TALES FROM THE
daRI^® FARM

How do we help kids cultivate and appreciate an interest in what they eat? Food is so much more than nutrients. We eat with our eyes. We smell, taste, touch and chew our foods. Taste, texture, and temperature can help in developing a broader and adventuresome palate.

1. Taste. Offer a wide range of flavors. Sure, sweet is great, but so is salty, sour, bitter, spicy and umami. Not all kids love veggies and that may be because vegetables can taste bitter. Try roasting vegetables to bring out their sweetness or sprinkling a little Parmesan on broccoli to add a savory flavor. A mix of sweet and sour, such as orange juice on chicken, or pineapple added to a stir fry provides the palate with pizazz.  We don’t know what our kids will and will not like until we give them a chance to experiment. Looking for some great resources, check out cooksmarts.com

2. Texture. We all have texture preferences. Some may love raw carrots but cannot eat them cooked. Others may prefer crunchy peanut butter over creamy. Offer various textures to your kids and grandkids which can include both raw and cooked forms of fruits and vegetables. Maybe creamy yogurt with some crunchy granola added. A stir fry of veggies with nuts. Roasted chickpeas or freeze-dried fruit add a crunch to salads and can also be mixed with cereal and nuts for a trail mix. Popcorn is great crunchy snack, and adding some dried cherries or cranberries brings the chewiness as well. Texture brings the excite and delight to each bite. 

3. Temperature. Who would have thought that temperature would play an important role in the foods we enjoy eating? Many people prefer milk cold, but hot milk can also be very soothing. Soups are typically served hot, but a cold fruit soup is very cooling on a hot day. Chicken is delicious as a hot entrée but also works beautifully in a cold salad or sandwich. What about the combo of hot pizza with sauce and cheese topped with raw baby spinach? And let’s also consider the “heat” in what we eat. Spicy foods are great. You may think your kids won’t eat it, but consider spicing up popcorn, or mixing yogurt, salsa and taco seasoning for a spicy savory dip. Or tossing mini potatoes with olive oil and spices and roasting them as a side or a snack. Bringing the thrill of the chill or the heat to what we eat helps to make our meals complete. 

Spice things up with taste, texture and temperature in the glass, bowl or plate for winning meals that everyone will appreciate. 

Leslie Bonci, MPH, RDN, CSSD, LDN, is the Dietary & Nutrition Strategic Advisor at Dari^® and MOO’V™ milk. With over two decades of experience, she is an expert in nutrition with many of Leslie’s blog posts center around active eating and fueling for sport. She is the Head Nutritionist for the Kansas City Chiefs and has been a consulting sports dietitian in the NFL, MLB, and NHL, and worked with Olympic athletes. Bonci has co-authored three books with an active eating focus, is a blogger for US News Eat + Run, and is a sought-after expert for television, radio, print and online media, Bonci speaks regularly on topics including “sciensationalism,” “fuels of engagement” and “communication with conviction” to help influencers and consumers debunk the junk and separate fact from fallacy.

As parents and grandparents, we are asked to wear many hats. Shopper, cook, chauffeur, supporter and advocate. How can we create a home environment that is nurturing and nourishing to our families and take care of ourselves at the same time?

1. It takes a village. Have your kids help with the grocery list or depending upon their age, the actual grocery shopping. Kids can help to portion and prepare foods for immediate use or for storage. They can help to prep and portion after school snacks as well.

2. Get kids involved in packing their sports bags and including not only shoes, uniform and equipment but also fueling options such as trail mix, a granola bar or piece of fresh fruit.

3. Be a nutrition coach at home. After sports, encourage kids to rehydrate and restore with fluids and fuel. MOO’V™ is a fantastic way to refresh, replenish and replete after a sports practice or game AND it won’t ruin appetite for dinner.

4. Be a body positive advocate. Do not self-criticize your body or talk about “bad” foods or what you aren’t eating in front of your kids. Be a role model for healthy eating behaviors by taking the time to eat, having a variety of foods on your plate in a portion that feels appropriate for you.

