Probiotics are bacteria found in fermented foods and health supplements, and these can help maintain intestinal balance. Studies have shown that having such foods not only improves gut health but also boosts the immune system and brain functions. You can even make quite a few delicious dishes with healthy options containing such bacteria. Herein, we shall discuss eight benefits that you can reap from adding probiotics to your daily meals: Helps with mass loss Some probiotic foods prevent the absorption of fat during the digestion process, wherein it is excreted from the body rather than stored. These foods may also help burn more calories and main train hormonal balance in the digestive system. However, not all probiotics contribute to mass loss as it depends on various factors such as age, gender, and quantity taken. Improves bowel movements Adding probiotics to daily meals can benefit those dealing with irritable bowel syndrome caused by infections and antibiotics that can disrupt gut health. These bacteria have been found to suppress the germs causing diarrhea and constipation and help the body fight them. Effectiveness can depend upon the type and quantity taken. Boosts the immune system By inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria and disease-causing germs, probiotics prove to be highly beneficial for improving immunity. Your gut holds a very large portion of immune cells, so it is vital to keep your gut in a healthy condition. The addition of such bacteria strengthens the immune system and sometimes even improves the production of natural antibodies present in the body. The strain Bifidobacteria infantis has been associated with an increase in the production of T regulatory cells that prevent autoimmune diseases. Improves digestive health A major benefit of adding probiotics to daily meals is the improvement in digestive health. Bacterial imbalance in the gut can be caused by poor nutrition or an illness.

Kids have seemingly abundant energy and are always on to something, constantly moving, playing, and running. This is why children need adequate nutrition and frequent meals to help them maintain high energy throughout the day. So, healthy snacking is the best way to satisfy hunger pangs and meet nutritional requirements to keep kids energized. Here are a few easy-to-make, delicious kid snacks that can help replace unhealthy and processed junk food. Chocolate brownie energy bites Most kids love desserts, especially chocolate, making this the perfect snack with the right nutritional value. Ingredients: 1 cup raisins 1 cup cashews ¼ cup cocoa powder 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ¼ teaspoon salt Pinch of cinnamon Instructions: Place the raisins in a bowl and add hot water. Let them soak for 5 minutes and then drain. Add raisins and all the other ingredients to a food processor and pulse until the mixture reaches a sand-like consistency. Shape the mixture into balls. Chill for 30 minutes and enjoy. Spicy roasted chickpeas Chickpeas are good sources of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and fiber, making them ideal snacks for kids. Ingredients: ¼ cup olive oil ½ teaspoon garlic powder ½ teaspoon turmeric ½ teaspoon salt 1 can of chickpeas (drained and rinsed) Instructions: Preheat the oven to 400 °F . In a bowl, mix chickpeas with olive oil, salt, garlic powder, and turmeric. Place the chickpeas on a baking sheet. Bake in the oven for 45–50 minutes. Remove the chickpeas when they turn a deep golden. Let them cool and then transfer them to a bowl. Soft pretzel bites This recipe is the perfect alternative for unhealthy munchies. Ingredients: Cooking spray 1 can of refrigerated biscuit dough 4 cups water ¼ cup baking soda 1 large egg, beaten Coarse salt 2 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons flour 1 cup milk 2 cups cheddar Kosher salt Black pepper Cayenne pepper Instructions for the pretzels:

Getting children to eat healthily would undoubtedly rank high on any parent’s list of the biggest difficulties in parenting. Healthy nutrition is crucial at all periods of life, but it’s vital during developmental stages. Many parents worry about what their children consume — and don’t eat. Given below are some useful strategies you can think about using to avoid issues at mealtimes while your child’s food preferences are still developing: Have a routine and stick to it Offer kids snacks and meals at around the same time every day. A scheduled snack time will provide a chance for them to eat healthy food and give you time to prepare it too. You can offer milk or 100% natural juice with the food, but water should be available between meals and snacks. Allowing your child to consume juice, milk, or snacks throughout the day may cause them to lose appetite for meals. Involve kids in the preparation of meals When children participate in the meal preparation process, they are more likely to consume the food. Make dinner preparation a family event by allowing children of all ages to assist. Younger children can help stir and add ingredients, while older children and pre-teens can help chop vegetables and fruits or even make sections of a meal on their own. Consider your child’s appetite Do not push a meal or snack on an unwilling youngster, but don’t reward or coerce your youngster into cleaning their plate or eating particular meals either. This might lead to an increase in the power struggle for food. Additionally, your child may start to link eating with stress and annoyance or lose awareness of his or her own hunger and fullness cues. Serve modest servings so as to not overwhelm them and to allow them to autonomously request more.

