Are your kids’ picky eaters? Well maybe you’re just feeding them boring foods. 

October is Healthy Habits Month at Kids in the Game! We’re practicing healthy habits across all of our programs to make sure your kids are growing up healthy and strong. When we think of healthy food, we often imagine bland vegetables and plain meals, reinforcing the belief that fueling ourselves and our kids properly is neither delicious nor fun. 

As adults we have the privilege to pick and choose what we eat, so we also choose our own health consequences willingly. However, kids are restrained to the foods that their parents or guardians prepare or buy them.       

Intaking the correct nutrients is vital for a child’s overall development, cognitive function for their day-day life, and most importantly for their future health.    

Because kids are subject to what their caretakers feed them, when given the freedom to choose, kids may turn to unhealthy but more attractive food choices that are loaded with processed ingredients and sugars. These bad eating habits can hurt a child by following them for the rest of their life.

Before you accept that your child is destined to be a picky eater, take a look at the recipes below to find out if their current diet is just plain boring.  

Eggs

Don’t be scared of eggs!

They are an excellent source of protein, fat, Vitamins A, D, E and B12 and choline. They also have omega-3 fatty acids which can aid in children’s brain development.

Eggs are a great food to feed your kids in the morning, as they carry up to six grams of protein per serving. And as another bonus, eggs will keep your kid’s appetite more satisfied throughout the day than a breakfast full of pastries or fried foods. All good things in moderation, right?  

Turkey Tacos

What kid doesn’t love tacos?

Not many. But most parents would prefer their kids to consume less saturated fat when they decide to have a Taco Tuesday. That’s why substituting ground beef for ground turkey is a great way to allow your children to experience the joy of eating tacos without the threats to their health.  

Leaner cuts of ground turkey have more protein than ground beef, with 99% ground turkey sitting at 28 grams per four ounces! Also, on most occasions, turkey is less calorically dense than ground beef as well.

Additions to this meal that will keep your child fuller include:

• Bell Peppers (Great source Vitamin C)
• Shredded Cheese (Makes the meal taste better and also contains a healthy amount of fat)
• Spinach (A good way to sneak veggies into your child’s diet without them tasting it too much!)

Protein pancakes and/or waffles

There are ways to make pancakes and waffles that allow them to be packed with protein instead of unwanted sugars and processed ingredients.  

You can play around with this recipe! Blending together oats, whole wheat bread, eggs, and whey protein powder is a great way to make a great tasting pancake or waffle loaded with protein.

You can also add bananas or blueberries to incorporate fruit into the meal, plus adding flavor for a better overall taste.

Greek Yogurt

Greek Yogurt is a great snack for any meal of the day. Just make sure you pick a brand that has zero added sugar and is high in vitamin D and protein.

A great brand to choose is Two Good Greek Yogurt. Two Good includes flavors such as vanilla, strawberry, and peach, all while having zero added sugar, no aspartame, sucralose, or acesulfame-k and a whopping 12 grams of protein per cup.

You can also add bits of flavored rice cakes or granola to the yogurt to give it a better taste and more crunch!

September 30th is National Women’s Health And Fitness Day! This annual observance is to celebrate all the ladies who are taking control of their health journey — by focusing on the importance of regular physical activity and health awareness, you’re ensuring you’re living your best life. 

Here are 8 quick tips to being a healthier woman, as well as some inspiring stories from a few of the incredible gals at Kids in the Game. 

8 tips to being a healthier woman

1. Go to your primary care doctor for a check up. By making an appointment with your doctor, you’ll know what to work on. Keep those health screenings up to date so you can be your best self. 
2. Take a look at your diet. If you bought a really expensive car, would you fuel it with potato chips? Fueling your body with healthy ingredients is key to taking care of her. (And of course some cookies in moderation, right?) 
3. Get moving. 30 minutes of activity a day can change your entire life. Go for a walk, ride a bike, or play your favorite sport. How will you move? 
4. Watch what you put in your body. Avoid putting harmful substances into your body. She doesn’t deserve to be treated like that! 
5. Prioritize sleep. This might be the most underrated one on the list. When we don’t get enough sleep, we aren’t energized enough to take care of anyone, let alone ourselves. Experts recommend 7-9 hours of sleep per night. 
6. Reduce stress. Easier said than done, right? Try practicing gratitude when you’re stressed. Count five things that are going well in your life. By #5, watch your mindset totally change. 
7. Learn to say “no.” This is a critical skill. We just can’t do it all. Learn to prioritize what’s most important, and realize you don’t have to do everything that comes your way. 
8. Make a list for your medical visits. You know what’s going on with your body day to day much better than your doctor does. If you can present them with a list that summarizes what’s going on with your health, a doctor is much more set up to address your needs.

“Being a female athlete means to defy all odds and to empower yourself through all obstacles that are thrown at you. Sports have impacted my life tremendously as well as the individuals that I’ve met throughout my years of playing different sports. Sports have given me the ability to carry myself with a different level of confidence and positivity. I hope to be a role model and empower all of the young female athletes that I have the pleasure of working with in the future.”

Jeshley Jemenez, Adelphi Fellow

“Sports have been my life since I could remember. I grew up with two parents who were amazing athletes, so it was in my genes. Being a woman in sports not only helped me bond with my family (my dad taught me how to throw my first spiral!) but it also helped me learn the concept of a team. Learning at a young age how to work with others and how to strive to be better every day made me who I am today. Being a woman in sports helped me learn that being strong is beautiful and we are just as good as the boys. Young girls should not be afraid to show their strength, not just physically but mentally as well.”