5. Don’t be the food police. There is no need to forbid desserts, candy or savory snacks and doing so may increase the likelihood that your kids will overindulge when they have access to those foods. But do consider this, instead of having several different types of cookies, chips, or ice cream, maybe just a few. Have your kids put the cookies on a plate, or a scoop of ice cream in a cone, or a handful of chips in a bowl and then sit down and savor them instead of just eating out of the container or bag.

Creating a food and eating environment that is conducive to health is a win-win for us all, big and small.

Leslie Bonci, MPH, RDN, CSSD, LDN, is the Dietary & Nutrition Strategic Advisor at Dari^® and MOO’V™ milk. With over two decades of experience, she is an expert in nutrition with many of Leslie’s blog posts center around active eating and fueling for sport. She is the Head Nutritionist for the Kansas City Chiefs and has been a consulting sports dietitian in the NFL, MLB, and NHL, and worked with Olympic athletes. Bonci has co-authored three books with an active eating focus, is a blogger for US News Eat + Run, and is a sought-after expert for television, radio, print and online media, Bonci speaks regularly on topics including “sciensationalism,” “fuels of engagement” and “communication with conviction” to help influencers and consumers debunk the junk and separate fact from fallacy.

We have cows of all ages and sizes on our Dari^® farm, but who doesn’t love the youngin’s? These little cows, better known as calves, are bundles of energy and eager to explore the world. One of the more vocal members of the younger herd, Bold Blake would love to tell you about a typical day here with us.

Good Moooo’rning! I can see the sun which means it is time to get up and MOO’V™.  I think I can hear a tractor coming. I am so excited – my tail is waggin’ and I am really thirsty!

It’s bottle-feeding time. So yummy. I love it because it is always warm and tasty. You can tell how happy it makes me because my tail just wags back and forth, back, and forth as I finish the whole bottle. I am also given some nutritious grains with sweet molasses on it. Lucky me! I am free to nibble on it whenever I want. I can just tell that today is going to be a great day!

Now that my belly is full, I am also full of energy. Our handlers gather up me and my friends and we head to the “play pen” where we run and jump and have a great time together. Once my little legs can play no more, I am ready for a nap. No need to worry about the weather, because I love to fall asleep in the warmth of the inside. 

When I wake back up, I make a stop my bin of nutritious grains. I like to graze throughout the day. Don’t all kids love snacks?! And I am never thirsty because I always have fresh and clean, warm water available. But just in case I forget to drink enough water, an electrolyte bottle gets delivered to my front gate right around lunch time. This delicious and nutritious meal keeps me hydrated. Have you ever been dehydrated? It’s no fun. 

After my electrolyte meal, I may fill up my belly with a few more grains and believe it or not, I am ready to take another nap. I’m growing and need lots of rest! Later in the afternoon I get another bottle of milk and boy, does it hit the spot! I drink this and talk to my neighbor for a bit. She says she is tired and going to take another nap, that sounds nice. I’m going to lay down for a bit too. 

I wake up and my tummy is hungry again. Snack Time! My grain is so sweet and tasty! I know it sounds like all I so is eat and sleep and eat and sleep, but that is what babies are supposed to do. It helps us to get big and strong. 

I can tell that the sun is setting and that it is getting dark outside. I’m going to call it a day! See you tomorrow!

About Dari^®
Dari^® is a 4th generation, family-run dairy farm that prides themselves on producing quality healthy milk from cows that are not only well cared for, but truly loved. They are part of the family. And their state-of-the-art farms not only ensure the optimum care for the cows, but also allows them to follow the highest standards of stewardship and effective management in the industry. Dari^® is committed to their cows, the environment and their communities. That doesn’t just mean doing what is expected…it means going above and beyond to ensure that they always deliver the best to their friends and neighbors – near and far. For more information, visit www.realdari.com or follow @realdari on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube.