Kids in the Kitchen is an annual event designed to address the urgent issues surrounding childhood obesity and poor nutrition by getting children and their parents excited about leading a healthy lifestyle through interactive, hands-on activities.

It was such a joy to teach the importance of vitamins to more than 1,500 attendees this year. We are always so impressed by the parent’s desire to create a healthy home for their families, and the kids’ willingness to learn a fact or two.

It doesn’t hurt, of course, that each child is given a “bingo card” that requires a stamp from our Vitamin Central booth to win prizes.

While we try to unload as much fun vitamin knowledge as we can, at times we’d notice adorable little eyes fixated on the stamp tucked in our hands– waiting anxiously for us to reward them for finding our booth.

Most of the time, the kids are like sponges, taking in whatever they can. We are frequently shocked by how knowledgeable they are about nutrition, and their love for fruits and vegetables.

Last year, one little boy even asked Kim (our Skinny Gene RN) if Vitamin K, referred to as the “Clotmaster”, had anything to do with platelets. Wow!

This year’s best response came from a sweet little girl. When Kim asked her “Where are your bones?” She confidently replied, “At home.” Turns out she has a couple of dogs.

Kids in the kitchen is fun and rewarding, in so many ways. Our hope is that the kids will leave realizing that yes, food should taste good; but it also has a purpose. Eating colorful, vitamin rich foods is important- whether they want to be strong like Popeye, have good vision like Superman, or just wanna live life and play in the sun.

ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE

One of the most common questions we heard was, “How much Vitamin__ should my kid be getting?” We promised to give you the actual breakdown, so here it is, and a quick reminder as to why your kids need these vitamins.

“How Come?”

Vitamins play an important role in the health and development of our children. Adding vitamin-rich foods into our children’s diet is an easy way to help our children live a long and healthy life.

Our booth focused on a  few of the benefits of eating foods rich in A, C, D (and calcium), E, and K.

Vitamin A: Improves your eyesight and helps your body to fight germs

Vitamin C: Forms collagen, which maintains healthy tissues (muscles and gums). This vitamin also helps to boost your immune system.

Vitamin D: Helps your body to absorb calcium, which grows strong bones.

Vitamin E: Protects your skin from harmful UV rays. This vitamin is also a powerful antioxidant that protects your body from disease.

Vitamin K: Allows your blood to clot, which stops cuts from bleeding. It also helps to bind calcium to the bone.

“How Much?”

Over the weekend, the Skinny Gene Project was happy to have a booth at the Kids in the Kitchen fair in San Diego.

As a Registered Dietitian and long time Pediatric Dietitian, I was very proud of our youth! The kids were eager to learn about, wait….can you believe this? Fruits and Vegetables!

Our booth was created to teach kids about the importance of having these micronutrient rich foods in there diets. We had plates loaded with colorful fruits and vegetables and many other fun props to teach kids the role of vitamins A,C,D, E, K, and the mineral Calcium are for there bodies. The kids came up to the booth pointing, touching, and talking about their favorite fruits and vegetables, some of their answers even surprised their parents!

There was some talk from parents of their kids being picky eaters, not liking certain or all vegetables. This is one thing I have seen over my career working with kids, but there is good news, which I passed on to each of these parents. Kids will eat fruits and vegetables if that is what is offered and available. If you give your child a choice between carrots and cheetos, there is no doubt what they will choose. The solution is easy, leave the cheetos at the grocery store! If you don’t want your child to eat something, don’t buy it for them! I know this is easy for me to say, but once your child gets used to the rules, that’s it, remember who is in charge!

BY: Emily Barr, MS, RD, CNSC