Healthy eats and treats for gift-giving
By Susan Mah
Stumped for a birthday present idea? Try some of these great ideas to help get others hooked on healthy eating:
• If baking is your passion, add a nutritious splash of colour by mixing dried apricots, dried cranberries or even dried mango to home-baked cookies, breads and buns.
• Boost the fibre content even more by substituting some of the white flour with whole-wheat flour.
• Send a fruit basket filled with exotic delights such as persimmons, pomegranates, mandarin oranges and star fruit.
• Fill a deep baking dish or stockpot with kitchen utensils and non-perishable ingredients for one of your favourite recipes, including the recipe on a pretty card.
Family-friendly ideas for how to stock up on produce
• Keep a bowl of fresh fruit on the kitchen table and some pre-cut veggies in the fridge. Research from the Health Education and Behavior journal shows that children and adults will eat more fruits and vegetables if the foods are readily available and accessible.
• Have at least one or two servings of fruits and vegetables at every meal and as snacks. Examples of one serving are: a medium sized piece of fruit; 1/2 cup cooked vegetables; and 1 cup of salad (about the size of your fist). A tetra-pak or cup of fruit juice makes up two servings.
• Colour your food green, red and orange! Add broccoli, snow peas, peppers and carrots to a stir-fry or casserole. Toss kiwi, strawberries, and orange segments into a spinach salad.
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