Fruits are a necessary part of our children’s diets. They provide nutrients, vitamins and all sorts of natural goodness that cannot be gotten from anywhere else.
Here is a list of ten great fruits for you and children to eat, and five reasons why they are great:
Apples: ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away’ – This is an old proverb and one very few of us pay attention to; but the truth is, apples are great for building healthy bodies.
- Apples contain nutrients that help reduce the risk of high blood pressure
- They help you to maintain a healthy weight
- Apples keep your heart strong and guard against cardiovascular diseases.
- They are an excellent source of fibre
- They reduce blood cholesterol and aid digestion.
Bananas: Bananas are great for kids as they are easy to eat, easy to digest and can be sliced, blended, roasted, dipped in ketchup (just kidding, but if your child insists, go for it!).
- Bananas are known to brighten one’s mood, if nothing else, that is a wonderful reason to include it in your child’s diet.
- They are the only raw fruit that can be consumed without distress to relieve stomach ulcers. This is done by coating the lining of the stomach against corrosive acids.
- Eating a banana can lower the body temperature – which is a major plus for those of us living in Nigeria!
- Bananas make you more alert, helping with the learning process.
- They help to build strong bones.
Oranges: Oranges look wonderful, smell great and go down perfectly!
- Oranges are great for your skin – enough said!
- They are rich in nutrients such as Vitamin A, which promotes good eyesight, Vitamin C, and Potassium
- They boost the immunity, making it less likely that your child will fall ill.
- The folate and folic acid present helps to promote brain development. It is also great for pregnant women to take, so as to guard against their baby developing neurological disorders.
- Oranges contain nutrients that prevent your arteries from getting blocked.
Strawberries: A little sweet, a little sour, strawberries are great in deserts.
- Strawberries are great for maintaining the health of the brain.
- They help reduce the risk of dementia in the future.
- Strawberries also reduce the risk of diabetes (but you must still mind the sweets!)
- They reduce the risk of heart disease.
- They also protect the body against cancer.
Pineapples: Don’t just give your child pineapple juice (unless it is freshly made), cut the pineapple into chunks and serve it as a snack! You can even make pineapple upside down cake – it tastes heavenly!
- Pineapples strengthen your gums and keep your teeth strong and healthy.
- They are great for curing sore throats, gout and swelling.
- Catarrh can be prevented by eating pineapples regularly; bye bye sniffling, bye bye colds!
- Pineapples are rich in Vitamin C, which helps to boost your immune system.
- Pineapples provide lots of fibre!
Mangoes: These fruits are juicy and cultivated in Nigeria, so they are close to our hearts. Because they have a big stone inside, it may be easier for your child if you cut it first.
- Mangoes clear clogged pores and eliminate pimples.
- Mangoes contain Vitamin A which promotes good eyesight and prevents night blindness.
- They help to prevent constipation and promote a healthy digestive tract.
- They reduce the risk of asthma.
- Glutamine acid, present in mangoes, is known to be beneficial to children by boosting their memory.
Watermelon: We love watermelons for kids because of the high water content, especially for the child who shies away from drinking water; and it is tasty too!
- It is made up of 92% water and helps prevent dehydration.
- Because of its water and fibre content, watermelons help prevent constipation.
- It contains Vitamin A
- Watermelons reduce muscle soreness and improve recovery time following exercises – if your child loves engaging in sports or is generally quite active, try to give him/her watermelons often.
- It reduces the risk of asthma.
Avocados: This fruit is not sweet, but it is rich and creamy. In order to have your child eat it, you should make it into a juice or serve it with a savoury dish.
- They help to keep your eyes strong and healthy.
- They help you to maintain healthy cholesterol levels.
- Avocados are a good source of potassium which is one of the minerals that help in maintaining a normal heart rate.
- They enrich skin that is dry, chapped or damaged.
- They prevent bad breath which is generally caused by indigestion or an upset stomach.
Papaya: Papaya is also known as Pawpaw. The black seeds are edible (they have a sharp, spicy taste), but if your child is young, focus on giving them the flesh, or you could blend the seeds.
- It is great for the skin. It opens up clogged pores. It can also be used in curing skin infections and wounds that won’t heal quickly.
- They prevent unnecessary blood clotting in the body.
- The papaya seeds are known to kill ring worms in the stomach.
- They help to control the flow of blood and maintain the proper blood pressure.
- In pregnant women, they help to reduce nausea and morning sickness.
Plums: Plums can taste sweet, sour or a little of both. Plums, in dry form, are also called prunes.
- Plums are helpful in restoring bone mass.
- They contain Vitamin A, which is great for restoring vision.
- It is used for treating chronic constipation.
- It has been said to help prevent cancer.
- Plums greatly reduce the risk of high blood pressure.