KidSmart :: Q & A



Q & A Healthy Habits Yum Yum, Eat 'Em Up! Let's Go! Don't Be A Couch Slouch! Contest Quiz Food Pyramid Smart Snacks Fizz Ed Food Fun KidSmart Restaurants Quiz Just Me Gotta Watch TV Get Outside With Friends With Family Sports Quiz Can't Get To Sleep? Why Brush Your Teeth? Why just say "NO? What makes me feel good?? Summer Pitfalls Girls on the Run Healthy Family	Q: I know it's important to eat fruits and vegetables, but some of them just don't taste good! What are some fruits and vegetables that actually taste good? A: That's a great question! There are lots of fruits and vegetables out there and it's perfectly OK to not love all of them but surely we can find some that you think are great!! If you like things that taste sweet then look for fruits and vegetables that are bright colors- they are often sweeter! Red and yellow bell peppers are super sweet and have lots of important vitamins and minerals! If you are looking for something soft and smushy, try a kiwi- they are even fuzzy on the outside! Most importantly, keep trying lots of new things and be sure to tell your parents which ones are your favorite! Q: Pizza is my favorite food but my mom tells me it's not healthy for me. Is she right? A: Pizza is one of my favorites, too!! Pizza is a fun food because you can get lots of important food groups in that one food! There are ways to jazz your pizza up a bit to make it more healthy. Ask your mom to help you make a "healthy" pizza by adding extra veggies, using low-fat cheese, or trying a whole-grain crust. Be creative!! Q: Why don't my parents let me drink soda? They drink it all the time! A: I am so glad you asked! There are so many better things to drink than soda!! First of all, lots of sodas have caffeine, which kids should try to stay away from. Not only does caffeine make you hyper, it can increase your heart rate and even slow down your growth! It's true!! Also, some sodas have lots of sugar, I mean, LOTS of sugar... around 11 whole teaspoons full of it! Drinking all that sugar isn't good for your teeth OR your body. Plus, soda has this mineral in it called phosphorus. I know, it's a big word but it sounds like FOSS-FOR-US. Anyway, phosphorus doesn't get along with calcium (the stuff that helps build our bones) and so they actually fight with each other in our bodies and when phosphorus wins, we can't build strong bones. So, your parents are right on this one! Try to stick to water and fat-free milk!