand-kids we sat into the table for the Sunday dinner and a neighbours kid had joined us.
Pointing to the dinner she piped up "uuuurrrrgghhhhhh whats this".
"That is called Broccoli young lady"
"Don't like that she said"
"Have you ever tried it says I"
To cut to the chase i eventually persuaded her to try it and she loved it.
Turns out that her normal dinner , be it a Sunday or a Wednesday would consist of Egg and chips , Beans on toast , bangers and smash etc......
Shocked i was. The old proverb "You are what you eat" sprang to mind and my daughter went on to tell me that so many other children now a days are being raised on these types of diets.

These parents are making their kids dig their own graves with a knife and fork.
Diets high in processed foods are causing bad behaviour and learning difficulties in children
Junk food stops the brain working properly, leading to underachievement and a host of disorders.
Such foods not only lack the vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids that boost brain power but actually reduce the body's uptake of nutrients that improve concentration.
"Food affects behaviour. To ignore the role of nutrition as a parent is indefensible. If you pay attention to diet you could really make a difference."

Here are a few tips i copied off the web just to highlight ways to improve and make family meals more enjoyable.
Have regular family meals. Knowing dinner is served at approximately the same time every night and that the entire family will be sitting down together is comforting and enhances appetite. Breakfast is another great time for a family meal, especially since kids who eat breakfast tend to do better in school.
Cook more meals at home. Eating home cooked meals is healthier for the whole family and sets a great example for kids about the importance of food. Restaurant meals tend to have more fat, sugar, and salt. Save dining out for special occasions.
Get kids involved. Children enjoy helping adults grocery shop, selecting what goes in their lunch box, and preparing dinner. It's also a chance for you to teach them about the nutritional values of different foods, and (for older children) how to read food labels.
Make a variety of healthy snacks available instead of empty calorie snacks. Keep plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grain snacks, and healthy beverages (water, milk, pure fruit juice) around and easily accessible so kids become used to reaching for healthy snacks instead of empty calorie snacks like soda, chips, or cookies.
Limit portion sizes. Don’t insist your child cleans the plate, and never use food as a reward or bribe.
Remember the children of today are the future of tomorrow. Lets make sure they have the best chance possible.
Brucie.