Super Foods for Super Kids

Did you know carrots are shaped like tiny eyes? Slice one open and you’ll see a circle that looks just like the iris. It’s nature’s playful reminder that carrots are a super food for healthy vision. Story Connection In Super Foods for Super Kids , we explore how foods “talk” to us through their shapes. Carrots are the perfect example — they look like eyes and help keep our eyes strong. Kids love making this connection because it turns nutrition into a fun discovery. Nutrition Nugget Carrots are rich in beta‑carotene, which the body converts into vitamin A. Vitamin A supports eye health, helps us see in the dark, and keeps our immune system strong. Parents can feel good knowing this crunchy snack is both fun and functional. Kid‑Friendly Recipe Idea Carrot Sticks with Hummus Dip Slice carrots into sticks or fun shapes. Pair with creamy hummus for dipping. Bonus: Let kids arrange carrot “eyes” on their plate before munching. This simple snack is colorful, crunchy, and packed w...

🧠 A Fun Food Connection Have you ever noticed that walnuts look just like tiny brains? Nature has a clever way of giving us hints about the foods we eat. In fact, this resemblance isn’t just funny—it’s a reminder that walnuts are packed with nutrients that help our brains grow strong and stay sharp. 🍎 Food Meets Storytime In my book Super Foods for Super Kids , I love showing children how foods resemble body parts. Carrots look like eyes, celery looks like bones, and walnuts look like brains. These playful connections make nutrition fun and help kids remember why healthy foods matter. Next time you snack, ask your child: “What does this food look like?” You’ll be amazed at the answers! 🔬 The Science Behind the Fun Walnuts aren’t just shaped like brains—they’re actually good for them too! Omega-3 fatty acids support memory and learning. Antioxidants protect brain cells from damage. Vitamin E helps keep the brain healthy. So when kids munch on walnuts, they’re fueling th...

  🏀 Why I Wrote " Basketball Breakthrough" When my son first picked up a basketball in 1st grade, he didn’t stand out at tryouts. He was the fastest runner, sure, but dribbling? Not so much. We wanted to build his confidence, so we found a local coach who started with the basics—dribbling drills, running half-court and full-court, Lunges, High Knees, “Frankensteins,” Agility Ladders. Slowly, he moved up to shooting layups. It wasn’t just about basketball; it was about endurance, resilience, and character. By 3rd grade, he began to shine. He was even asked to play on the 5th and 6th graders team. With a strong foundation and a supportive coach, he started having fun in games. He was starting to understand Basketball. Driving him back and forth, watching from the bleachers, I saw every type of player—fast, slow, agile, clumsy, tall, short, big, skinny. Each had strengths and weaknesses, but together they grew. When my husband and I had the chance to coach, we saw firsthand tha...

If you’ve read  Super Foods for Super Kids , you might remember the line:  “Bananas look like a smile, and bananas make you smile.”  That simple idea stuck with me—and it turns out bananas do a lot more than just brighten your mood. They’re shaped like a hand (that’s why a bunch is called a “hand of bananas”), and they’ve even been linked to easing arthritis pain. But here’s the funny part: when I started researching bananas, I realized I didn’t know much about them at all. For example, I thought bananas grew on trees. Nope! They grow on a very tall plant. Bananas are full of surprises, and the more I learned, the more I wanted to share their story with kids. 🌏 Bananas Then and Now Growing up in South Korea, bananas were rare treasures. I still remember going to the outdoor market,  Shijang , with my mom when I was in second grade. I begged for a banana, and because they were so expensive, she bought just one finger. We took it home and cut it into five equal pieces...

🍎 Why I wrote " Super Foods for Super Kids" 🌱 How Pain, Parenting, and a Picture Book Sparked Super Foods for Super Kids When my son was just two years old, we were living in Seoul. Every morning I’d bike him to daycare, feeling like the picture of a healthy young mom. Until one morning, I couldn’t even get out of bed. My joints screamed with pain I’d never felt before. After dragging myself to the doctor, I learned the name of my unwelcome guest: rheumatoid arthritis. The doctors suggested steroids. But I was still nursing my son, and I wasn’t ready to pump my body full of medication. So instead, I did what any stubborn, curious parent would do—I researched. And researched. And researched some more. That’s when I discovered something life-changing: the food I was eating was either fueling my pain or easing it. I had always chased flavor over function, but suddenly, I realized that what I put in my body mattered more than I ever imagined. Through trial and error (and a lot ...