It’s no secret that vision issues are on the rise. Many of us spend countless hours strenuously staring at computer screens, cell phones, and televisions everyday. As we know, sound nutrition is key to helping our bodies grow and flourish: did you know that the food we eat can play a major role in promoting our eye health as well?
August marks Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month, as well as Kids Eat Right Month. To celebrate accordingly and encourage the protection of our children’s vision, consider incorporating the following kid-friendly foods into meals and snacks for the whole family.
To begin, sweet potatoes, carrots, butternut squash, and pumpkins are excellent sources of beta-carotene, which our bodies convert into vitamin A. Vitamin A is an extremely important nutrient when it comes to protecting vision, and it especially helps increase our ability to see in darker conditions. Other sources of vitamin A include dark leafy greens like spinach and collard greens, milk, and eggs.
Moving forward, bell peppers, broccoli, strawberries, cantaloupe, oranges, and tomatoes are all wonderful sources of vitamin C. This nutrient helps support eye health through assisting with the formation of collagen, a major protein found in our eyes and throughout our bodies.
Finally, salmon and other fatty fish are great sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which may be beneficial for eye health. It is important to note that fish with lower mercury levels are recommended for young children. Read more about these recommendations here.
Consuming healthy fats helps us increase the absorption of fat soluble compounds like beta-carotene and vitamin A. Walnuts, flax, and chia seeds are also sources of omega-3s.
This August, consider packing orange slices as beach day snacks, serving oven-roasted carrots and broccoli with dinner, or trying your hand at preparing a fresh spinach salad with strawberries and salmon that the whole family will be sure to love.
If you’re looking for a new favorite recipe that promotes healthy vision, does not require much work, and can be served either warm or cold, try this Simple Quinoa with Spinach, Tomatoes, and Walnuts recipe!
Here’s to raising happy, healthy children with great vision!