How many times does your kid demand snacks, only to reject the options offered? And it doesn’t end here. What they may have liked yesterday may be a complete no today. So, instead of handing them packaged snacks that are full of preservatives and added sugar, try some smart hacks to make your children’s snacks right at home. Read on to know some of the best kid-approved snacks and their recipes: Banana ice cream What’s summer without ice cream? But if you hate that your children will be ingesting all those artificial colors, preservatives, and huge amounts of sugar, a homemade banana ice cream is your best bet. Its texture is exactly like store-bought ice cream, so your kids will hardly notice that they are eating freshly churned fruits. Bananas are an excellent source of energy and rich in probiotics and insoluble fiber to support digestion and prevent tummy aches. Moreover, vitamins B6 and C in bananas strengthen immunity and prevent colds and coughs. This kids’ snack is rich in potassium, which regulates the functioning of vital organs. Recipe Blend 2 frozen bananas, half a cup of chopped mangoes, and strawberries into a thick paste. Then, add one teaspoon of vanilla bean paste and brown sugar, respectively, and blend. Pour the ice cream into an airtight container and freeze for three-four hours. And garnish it with nuts when serving. Strawberry yogurt Whipping up strawberry yogurt is the answer when your kids don’t eat yogurt. It is an ultimate summertime treat that is loaded with nutrients. Yogurt is loaded with probiotics that enhance immunity and keep the stomach healthy. Plus, the calcium content in yogurt keeps bones and teeth healthy. Vitamins A and C in strawberries keep eyes and gums healthy. Recipe Chop half a cup of strawberries and add them to a pan.

Probiotics are a kind of healthy bacteria that naturally live in our bodies. These bacteria have innumerable benefits. For instance, they keep the body functioning well and help fight disease-causing bad bacteria. Therefore, doctors advise people to have foods rich in probiotics. While kombucha, kimchi, and miso soup are popular options, yogurt is many people’s favorite. Keeping this in mind, we have listed the most popular probiotic yogurts on the market you can consider buying: Stonyfield Organic Probiotic Yogurt (Plain Whole Milk) Stonyfield Organic Probiotic Plain Whole Milk Yogurt is a probiotic yogurt with good sources of live active cultures. It is non-GMO, and there is minimum sugar. The nutrition per serving is 150 calories, 16 g protein, 65 mg sodium, 6 g fat (3.5 g sat fat), and 7 g carbs (0 g fiber, 5 g sugar). Siggi’s Skyr Yogurt (Vanilla Whole Milk) Skyr is an Icelandic thick and creamy yogurt containing 40% less sugar and more protein than most Greek yogurt brands. The product also has live and active cultures to boost gut health and is all-natural and non-GMO, with no artificial sweeteners or preservatives. The nutrition per serving is 130 calories, 15 g protein, 60 mg sodium, 4.5 g fat (3 g sat fat), and 11 g carbs (0 g fiber, 8g sugar). FAGE Total (2% Milkfat) This Greek yogurt from FAGE consists of live and active yogurt cultures to promote gut health and is non-GMO. It is an all-natural yogurt without preservatives and additives. The product is high in protein and would keep you feeling full for longer. The nutrition per serving is 140 calories, 20 g protein, 65 mg sodium, 4 g fat (2.5 g sat fat), and 6 g carbs (0 g fiber, 6 g sugar). Nancy’s Probiotic Yogurt (Organic Non-fat) This is a verified non-GMO yogurt with 41 billion live probiotic cultures per serving.