Maximise The Health Benefits of Extra Virgin Olive Oil For Children
Updated 17th May 2023
Are you looking for ways to include heart-healthy fats in your children’s diet? Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is one of the most beneficial additions you can make.
Contents:
- Why Is Extra Virgin Olive Oil Good For Children?
- Practical Tips For Using Olive Oil In Children’s Diet
- Use Extra Virgin Olive Oil On Your Popcorn
- Fry Your Eggs in Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil As a Replacement For Butter In Baking
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil As A Healthy Topping For Ice Cream
- Add A Drizzle Of Extra Virgin Olive Oil To Their Favourite Salad
- Start Their Healthy Diet Habits With A Taste For Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Why Is Extra Virgin Olive Oil Good For Children?
Not only does it taste great, but its health benefits are wide and varied. From improving digestion and reducing inflammation to protecting against sickness and helping boost childhood development, Extra Virgin Olive Oil has a host of benefits every parent should be aware of. In this blog post, we’ll discuss how parents can use extra virgin olive oil in their children’s diets while ensuring they’re receiving all the essential nutrients they need to thrive.
Practical Tips For Using Olive Oil In Children’s Diet
If you’re looking to give your child the benefits of a healthy diet, you may want to include extra virgin olive oil in their meals. Not only is olive oil packed with beneficial nutrients, but it’s also a tasty addition to a variety of dishes.
From sautéing vegetables to pairing with a selection of tasty treats, olive oil is a versatile ingredient that can be used throughout the day. For maximum health benefits, stick to extra virgin olive oil as it has the most nutrients and antioxidants. Whether adding it to sauces, marinades, or soups, incorporating olive oil into your child’s diet can be an easy and tasty way to promote a healthy lifestyle.
School will soon be out for the summer and it’s a great time for sharing family meals packed with health and vitality. Extra Virgin Olive Oils, like Morocco Gold, are a great way to add healthy fats to your children’s diet – helping to keep their immune system and growing bodies strong.
We loved a report in Mom Junction which lists seven great reasons why a high quality olive oil can benefit our children. These include promoting brain development, providing a rich source of vitamins and reduced risk of obesity.
But with children often being a picky bunch, we wanted to give you some ideas of how to use extra virgin olive oil as a quick addition to your everyday family meals and snacks.
1/ Use Extra Virgin Olive Oil On Your Popcorn
A big bowl of freshly made popcorn never seems to go out of fashion with children of all ages (and plenty of adults too!). As long as it’s air-popped and lightly seasoned, popcorn is a whole grain and high fibre snack – making it a good choice for lower risk of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. Did you know that popcorn contains more fibre per serving than whole-wheat bread?
Speaking to heart.org, Maya Vadiveloo, an assistant professor in the department of nutrition and food sciences at the University of Rhode Island said: “When prepared well, popcorn actually is a pretty good snack. It’s stable. It’s inexpensive. It’s fairly tasty. For people who might be struggling to eat adequate fruits or vegetables or other whole grains, it’s a low-risk snack to start.”
So, what better way to set it off with a healthy drizzle of the best extra virgin olive oil such as Morocco Gold?
2/ Fry Your Eggs in Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Whatever way you cook them, eggs are often and quick and easy hit with children at any time of the day. A very good source of inexpensive, high quality protein, eggs are also rich sources of selenium, vitamin D, B6, B12 and minerals including zinc, iron and copper. Contrary to some popular myths, extra virgin olive oil can be used for frying food and can add a unique flavour to your favourite foods. By opting for extra virgin olive as an alternative to butter and other fats when preparing your eggs, you are also making a great health choice. Olive Oil is one of the richest sources of monounsaturated fatty acids which are important for helping to prevent health issues such as cardiovascular disease or stroke.
One serving or 1 tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil contains the following:
- 120 calories
- 10 grams of monounsaturated fat
- 2 grams of saturated fat
- 2 grams of polyunsaturated fat
- 1.9 milligrams of vitamin E (10 percent of Daily Value)
- 8.1 micrograms of vitamin K (10 percent of DV)
3/ Extra Virgin Olive Oil As a Replacement For Butter In Baking
That bottle of extra virgin olive oil sitting on your pantry shelf can revolutionize your favourite baked treats. While often thought of for salad dressings, marinades and sautéing, your extra virgin olive oil can also be used as a valuable alternative to butter or other fat in your baked recipes.
Why Use Extra Virgin Olive Oil For Baking?
The value of incorporating extra virgin olive oil as a substitute in your baking is mainly twofold. First, you can enhance the overall flavour profile of your recipe, depending on the variety of extra virgin olive oil you use. Each extra virgin olive oil carries a unique flavour profile that deepens the complexity of your dish. Because the flavour can be so accentuated in baked goods, it is important to use high-quality extra virgin olive oil such as Morocco Gold.
A second reason for using extra virgin olive oil in your baked treats is the health benefits that come along. Extra virgin olive oil has no shortage of benefits for your health and wellness. This monounsaturated fat helps keep your cholesterol in check as well as offering a host of antioxidants that are essential for healthy living. Incorporating a more monounsaturated or polyunsaturated source of fat rather than just saturated fats. Compared to vegetable oils, extra virgin olive oil is free from chemicals and other impurities that compromise both the nutrients and flavour of the ingredient.
4/ Extra Virgin Olive Oil As A Healthy Topping For Ice Cream
Ok, so this one may take a bit more persuasion to encourage the younger members of your family to swap their favourite chocolate sauce or sprinkles for a drizzle of olive oil, but trust us on this one.
A drizzle of extra virgin olive oil over your ice cream really helps bring out the flavour in the ice cream and adds to the creamy texture. One to try out for sure! Who’d have thought it!
5/ Add A Drizzle Of Extra Virgin Olive Oil To Their Favourite Salad
We have left the more obvious choice for last but, as we all know it can sometimes be tricky to encourage children to eat enough fresh fruit and vegetables. So why not get them involved in choosing their own ingredients for a perfect summer salad – and naming it too! Just don’t forget the finishing touch – you’ve guessed it – a drizzle of the best olive oil you can find will give your salad some of the best health properties going. That’s something the whole family will thank you for longer term.
Start Their Healthy Diet Habits With A Taste For Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Overall, olive oil is a wonderful addition to your children’s diet. It provides many fantastic health benefits and great practical applications. The high monounsaturated fatty acid content in extra virgin olive oil provides cardiovascular protection and is often linked to better cognitive and brain health in young people.
Not only can it be used as a salad dressing, but children can also snack on olives or use the oil to make delicious dishes like oven-baked fish or roasted vegetables. It’s important to ensure that you buy high-quality, cold pressed extra virgin olive oil from reputable sources for the maximum amount of health benefits. Children will enjoy the milder flavor of extra virgin olive oil over other common cooking oils, plus all the added nutrients help promote growth, development and better overall physical health. With so many amazing reasons and practical tips for using olive oil in your children’s diet, there is no time like now to try this beneficial cooking staple! Try introducing more extra virgin olive oil into your children’s diet today and watch them grow up healthy and strong!
