I married an East Coast boy and every summer we travel to Prince Edward Island (PEI). Now this island may be small and quaint but the culinary options are endless ;whether it’s lobster, oysters, mussels, clam chowder, steak or vegan this charming island has something…
Happy Summer friends! It has been a while since I have been here, as a busy working mom I have found it challenging to keep up at times, I am sure most of you can relate. Enough about me, I hope you are having a…
It has been a hot summer, we have seen record temperatures throughout British Columbia . We are expecting another heat wave this week. Dehydration is the number one heat related illness in kids. To ensure the rest of your summer is safe and healthy check out our tips on how to keep kids hydrated.
Like many kids, my daughters are enrolled in numerous outdoor camps and with the warmer weather keeping them well hydrated can be challenging. When kids are busy having fun with their friends they may forget to stay hydrated, leaving them feeling fatigue and unwell.
irritability
fatigue
headache
thirst
dizziness
decrease urine output and/ or concentrated yellow urine
cramping
It’s difficult for kids to identify the signs of dehydration and remember to drink plenty of water. A great reminder is to keep a clean, reusable water bottle filled with water. Encourage your kids to drink water frequently and refill their bottles throughout the day. We send our kids to camp with two water bottles to help remind them to drink plenty of water.
Summer in my mind is one of the best times to get your kids to fill their plates with fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables. Not only do summer fruits and vegetables taste amazing but they are very hydrating. Some fruits and vegetables like watermelon and cucumber are 90% water. I know a plate of watermelon lasts about 2 minutes in our house. I try to serve fruits and vegetables at every meal.
If your kids don’t like water or want something a little more exciting make a smoothie and/or popsicles. The sky is the limit and left over smoothies can be frozen into popsicles. Your kids will be happy and feel like they are getting a treat and you can relax a bit knowing they are eating something that is hydrating and nutritious. Some favorite popsicles are these strawberry watermelon ones and these coconut mango pineapple popsicles and/or this strawberry watermelon frosty is tasty and hydrating.
*** If your child is showing more serious side effects of dydration such as fainting call your local health care provider or 911.
Wishing you a wonderful Summer!
This mango kiwi chia seed pudding is an all around winner in my books. Not only does this chia seed pudding look stunning, it tastes amazing, incredibly easy to make and is packed with nutrition. Mother’s day is right around the corner and surprise the…
March is national nutrition month. This year’s theme is all about the pivotal role dietitian’s play in Canadian’s overall health. Dietitian’s work in many different areas such as private practice, clinical, community and public health and industry. A dietitian helps translate the science of nutrition…
Zest nutrition is a food and nutrition blog written by a dietitian mama. My hope is that through this website I can inspire people to eat and live well by eating simple, fresh ingredients.
