A recent study has revealed that eating a daily handful of almonds or equivalent almond containing foods improves the Healthy Eating Index in both adults and children.
The complementary medicine research study published in December 2015 in the Journal of Nutrition Research carried out a trial where parents were instructed to eat 1.5 ounces of almonds per day and simultaneously give their children 0.5 ounce of almond or equivalent foods with the minimal almond content e.g. almond butter.
The researchers found that this daily intake over a 14-week period resulted in a significantly improved ‘ Health Eating Index’ component scores for total protein and decreased intake of empty calories.
As parents we are often challenged by barriers in promoting healthy eating to our children. Strategies we can utilise to promote good lifestyle advice for us and our children include basic guidelines such as:
- Ensuring meals and snacks are nutritious, attractive and an appropriate serving size for children
- Make mealtimes are social occasions when people eat together
- Develop good eating habits such as regular times for meals
- Trying new foods, regularly
- Eating when hungry
- Starting with small portions and stopping when full
- Enjoying a variety of foods
- Highlight when a new food is being introduced and have some discussion about the food
- Discourage naming foods as “good’ or ‘bad’; this can encourage children to want ‘restricted’ food
- Discuss the value of particular foods to promote their growing, healthy bodies
Many Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) practitioners promote almonds as part of their regular diet as 1 ounce of almonds delivers 170 calories and has a low GI index. It also contains best quality vitamins and supplements such as:
- Biotin
- Vitamin B2
- Vitamin E
- Manganese
- Copper
- Phosphorous
- Magnesium
- Molybdenum
- Fibre
No comments:
Post a Comment