SubscribeBuilding strong teeth with broccoli
My eldest daughter Ariell popped in at my house the other day with her two young children, Dyan, 8, and Kaya, 6. They had been to the dentist’s office, and Ariell was hysterical. Despite her best efforts to teach them good dental hygiene, each of her children had a mouth full of cavities.
She was furious because she knows that other adults load them down with candy and junk when they aren’t in her care. And even though her children know better than to skip brushing their teeth after they eat candy, well, they’re kids and sometimes they forget. By the time they arrived at my house, it was nearly dinner time and I was already making pasta, string beans and chicken. Because their mom had fussed at them for the entire drive over, they were craving fresh broccoli and anything healthy. Fortunately, I had a crisper full of it.
Dylan, whom I mentioned before is very particular, likes his broccoli steamed just so. It has to maintain its crispness and bright green color or he won’t touch it. He also likes heavy seasonings, like fresh garlic and lemon pepper, and tossed with olive oil.
Even though they are young, my grandchildren really do “get it” about eating good food. Ariell has instilled healthy ideals into their young minds and when prompted by her, they enjoy nutrient-rich foods. Dylan is the pickier of the two children, but he is interested in food, so he’ll eat what’s available with a lot of coaxing. The problem comes when they go to places where they are offered things like candy and junk food. But now that they’re getting older, their mother just has to work on strengthening their resistance to bad influences.
The fact that they both have to endure that big needle to get their cavities filled should encourage their interest in building strong bodies by eating the right foods. And now they understand that broccoli is high in calcium, which is necessary for building strong bones and teeth. It’s a first step to discipline them into incorporating healthy routines into their lives daily.
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As the mother of five and a journalist, I've always encouraged people to empower themselves with information on healthy foods and lifestyles. Nurturing our children with healthy food is one of the most important jobs we have, yet as families have become busier or drifted apart, meal times have been sacrificed.