Cara Hudson, Director of People and Culture

“I couldn’t imagine my childhood without sports. Every spare moment was filled with soccer, swim, and ski practice for as long as I can remember. Beyond fostering my work ethic, time management skills, and giving me some of my best friends for life, I gained skills that I didn’t even realize I had until my adult years. All those years of jumping into a pool at 5 in the morning have molded me into the person I am today and for that I am forever grateful for having the opportunity to be a ‘girl in sport’.”

Tatum Boehnke, Director of Community & Impact

“Playing sports was always an awesome experience for me even if I wasn’t the best player on the team. I was a happy go lucky kid who knew my contribution to the team no matter how small would make an impact even if it was a simple “good luck” or high five. Over the years, this is an attitude I’ve embedded into my coaching style and healthy lifestyle. As a college athlete trying to balance school, work and life lessons, there was one consistent element through it all – the pool. This was my space to completely be myself and create lifelong friendships. It was also a space that had limited women of color representation, which became and will continue to be my greatest motivator and honor.”

Ivelisse Rivera, Youth Sports Coordinator

“I always have the aspiration of being an athlete. I was a volleyball player in my elementary and high school years. And that was it… I felt my aspiration to be an athlete, as a swimmer or a runner, will always be an evasive dream.
My summer was totally different. It went from day to night! A wise person told me, “Turn this into an AFGO – Another Fantabulous Growth Opportunity.” I started running, and joining virtual 5K races – 1 in NY, 2 in CA and 1 in OH. I would always break my personal time. I’m not there yet, but I’m setting my eyes on the Boston Marathon!”

Frances Murphy, Director of Early Childhood

“Along with thousands of other women and Kids in the Game, I’m taking a moment to recognize the 2020 National Women’s Health & Fitness Day. For me, prioritizing fitness and health goes beyond physical activity. It’s about committing to positive change for yourself.

For years, I couldn’t run a mile, and I was ok with that. As I got older, I realized that I needed to prioritize self-care and part of that was developing a health and fitness routine that worked for me. When a friend asked me to train for a half marathon with her several years ago, I pushed myself to make that commitment. After months of training, we finished that race. Then we did it again. And again. Those were the moments that made me realize nothing is out of my reach. It wasn’t a major achievement compared to some, but it was something that inspired me to believe in myself. Being part of Kids in the Game allows me to be part of a community of women who have experienced this journey in their own way and are working tirelessly to help NYC youth find their own strength and resilience through sport and creative play.

So when we see other women (and men, and children) pushing themselves to become healthier and more physically fit, we should be their cheerleader. They’re on their way to becoming stronger physically and mentally.”

Sandy Persaud, Chief People Officer

“Sports really laid the groundwork for the woman I am today. They taught me what it meant to be a part of a team, what foods would fuel me, and showed me the incredible things my body could do. Daily activity, healthy eating (plus some cookies) and teamwork are still a part of my everyday life. I wouldn’t be who I am today without all that sport instilled in me.”

Stennett Smith, Creative Marketing Manager

At Kids in the Game, we’re lucky to be surrounded by strong women every day. Keep inspiring others!

For eight weeks, Kids in the Game partners with Bronx Health REACH to bring fitness and wellness activities to 11 places of worship in the Bronx and Upper Manhattan. Our coaches are tasked with teaching physical education in ways that can be sustained at home, as well as in each respective community.

Kids in the Game provided over 200 youth and parents across the Bronx with nutrition and physical fitness education. In all of our sites, there is an increased sense of community and newfound ownership over their physical and mental wellbeing. We stretched, we laughed, we did multiple squats, but most importantly we completed the program with enthusiasm and a commitment to wellness that will continue to develop in the future!

Our Sites

Why this work is particularly important in the Bronx:

Brandon Evans, our Program Coordinator, works closely with the Bronx Health REACH team, Emily Oppenheimer and Yolanda Benitez, on securing coaches for the eleven programming sites. Once a week for an hour and a half, Kids in the Game comes together with NYU and the Institute for Family Health to host the program to fight these statistics.

Each session is divided into a nutrition lesson provided by NYU and the Institute for Family Health, followed by a physical activity put on by our Kids in the Game coaches. The coaches lead kids and their parents in fitness activities that are both space appropriate and flexible for all physical ability levels. The context of the fitness activity varies from each site and coach, but each site shares the same unique goal of bringing physical fitness to underserved communities in a way that will be sustained at home, beyond those eight weeks.

“Kids in the Game coaches engage underserved communities of diverse backgrounds with one common goal: to increase physical activity and bridge the wellness gap. We had families who had never played together engage in fun activities and commit to continuing the goal of implementing physical activity into their everyday lives. For 11 places of worship, Kids in the Game provided the tools and resources for increased wellness and a change in the physical and mental well being of a multitude of families,”

Brandon Evans.

One of the largest wins we had this year was growth in parent engagement from week one to week eight. When we started, the adults would step to the side while the kids engaged and participated in the activities. After challenging our coaches to find creative ways to include the adults, we saw tremendous growth in the parent participation. Promoting positive and impactful play between the parents and kids was one of our desired outcomes, and it has made a huge impact on the communities we serve.

The Bronx Health REACH was formed in 1999 to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in health outcomes in diabetes and heart disease in African American and Latino communities in the southwest Bronx. Since then, the Bronx Health REACH coalition, led by the Institute for Family Health, has grown to include over 70 community-based organizations, health care providers, faith-based institutions, housing, and social service agencies.

Bronx Health REACH