Caring for our Kids’ Health with Propan TLC

As a mom, I can empathize with other moms who are concerned about their kid’s health and nutrition. It is common knowledge that a lot of kids are picky eaters and just like me, parents would do anything do make sure that their children get the nutrients they need to have energy for their activities and grow up healthy and strong.I’m happy that our kids live active lives. They all have their own passions and interests that keep them up and about, using their God-given gifts to the fullest.Growing up, Zach was into footballWhile Reese got into ballet, gymnastics, and she even loves to dance (albeit only in the confines of our home for now☺)Even if the kids are active, however, it's still important to watch their food intake. Zach was picky about taking in fruits and vegetables when he was a toddler. I was happy he preferred seafood over meat (he once listed his favorite food as: “Squid with tentacles”!) but then I was also worried he might still end up vitamin deficient. I was also concerned about his vertical growth because he was always seemingly the smallest in his class.Reese on the other hand would eat almost anything but in very little portions. She loves spaghetti but prefers only the noodles without the sauce. She even used to have a preference for “all things crispy” and when you say “crispy” that almost always means “deep fried” which also is not healthy. I love that she likes Okra but her wanting it in every meal is also not right. I want to always offer her healthier options but the result is stressful mealtime struggles.It’s been – it still is – no easy feat, but in my experience, making your kids eat well can be done.Sharing with you some tips that I tried to make my picky eaters eat during meal times and be more adventurous with food:• Make sure they are hungry. Keeping the kids active as opposed to just sitting down playing on their gadgets helps build their appetites. Just make sure you also manage their intake of meals and snacks. Don’t give them heavy snacks, sweets and even juice at least 2 hours before mealtime so they have a good appetite once they are at the dining table. If the kids get famished and ask for food nearing mealtime, we can give them healthy and light nibblers, preferably fruits and vegetable sticks just to satisfy before-mealtime hunger pangs.• Involve them in menu management and food preparation. Kids get a sense of pride when they accomplish something especially when that something is classified as “adult work”. Let them measure ingredients, dice carrots (with your supervision, of course.), cook rice. They will be more excited to eat a meal they prepared themselves.I once even held a mashed potato-making contest among the kids. Having made it themselves coupled with their competitive spirit definitely made them eat more mashed potatoes.• Be creative. Ever heard of bento meals? This has been a growing trend among moms in our never-ending quest to find solutions to making our kids eat healthier. Reese and I learned how to make bento meals and since then she has been very interested about making creative meals.Reese and I with our first bento!• Help open their palate. Most of us fall into the trap of feeding our kids the same thing over and over again (okay, with slight variations) because “she’ll only eat chicken.” Let them try something new as often as you can. I tell my kids, “Try it, you might like it” or I even cite one of our favorite Dr. Seuss books, Green Eggs and Ham, whose main character did not want to try the odd looking dish, only to discover, after he hesitatingly tried it, that he loved it.Noticing that my children were picky with fruits (they only eat apples, grapes, bananas and mangoes), I held a “try a new fruit each week” activity during summer. Making it a “formal”and regular activity at home during the season, engaged everyone to do it and they were amazed to see all the different kinds of fruits, especially atis and rambutan! Sometimes they liked it and they were happy to discover new tastes. When they didn't like it, I just allow them to just gulp in down with water or just put it back on their plate. Then just tell them we should try again someday.• Eat together. It’s a cliché but it does work wonders when kids see how their parents enjoy food. Avoid saying, “I’m on a diet” in front of your kids. Be patient. It won’t happen overnight, but eventually, our kids will emulate the way we eat.• Choose the right multivitamins. Choose one that has all the vitamins and minerals your growing kids need. Both Zach and Reese took Propan TLC since they were both toddlers. They are now 12 and 8 years old, respectively and Propan TLC’s multivitamins and minerals helped with their appetite, overall health and I believe it may have even contributed to how tall they are now.Propan TLC, 120 ml, and now thankfully available in bigger sizes!Propan TLC contains essential vitamins for kids 1-12 years old that aid and maintain normal levels of all necessary nutrition for the body for optimum growth and development. It also has important amino acids, chlorella, lysine and taurine, the source of building materials for muscle, blood, skin, hair, nails and internal organs, including heart and brain.• Vitamin A for beautiful skin and sharp eyes• Vitamin B for energy• Vitamin C for stronger immune system• Vitamin D for stronger bones• Taurine for better focus and concentration• Lysine for better absorption of nutrients• Chlorella for better growthVitamins for my superkids. Zach and Reese in their super poses (Cebu, 2011)Zach is now an active and tall teen. He is now into tennis and fencing and eats most anything and everything, though his Dad has nicknamed him “Shrimp” after his favorite food.Reese on the other hand is a lean and tall-for-her-age 8 year old. Still picky at times but her appetite has grown that sometimes she asks for seconds!Zach Tennis with Reese zipping by as she says she is “training for her track meet”Recently, we joined other moms and kids to talk about Propan’s new initiatives.Emil Ellamil, Propan's Marketing Manager shares with us Propan’s growth through the years and how it has helped parents ensure proper nutrition for their kidsPhoebe Lumboy, Assistant Brand Manager of Propan talks about Propan’s TAMANG LUSOG CLUB (TLC)If you would like kids to be strong, healthy and happy, try out Propan TLC as their daily vitamins so they can also get that Tamang Lusog for Children.Me and my superkid (with the Propan cape and all!) Reese with TLC Kid himselfReese and I with other Propan TLC ambassadorsOh and check out Propan TLC’s highly interactive and engaging website at www.propantlc.com where we can play fun yet educational games with our kids!You may also follow Propan TLC on Facebook and Twitter..