Avoid Serving These Foods to Your Children
By Paul Rothbart
Raising children is one of the most important yet challenging jobs there is. Yes, it is a job and a full-time one at that. You want your kids to be well-educated, have solid values, and be healthy. One of the most difficult aspects of children's health is trying to get them to eat nutritious foods. Many children simply do not like healthy foods like vegetables, fruits, and proteins. Their parents employ all kinds of bargaining techniques just to coerce a couple of bites of something healthy. Exacerbating the problem is the plethora of junk foods marketed to children. Their commercials fill the spaces between Saturday morning cartoons. It's not an easy battle, but it helps if you know what foods to avoid whenever you can.
Hot Dogs
A favorite with children, as well as many adults, most hot dogs are processed and contain unhealthy fats and even carcinogens. They are also generally very high in sodium and can increase the risk of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. Hot dogs may be easy to cook and easy to get your kids to eat, but they are not worth the convenience. If you serve them, make it only once in a great while, and at least look for the brands that are less unhealthy.
Cereal
Cereal is the most popular breakfast food with children. Although there are healthy brands, the ones that are made with children in mind are loaded with junk and have very little nutrition. Many of them contain so much sugar and high fructose corn syrup, your child may as well be eating a slice of cake for breakfast. The boxes are colorful with anthropomorphic animals and other mascots that appeal to kids. Read cereal labels carefully. Teach your children to enjoy cereals without added sugar that contains vitamins and fiber. You will be setting them up to be healthy adults.
Restaurant Menu Kids' Meals
Many restaurants have a special section on the menu for children. These are smaller portions of things that kids like to make it easier for families that are dining together. These meals tend to be fried foods with little nutrition such as hamburgers, hot dogs, and chicken nuggets. Do your children a favor. Encourage them to order something they like off the regular menu. If they can't finish it, take a doggie bag home and serve it for lunch the next day.
A major part of raising healthy children is feeding them well. There are many unhealthy foods out there trying to lure your kids in. Avoid them and serve healthy meals to your kids. It will give them the nutrition they need to grow and teach them good eating habits they can use their entire lives.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Tampa, Fla.