Picking Veggies for Picky Eaters

A child with crossed arms at the dinner table - refusing to eat their veggies - is an iconic image. Why is so common for kids to dislike broccoli and brussel sprouts as kids and grow to enjoy them as teens or adults? Many factors contribute (such as childhood bitter receptors which may act as a protection against many common toxins) and many factors contribute to changing tastes (such as repeat exposure to the food, intrauterine exposure to foods, and seeing role models eating those foods in the home). 

How can you improve the nutritional content of a child's food until they are ready to eat the broccoli of their own free will? Hide some un-bitter veggies in foods they already like! Blend steamed carrots and add them to marinara sauce. Add baby kale or baby spinach to fruit smoothies (the younger versions of these plants have few bitter chemicals and go unnoticed). Push steamed cauliflower through a ricer for faux mashed potatoes. Finely shred zucchini and add it to casseroles. Blend baked sweet potato with applesauce. Add unsweetened canned pumpkin puree to pizza or pasta sauces. By adding veggies to a child's regular intake you are improving their nutritional intake and gently broadening their palate so they may be more likely to eat these foods on their own. 

(PMID 26000268)

Nutrition Club has SWAG! Check out our Zazzle page with our own custom decals you can put on virtually anything. Your purchase generates club funds we can use for outreach and events!
Find us at: http://www.zazzle.com/tunutritionclub

Meatless Mondays? There are great vegetarian sources of protein (spoiler alert: Greek yogurt has way more protein than the more common processed versions of yogurt which are basically sugar bombs). Incorporate beans, spinach, nuts, quinoa, and tofu. Avoid filling up on empty carbs - try to incorporate healthy grains  lower on the glycemic index.

Here is an awesome video made by a Food Justice organization in Oakland using creative visuals to discuss the life-threatening harm caused by our current food system. It is less than 7 minutes.

Food justice is the production of healthy, local, fresh, nutritious, foods made affordable so people of all backgrounds can access them. Communities  working for food justice are often growing and selling food in local economies, leading to robust communities and a healthier environment. Three more food justice organizations in Oakland are Phat Beets, Planting Justice, and People's Grocery.

Snack attack? Carry healthy snacks with you so you don't binge when hunger strikes (11pm Cheez Its in the library - we've been there).  We recommend nuts - just a few gives a great energy hit and many nuts have lots of health benefits. 

Send a Message to the Vallejo City Council

We have passed the community gardens initiative in the recent participatory budgeting process that took place here in Vallejo just last week. But the city council can still go against the people and vote to put some projects ahead of others or reduce the funding dollars to certain projects. We can't let this happen!

Please read Irene's excellent editorial in the local Times-Harold that talks all about this (and give her a pat on the back when you see her.)

Please help by sending an email to the Vallejo City Council:

rmcconnell@ci.vallejo.ca.us; sgomes@ci.vallejo.ca.us; jmalgapo@ci.vallejo.ca.us; martibrown@ci.vallejo.ca.us; hsunga@ci.vallejo.ca.us; bsampayan@ci.vallejo.ca.us

Here is a template. You may want to send it "as is," but the email will be more powerful if you add you own comments. Be sure to include "Participatory Budgeting" in the body or subject line.

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Council-member,

I wanted to write to let you know how passionate I am about the City of Vallejo's need for better nutrition, health education, and local food growth. I think that community gardens are going to be a great way to make that happen and I am so excited to see that the people of Vallejo agree.

The new funds from the participatory budgeting process will greatly strengthen the fabric of the community, improve the health of our people, and beautify our neighborhoods. I hope you will stand strong with me in support of the community gardens funding initiative as we continue to work hard to help Vallejo thrive.

Sincerely,

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Get Out and Vote, Vallejo!

Polls open this TODAY, May 11, for Vallejo's first ever Participatory Budgeting process.  There is a great proposal for Community Gardens and Nutrition Education. This proposal will support 10 gardens all over Vallejo, including the Vallejo People's Garden and Loma Vista Farm!  

 

 

 

The proposed project has three goals: 1) Increase access to fresh, healthy produce across Vallejo and especially in low-income neighborhoods. 2) Empower area residents of all ages, ethnicity, and socio-economic backgrounds with the skills to grow their own food, provide nutrition education and foster environmental stewardship. 3) Boost the city’s morale by creating connections within and between neighborhoods of people helping people.

Voting Locations and Hours
Sat., May 11, 10am - 6pm
Florence Douglas Senior Center
333 Amador St.

Mon. - Fri., May 13 - 17, 12pm - 7pm
Vallejo City Hall
555 Santa Clara St.

Sat., May 18, 10am - 6pm
Vallejo Adult School
2833 Tennessee St.


Community Gardens increase the sense of community ownership, stewardship and identity.  They bring people together from a variety of backgrounds and lead to community-based efforts to address health and social concerns such as obesity in children and local crime.

Touro Students, Your student ID is all you need to be able to vote for your top selection from 32 proposals on the ballot. See you at the polls!