Parents often struggle to meet the balance between providing their children with a healthy diet and cooking meals their kids will actually enjoy. Oftentimes, parents will end up falling back on high-fat, high-calorie foods kids love eating, including pizza, hot dogs and chicken nuggets.
However, it’s easier than you might think to provide your kids with nutritious meals they’ll enjoy at school. You can easily prepare the following snack ideas that are both good for children’s eyes and pleasing to their taste buds.
Avocado
Add a couple slices of avocado to the top of a sandwich, suggests Fitness Magazine. This vegetable is rich in eye-protecting vitamin E, as well as healthy fats.
Whole Grains
When choosing bread for sandwiches, pick whole wheat. As a rich source of zinc and selenium, whole wheat contains two minerals that are great for the eyes.
Juice
Children love drinking juice, but some types are better for your kids’ health than others. According WebMD, drinks made from orange or other citrus juices, for example, contain high levels of vitamin C, which can protect against macular degeneration and cataracts in the future.
Carrots
Renowned as a superfood for the eyes, carrots contain high amounts of beta-carotene. Our bodies can turn this substance into vitamin A to promote good eye health, a strong immune system and healthy skin, explains The Huffington Post. Add some carrot sticks to your children’s lunch by chopping up some baby carrots.
Spinach
Forgo lettuce and prepare your kids a spinach salad. Spinach is a fountain of vitamins and minerals containing beta-carotene, vitamin C, antioxidants and lutein. The last nutrient can keep eyes safe from oxidative stress by absorbing UV rays.
Even the healthiest diet is not enough to protect your children’s eyes completely. Along with a delicious and nutritious lunch, make sure your kids are protected from the sun with a pair of Real Kids sunglasses.