Creative ways to eat healthy

MANILA, Philippines - Whole grain cereals for breakfast is a good way of jumpstarting a healthier lifestyle for kids and the family, according to celebrity mom Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan.

“Breakfast starts the day right and provides the body with energy,” she said. “But most of us believe breakfast should be a complete meal of rice and viand, so a lot of parents face the challenge of preparing them every morning.”  

Maricel shared that whole grain cereals are a healthy alternative for a breakfast meal. Cereals made with whole grain contain more nutrients compared with refined cereals. Unlike refined or sugar-laden varieties, whole grain cereals are packed with essential nutrients found in the grain’s bran, endosperm and germ, which are stripped away in the refining process. Aside from being nutritious, whole grain cereals are easy to prepare and take minutes to consume, helping families beat the morning rush.

 Maricel shared tips on how to introduce kids to healthier food. “If we want our kids to eat healthy it has to start from us. We have to walk the talk,” she said. “For example, to get your kids used to eating vegetables, they need to consume them at least 24 times.”

 As a mother, she always thinks of creative ways on how to include vegetables in her children’s diet. For example, if the children watch TV, she usually serves them a bowl of freshly-prepared vegetables instead of chips. She makes it a habit to include different kinds of vegetables when serving meals to her children. 

 Maricel adds that, “Food should be properly styled.” An extravagant arrangement of food is not necessary, but food must be pleasing and presentable when served to children. 

  She reminds parents that, “Eating is a time to be together…if you have an experience that fosters good memories with your children while eating, it can help them achieve good nutrition in the long run.” She explained that if kids associate eating with good memories they will have positive attitudes toward eating and proper nutrition throughout life. 

 “A cereal that has a check in the box is good for you,” Laxa-Pangilinan said. “We need to make sure that we are getting nothing less than the goodness of whole grain.” Nestlé Breakfast Cereals, now made with whole grain, are available in supermarkets nationwide.