“Eat your fruit, eat your veggies!”

Do you remember hearing this when you were growing up?

And now that you’re a parent, do you find yourself repeating the same lyrics?

Not without good reason. It’s just common sense that these healthy foods need to be part of a daily diet.

Yet sometimes the battle of getting your kids to eat an orange or some broccoli might not seem worth it. What’s the difference anyway?  Are you really doing your children a disservice by letting them get away with not eating their fruits and veggies?

The answer to this question is clear and non-negotiable – YES!

Without the phytonutrients from fruits and vegetables, your children are at risk.  Not only do these life-giving nutrients protect your children from colds and flu, they are critical in protecting against life-threatening conditions such as obesity, cancer and heart disease.

With that said, your kids will have a hard time relating to these big picture concepts.  Sure they want to be healthy, do well in school and sports, and stay lean and fit.  But it is not their job to be concerned with the gravity of cancer and heart disease.  That’s your job.

So, to make your job easier, you can start with some of the standard kid-friendly choices, and then add new fruits and veggies each day.  It helps to know which ones have the most immune-boosting bang for your buck.  The rest will – as nature does – take care of itself.

Here’s a few to choose from:

Bananas: Bananas tend to be the most popular fruit among children which by our standards is OK!  This wonderful fruit is loaded with magnesium, B6, potassium, Vitamin C and the antioxidant Selenium.

Red Grapes: Grapes high concentration in tannin helps the body fight off viruses.

Papaya: When in season, papaya is a great choice.  It’s high in Vitamin C and rich in fiber. In addition, it helps to increase white blood cells.  You can buy it frozen as well and blend it into smoothies.

VEGTABLES

Sweet Potatoes: Not only will your child most likely love this delectable, sweet vegetable, but sweet potatoes are packed with vitamin A, vitamin C, B6, potassium, and iron

Carrots: Carrots tend to be another kid-friendly food with great immune-boosting benefits. They are high in several of the B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium and thiamine.

Spinach: Spinach is packed with vitamin E which, like vitamin C, is an essential vitamin in boosting the immune system. Throw some into an omelete or on top of a pizza or even into a pasta sauce.

For more kid-friendly recipes, visit my website at www.maxlifetherapies.com.  Enjoy!