After a long day, when your kid is making yet another fuss about eating their vegetables, you as a parent can get very tired. You do not have the energy sometimes to trick them into eating their vegetables and at that point, you are willing to even feed them anything as long as they are healthy and fed. Here are some nutritional foods that your children might enjoy but that are usually overlooked.

Edamame

These little green pods are fun to pop and packed with protein and fibre. They're a great meat-free alternative and keep tummies full for longer. They make for a mean salad that even your kids will enjoy. Add a bunch of seasoning that fits your child’s palate toss the beans in them and feed it to them while they are playing and distracted by something.

Sweet Potato

You kids will love eating this fun superfood. Sweet potatoes are full of Vitamin A, important for healthy eyes and growth. They're also naturally sweet, making them a tastier alternative to regular potatoes. To make your children more susceptible to eating it you can ask them to help you roast it and play indoor camping.

Lentils

If made in the perfect way, this easy dish might be your way out of the food worries. Tiny but mighty, lentils are a budget-friendly source of protein and iron. They can be added to soups, stews, or even pasta sauce for a hidden veggie boost. Make different types of dal that your child can enjoy along with rice and other condiments like Papad.

Eggs

Not just for breakfast! Eggs are a complete protein source, meaning they have all the essential amino acids for building strong bodies. They're also packed with choline, which are important for brain development. Eggs are a mighty source is nutrients that your kids must have. And the best part is, you can make it in various forms like boiled, scrambled fried etc.

Greek Yogurt

This creamy yoghurt is a protein powerhouse with less sugar than regular yoghurt. Top it with berries, granola, or honey for a delicious and nutritious snack. Now you may have a little difficulty introducing this to your kids as the taste is something you must get used to. Slowly start with giving it to them as snacks and encourage them to eat it.

Bananas

This fruit is not just a tasty and healthy fruit, but it is rich in potassium and pectin — a prebiotic fibre known to help improve digestion. Not only this but unripe bananas can help reduce the frequency of diarrhoea. a great source of energy and essential for healthy muscles and nerves. They're portable, perfect for lunchboxes, and come in their own fun packaging!

Peanuts

This creamy spread is rich in protein and healthy fats, keeping kids satisfied. It's also a good source of Vitamin E and Magnesium. Pair it with banana slices, or whole-wheat crackers, or even spread it on apple slices for a fun and nutritious snack. This dish is a kid's favourite. PB&J (peanut butter and jelly) is a famous American breakfast that you must try!

Eggs are a great source of protein. At the same time, they are one of the most common foods that cause allergies in children.

A new study conducted in Australia showed that introducing eggs to children before the age of one may reduce the risk of allergy by 17 per cent. The findings were published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics.

Jennifer Koplin, Associate Professor at the Child Health Research Centre at The University of Queensland, said: “Australia has one of the highest rates of food allergy in the world, with one in 10 infants allergic to one or more foods".

To curb the allergy rates, the Australian infant feeding guidelines, issued by the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy in 2016, revolutionized allergy prevention by advising parents to introduce well-cooked egg and smooth peanut butter soon after starting solid foods, generally around six months of age.

The research, led by a team from UQ and the Murdoch Children's Research Institute, examined 7,200 children in two Australian population-based studies to assess whether egg allergy rates had declined since the introduction of the guidelines. The risk of allergy decreased by 17 per cent among babies who started eating eggs early.

“Most parents followed the guidelines, and these results provide reassurance that this advice will help reduce the chance of their child developing an egg allergy,” Dr Koplin said.

Also read: I Ate Eggs And Toast For Breakfast Every Day—Here’s How My Body Reacted

Lesser Allergy In Infants With Eczema

According to Associate Professor Rachel Peters of the Murdoch Children's Research Institute, the reduction in egg allergy was more pronounced in babies with eczema, a known risk factor for food allergies. Among these children, egg allergy rates were reduced from 35 per cent to 22 per cent.

“The introduction of the 2016 guidelines was a major change from most advice given in the 1990s and early 2000s, which recommended parents delay giving eggs and other allergenic foods until 1–3 years of age if there was a strong family history of allergy,” Dr Peters said.

Allergenic Foods Before Age One

Other common allergy-causing foods, such as cow's milk, fish, sesame, wheat, and tree nuts, are also recommended to be included in a child's diet before one year of age. Dr Koplin, however, urged for more research into food allergies.

Read More: Eating Almonds Daily Can Prevent Cognitive Decline In Prediabetic Adults

Common Symptoms of Egg Allergy

According to the Mayo Clinic, egg allergy symptoms usually start a few minutes to a few hours after eating eggs or foods containing eggs. While egg allergies can occur as early as infancy, most children outgrow their egg allergy by age 16.

Egg allergy symptoms can include:

• Skin swelling or itchy bumps called hives — the most common egg allergy reaction.
• Stuffy or runny nose and sneezing, also known as allergic rhinitis.
• Digestive symptoms such as cramps, upset stomach and vomiting.
• Asthma symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, chest tightness or shortness of breath.

