Letters to the Editor

Help kids develop healthy eating habits

Parents often struggle when guiding their child to eat healthy nutritious meals, and establishing healthy eating habits for children at an early age with balanced meals is important. Recently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) replaced their “food pyramid” model with MyPlate to make it easier to figure out how to feed kids nutritious, balanced meals at home and on-the-go. MyPlate helps to simplify meal planning by illustrating ideal servings of the fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins and dairy food groups on a colorful divided plate.

MyPlate helps parents train their children to devote half their plate to fruits and vegetables. Grains and lean protein each take up a quarter of the plate. A side helping of dairy shows kids will also need a serving of low-fat milk or another dairy product to complete their meal.

MyPlate offers simple messages that are easy to incorporate into your family’s daily diet:

• Fill half your child’s plate with vegetables and fruits.

• Make at least half the grains you serve whole grains, such as oatmeal and brown rice.

• Serve fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk and water rather than sugary drinks.

• When buying pre-packaged foods, choose ones low in sodium.

• Avoid serving oversized portions. Consider smaller plates for younger children.

One of the most important features of MyPlate is its emphasis on fruits and vegetables. Vegetables are one of the largest portions on the plate because they provide many of the vitamins and minerals kids need for good health; plus vegetables are naturally low in fat and calories and contain fiber. For parents with picky eaters, adding more vegetables to their child’s plate may seem difficult at first; however, a few simple preparation tips can help your family enjoy fruits and vegetables this summer.

Ten tips to liven up meals with fruits and vegetables

• Be ahead of the game – Cut up peppers, carrots or broccoli in advance and refrigerate. Also, keep some packaged vegetables in the freezer, as they are just as nutritious as fresh vegetables.

• Seeing is enjoying – Keep a bowl of whole fruit out as a visible reminder.

• Brighten up your salad – Add black beans, sliced peppers, chopped red cabbage and other colorful vegetables for color and taste.

• Fruit at breakfast – Top cereal or oatmeal with sliced bananas, peaches, grapes or strawberries. Also, try mixing fruit in fat-free or low-fat yogurt.

• Fire up the grill – Grilling brings out great flavor in vegetables. Try grilling mushrooms, carrots, peppers or potatoes on a kabob skewer — kids will enjoy a fun, new way to eat their vegetables. Grilling fruit can be a tasty new experience too!

• Expand the flavor of casseroles – Peas, pinto beans, squash, tomatoes and sautéed onions add color to this convenient, weekday meal.

• Pair with pasta – Planning something Italian? Slip some peppers, spinach, red beans, onions or cherry tomatoes into your traditional tomato sauce. Vegetables provide texture and satisfying low-calorie bulk.

• Get creative with sandwiches – Vegetables make a great addition to your favorite sandwiches and wraps. Substitute mayonnaise with creamy avocado or try sliced tomatoes and romaine lettuce for extra flavor.

• Savor stir-fry – Try a new cooking method! Stir-frying vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, sugar snap peas, mushrooms or green beans are a quick and tasty addition to any meal.

• When eating out – ask for an extra side of vegetables, side salad or whole fruit.

It may take several attempts to acquire a taste for some vegetables. Encourage your child to try just two or three bites of a vegetable and then offer it again at another meal. Try including fruits and vegetables in each meal and for a snack.

While MyPlate is a guide for healthy eating, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. Portion size will vary by age, and depending on a child’s needs, some food groups will be increased and others decreased. Talk to your health care provider to find out what’s best for your kids.

For more information about developing healthy eating habits for your children, please visit www.KidsHealth.org

—Lloyd N. Werk

Division Chief of Consultative Pediatrics

Nemours Children’s Clinic

Safe and sound

Banking isn’t just about convenience anymore. Due to the recent housing crisis and disappointing failures on Wall Street, people are more concerned about their finances than they have been in a long time. Afraid to jump back into the fray — whether to buy a home or expand a business — many individuals want to experience a stronger personal connection with their banks. Fortunately, community banks are geared toward developing long-term banking relationships and providing a high level of customer service, and they are filling an important void for those looking for a sense of security and consistency.

Every day, I meet people who simply want their bankers to do right by them. Whether in regard to business or personal finance issues, they want to know that we will protect their interests, especially in these tough economic times. Wary of financial institutions in general, they are demanding honesty and integrity in all of their fiscal transactions. Uncertain about the country’s economic future, more and more parents are opening savings accounts for their children and teaching them how to budget and save. Understandably so, they’re asking themselves if social security will even exist for future generations of retirees. As a result of these concerns, extravagance has given way to practicality.

As banking professionals, it is our responsibility to provide the support and services needed to make our clients feel secure and help members of the local community attain their financial goals. And it all begins with customer service. It sounds simple, but many large banks aren’t designed to accommodate customers in this manner. As many consumers hunker down and revert back to traditional values (e.g., putting family and friends ahead of material wealth, saving for the future, spending frugally), they expect their bank to be a place where:

· Customers are known by name and made to feel welcome as soon as they come in the door.

· All of a family’s financial interests — from the household checking account to business interests to trust and estate planning — will be as important to the bank as they are to the family.

· Seniors can find security and comfort in specially tailored senior products and services that meet their unique needs.

· Community is a priority, and helping solve its problems and plan for its future are an integral part of the bank’s overall philosophy.

With so much uncertainty in the world, people want to know that someone cares. I take great pride in knowing that as community bankers, we are doing our part to create strong relationships based on trust and respect.

—Rosemary Maisenholder

Vice president, Florida Bank

of Commerce’s Winter Park branch