What in the world is a “power food” family? Families, or those living together in the same home, working together to create a healthier lifestyle to prevent chronic disease in the future. Feeding kids can be a challenge, but not impossible. It can be a fun journey as a team.

First, what is a powerful food? Foods that nourish, build and heal. It’s amazing the abundance of nutrition found in simple, colorful foods that can be grown in someone’s own backyard, found at your local farmer’s market, or as you walk through the doors of your favorite grocery store. Not only are plant foods nourishing, but they can be so tasty too! 

Who said kid foods come in plastic packages? Nature provides the best packaging. Think about bananas, peas, peanuts, sweet potatoes, kiwis, mangos, and oranges. Powerful foods that kids love come in fun, portable packages. It takes a bit of planning and practice, but these are great things to have around your kitchen.

When we offer powerful, colorful, natural foods to our kids, rather than industrialized, packaged foods most of the time, that is what they will choose. They will be able taste the full, rich flavors of foods that give them everything their bodies need, without harmful substances that can lead to chronic disease in the future. When we model healthy eating for our kids, they will want to follow. Your body will be healthier, and so will your kids. When families are healthy and well, they can find joy in the simple things of life-hugs, dancing in the kitchen, outside play, rather than dark sterile rooms and hospital bills.

Choosing powerful foods won’t make your health bullet proof, but we do have more power than we are made to think, to change not only our health, but that of our families, one meal at a time. Of course food isn’t the only important part of long term health, but it can make a huge impact, especially when combined with good sleep habits, and movement. That is something for another post!