Kids are notoriously fussy eaters and getting them to eat what’s on their plate is battle enough. But some nutrients can’t be skimped over and are needed to help foster healthy development in your child. One vital nutrient that growing children need, is fibre.
Fibre holds numerous benefits for everyone, especially kids. From helping to promote a healthy and clean gut that’s strengthened against constipation and the risk of bowel cancer to regulating blood sugar and insulin levels - fibre is so much more than just a filling mealtime component.
Fibre also helps to keep kids energised throughout the day and foster a more focused mind when it comes to schooling.
However, trying to get kids to eat veggies or fruits and other fibrous foods can be difficult. But here are some ideas of how to ensure they are getting all the right amounts of fibre without the dinner time food fight.
Here are four ways to add some flair to your kid’s fibre intake:
The 2-minute booster
Who doesn’t enjoy a good bowl of tasty 2-minute noodles? This quick after-school snack is beloved by many, but did you know it’s also packed full of fibre to meet the needs of your growing child? MAGGI High-Fibre noodles pack as much fibre as a bowl of oats but come in 2 delicious flavours - chicken and mushroom and creamy cheese. These new High-fibre noodles are also made with Sunflower Seed Oil which means lower saturated fats and are a source of Iron - Great for you to enjoy with your whole family, and a meal or snack that the kids will want to eat! You can also use the noodles as a base for delicious quick meals like a Thai inspired dish, by simply adding some spices and veggies in to further boost your child’s fibre intake.
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Smoothie operator
Fruits are chock-full of fibre but can be overlooked by the sweets-fixated eyes of kids. Switch it up by mixing some fibrous fruits like bananas, strawberries, and apples into a tasty tropical smoothie with some almond milk. You can get creative with these by even opting to make a dessert-like smoothie with some apple, peanut butter, and dark chocolate chips mixed in.
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Wholegrain = more gain
For better and more fibre intake simply swap out high-fibre options for their more starch-filled options. It's as easy swopping rice, bread, and pasta, for their wholegrain counterparts. Mixed into your kid’s favourite pasta sauce – they’ll likely not notice the difference and get a lot more fibre in with each bite in the same portion size they had before.
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The snacktime rejig
Healthy doesn't mean boring. Instead of grabbing a bag of chips or sweets next time your kids are in the kitchen looking for a snacktime treat, opt instead for popcorn - a tasty and beloved snack that’s a lot richer in fibre and lower in sodium and fat. And creating colourful snack platters of mini carrots, cucumber slices, and a hummus dip, or swapping out the bowl of potato chips for air-fried or oven baked sweet-potato chips are other ways to add some fun to the snacktime fibre intake.
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Research has shown that a child who has a hand in making their own snacks may be more likely to eat it, so get the kids excited and involved in prepping their own fibrous snacks with a healthy and tasty reward at the end.
So, what are you waiting for? Let's make fibre fun again!
This post was sponsored by MAGGI and produced by BrandStudio24.