Slimfast for Kids

Question
Our little boy just turned 6 two days ago. This morning he wanted to have a slim fast shake for breakfast and I refused stating that I didn't think it was healthy for him.  We wanted to research to make sure we made the right decision. Are any of those type of supplement/diet/health shakes okay for kids his age? Would once a week be okay even?  

Thank you for your help!!!

Meredith

Answer
Hello Meredith!

  Thank you for your nutrition question. Slimfast shakes are not appropriate for children. It is very important that children develop healthy eating habits early in life. This means eating "real" food such as fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and dairy. Instead of Slimfast in the morning, I would recommend a frest fruit smoothie. I have included a recipe below.

This tastes great with fresh fruit, but can also be made with frozen fruit. If you don't have any strawberries on hand, use any other type of fruit you find tasty!

Prep time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

1/2 c. vanilla soy yogurt
1/2 c. strawberries
2 ice cubes
2 tsp. vanilla extract

Utensils:

blender (You'll need help from your adult assistant.)
measuring cups
measuring spoons
Directions:

Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth.
Serves: 1

Serving size: 1 cup


Nutritional analysis (per serving):

102 calories
3 g protein
1.6 g fat
0 g sat fat
20 g carbohydrate
2 g fiber
0 mg cholesterol
14 mg sodium
30 mg calcium
0.6 mg iron

For more answers to your nutrition questions check out www.planetyorgos.com

-George Rapitis, MS
www.juiceblend.com

1. Prev:weightloss issues
2. Next:food sources for some minerals