Food is arguably one of the most important parts of life, as it is essentially the fuel that the body runs on. Food is so important to life that slight complications, changes, or missteps can cause great harm to you. If the food is unsafe, then that can act like poison as well. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), unsafe food causes around 866 million illnesses and 1.5 million deaths every year.

The WHO, in its recent report, reveals that children under 5 years of age experience 29 per cent of the health burden due to unsafe food, with 143,000 deaths in 2021.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “Food safety is not an abstract issue – it touches every meal, every family, every day. Unsafe food has always been a major public health concern, but until now, we lacked the bigger picture of its staggering human and economic toll. These new estimates change that.”

Thus, it is crucial to know what to eat, how to eat, and protect yourself from foodborne diseases. And there is a strong connection between unsafe food and food myths; misunderstandings in the kitchen can cost you dearly, so knowing popular food myths from the global health body, WHO, is crucial.

5 Dangerous Food Safety Myths

Can You Tell If Food Is Safe To Eat By Its Look And Smell?

People often think that the smell and appearance of food can help us know its condition, but it's a complete hoax, as the WHO reports that most microorganisms that can make you sick don’t change the look or smell of the food.

Should Raw Poultry Be Washed Before Cooking?

This is arguably one of the popular food-related misconceptions, as in most households, the washing of chicken before cooking is seen as a healthy practice emphasizing making sure that the raw meat has been properly washed and soaked, but the WHO's report proves otherwise. The global body, washing poultry can spread harmful microorganisms to hands, surfaces, utensils, or other food.

Do Organic Fruits And Vegetables Need To Be Washed?

Some think that fruits and vegetables grown organically do not require washing, as they are not cooked with pesticides or chemical fertilizers, and that is a myth. The WHO said all produce, including organic, should be washed with clean water to remove physical contaminants and reduce the risk from any harmful microorganisms or chemicals.

Can Dishcloths Spread Dangerous Bacteria?

Another common habit is to use dishcloths to clean them after washing, and that is a big no from WHO, as dishcloths and sponges can carry and spread dangerous bacteria.

Do I Have To Refrigerate Leftover Food?

Sometimes people do not keep leftover food outside the refrigerator, and that is also a mistake because food can be dangerous to consume if left at room temperature for more than two hours.

Prediabetes affects more than 600 million people worldwide and is linked not only to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes but also to impaired brain function.

Adding a small quantity of almonds to the daily diet on their own or added to cereal, yogurt, curries, salads, and other dishes may help boost brain health and prevent a decline in cognitive function in adults with prediabetes, experts said.

Almonds contain

• protein
• fiber
• saturated fat and unsaturated fat
• 24 essential nutrients, including magnesium, potassium, and vitamin E.

The findings showed that eating just a few almonds each day may benefit cognitive performance, metabolic health, and markers of inflammation and oxidative stress in middle-aged Asian Indian adults with prediabetes.

“Adults with prediabetes are vulnerable to a decline in cognitive function. Our study indicates that just one simple dietary change – adding a small quantity of almonds to the daily diet – may help support brain health and improve cognitive performance in some populations,” said Dr. Anoop Misra, co-investigator and Chairman, Fortis-CDOC Center of Excellence for Diabetes, Metabolic Diseases, and Endocrinology in New Delhi, part of the study.

He noted that daily almond consumption could help lower the risk of prediabetes progressing to type 2 diabetes, a condition associated with an increased risk of dementia.

How Was The Study Conducted?

Also read: Unsafe Food Causes 1.5 Million Deaths Annually; Children Under 5 Face 3x Higher Risk: WHO

In a 24-week study, 60 Asian Indian adults aged 40–60 with prediabetes were assigned to either a control group or an almond group.

Those in the almond group consumed 32–42 grams of almonds daily as part of a calorie-matched diet.

Researchers assessed cognitive performance, blood sugar levels, cholesterol, weight, BMI, and waist circumference before and after the study.

What Did Researchers Find?

Participants in the almond group experienced improvements in executive function and processing speed, both key measures of cognitive performance.

They also demonstrated better blood sugar control, including lower fasting blood glucose, lower blood glucose levels two hours after eating, and improvements in HbA1c, a marker of long-term blood sugar control.

Additional metabolic benefits included significant reductions in body weight, body fat, BMI, waist circumference, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol.

Read More: PM Modi’s Push To Reduce Oil Intake Key To Fighting India’s Obesity And Diabetes Crisis, Say Experts

Participants consuming almonds also showed improvements in markers related to inflammation and oxidative stress.

“The findings showing improvements in cognitive function, blood sugar control, body weight, and cholesterol levels reinforce the role of almonds as a superfood. Their versatility and convenience make them an easy addition to everyday eating habits, while also providing important nutrients that support overall well-being,” said Ritika Samaddar, Regional Head, Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Max Healthcare.

“Inflammation and oxidative stress are associated with cognitive decline. Our study found those in the almond group had lower levels of both, along with higher levels of a protective antioxidant (Vitamin E), compared with the control group,” said Dr. Seema Gulati, lead researcher of the study and Head of the Nutrition Research Group at the National Diabetes, Obesity and Cholesterol Foundation in New Delhi.