Summertime Nutrition Tips

With school being out our daily schedules tend to change, of most importance is your child's new schedule. During the school year children are used to a structured routine. They get better sleep, are more active, and have regulated meal times that are more likely to be balanced. So, what can you do to make to enhance your child’s well-being this summer? Take a look at the following tips: 

Develop a routine that has room for flexibility!


First and foremost, stick to a daily schedule! You can start by creating a structured healthy environment that enables healthy behaviours, such as:

  • Getting good sleep

  • Making time for outdoors

  • Having family meals

  • Creating a “flexible” feeding schedule

Offer balanced, varied meals and snacks

Kids need to be exposed to a variety of foods from an early age including different flavours and textures and offering meals and snacks that contain protein, carbohydrates and fat for growth and development is the key to a balanced diet!

Try these fun ideas that allow children to learn about food and nutrition. Doing family activities that are food related allow children to learn about where food comes from and how eating is for both pleasure and nourishment!  

  • Visit a farmer’s market

  • Have a picnic at a local park

  • Have a backyard campfire and enjoy s’mores!

  • Enjoy ice-cream outdoors! 

  • Set up a lemonade stand

  • Plant a garden of herbs and veggies

  • Visit an ethnic grocery store and make lunch using interesting spices and kid-friendly international recipes

  • Blend your own smoothies

  • Assemble a family cookbook with all your favorite recipes

  • Make popsicles using real juice and real fruit

Stay hydrated!

Water is important for our survival! Water helps maintain our body temperature, transports nutrients and oxygen to all cells and carries away waste products. It also helps maintain blood volume and lubricates joints and body tissues.

Fluid needs for kids are: 

  • 1-3 year-olds: 3.5 cups per day

  • 4-8 year-olds: 5 cups per day

  • 9-13 year-old girls: 6.5 cups per day

  • 9-13 year-old boys: 7 cups per day

Fluid needs are met by drinking water/beverages and by consuming foods rich in water, especially fruits and veggies! Help your children stay hydrated by offering fruit and vegetables high in water content. The following fruit and vegetables are delicious and hydrating!         

  • Apples

  • Blueberries

  • Cantaloupe

  • Cherries

  • Cucumber

  • Grapes

  • Oranges

  • Strawberries

  • Watermelon

  • Carrots

  • Celery

  • Lettuce

  • Mushrooms

  • Peppers

  • Summer squash

  • Tomatoes

Make room for movement!

Last, but not least, a healthy structured environment makes time for physical movement! When the weather is too hot, you can find other fun, family-friendly activities in your community to stay active and healthy!

Below are some ideas you can do with your family that are fun for all ages! 

  • Check out your community's calendar for indoor events and activities

  • Sign your children up for local sports or recreational programs

  • Go to the park

  • Swim with your family

  • Have a sprinkler party and a water balloon fight!

  • Have a dance party!

  • Go camping

  • Visit your local national park

Hope you have a wonderful summer!

Naureen Hunani, RD, Nutritionist, Feeding Therapist 

Co-autor: Noemi Jimenez, Nutrition student, CLEC

 

Naureen Hunani