News

Subway website offers tips to get kids to eat healthier

December 5, 2011

Subway has added a series of tips to its website to encourage kids to eat healthier. The column and accompanying video titled "Help! My Children Won't Eat Vegetables" is penned by Subway corporate dietitian Lannette Kovachi, MS, RD.

The information is part of the Expert Advice page at Subway.com, which covers nutrition-based topics about the chain, such as its sodium reduction efforts and new calcium fortified bread.

Kovachi's "Help! My Children Won't Eat Vegetables" section includes suggestions such as:

• Veggie Fun Facts: Lets kids know that veggies have super food powers, such as spinach's beta carotene, which is good for their eyes, and peppers that are rich in vitamin C which helps their body fight colds better and keeps skin healthy;
• Make Snack Time Veggie Time: Have cut-up veggies out and ready for the kids before they have a chance to raid the kitchen cabinets;
• Load their Sandwiches with Veggies: If you add veggies like romaine lettuce, sliced cucumbers, shredded carrots or thinly shredded red cabbage, you can pack on the nutrients and fiber as well as make the sandwich colorful; and
• You Need to Eat your Veggies too: Kids learn from their parents and if you don't make priority to eat balanced yourself they won't either.

"Trying to get more veggies into your children can be a challenge," said Lanette, who has served as corporate dietitian for the Subway brand since 2003. "One of the most frequent comments I get from other parents is that their kids simply don't want to eat them. So I've put my parental and dietitian know-how together and come up with some tips to help get the little ones to eat their veggies."

Lanette's new column is accompanied by nutrition advice from experts Carol Kur, MS, RD, co-founder of Personal Training Institute, and Celebrity Health & Nutrition Expert JJ Virgin, CNS, CHFS, creator of the Weight Loss Resistance Revolution.

Read more about health and nutrition.