Some Foods Kids Should Avoid

My niece’s friends in New York meet every Tuesday to discuss the welfare and upbringing of their children; their topic last Tuesday was what were the foods their children should avoid to be healthy and strong. These foods lacked in essential nutrients for proper growth, development and building of immunity and also increased the risk of heart disease, obesity and cancer.  

Here are some foods they found their kids should avoid:
 
French fries: It is loved by most children, with them preferring it to fresh vegetables; however French fries are rich in sodium and fats and provide children with empty calories that lead to obesity and heart disease. 

A good substitute is to offer baked sweet potato chips made at home.


Sugar cereals: Large scale advertising that boast of sugar cereals containing vitamins and minerals is not to be believed fully; they contain less nutritional value as compared to the sugar and processed ingredients in them. 

It would however be best to go in for whole-grain cereals.


Processed meat: Children find highly processed meats like salamis, sausages, bologna, and hot dogs tasty; however they contain a lot of fats, sodium, nitrates and preservatives. They carry the risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and obesity.

It is best to serve children meat cooked at home.

 
Granola bars: These bars are unhealthy and fattening as they are loaded with sugar and ingredients like marshmallows, candies, high fructose syrups, chocolate chips, and artificial dyes. 

It is advisable to serve children whipped up homemade energy bars with dry fruits, nuts, whole grain cereal, coconut, raisins, and peanut butter.

Chicken nuggets: Deep fried, these chicken nuggets covered with bread crumbs are no doubt tasty, but they are packed with sodium, fat, minimal nutrients, and lot of calories that increase the risk of heart disease and obesity in children. 

It would be better to serve kids grilled chicken breast made into strips at home.

Canned or packaged juices: These juices are unhealthy as they lack vitamins and fiber and expose children to the risk of obesity, and developing diabetes and tooth decay.

A much healthy option is to serve smoothies and fruit juices prepared at home.

  

Candies and lollipops: The favorite of most children, it is harmful as it contains sugar, artificial coloring and flavors; candies and lollipops cause cavities and caries in teeth and tooth decay.

It is much healthier to serve children candies made at home.


Soda pop: They only provide empty calories and lots of sugar that cause tooth decay, caries and cavity; they are also a cause of child obesity.

Serve children coconut water that is equally cool and refreshing.

Microwave popcorn: This popcorn is harmful as it contains a chemical called perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA that leads to postponed puberty, cancer, thyroid disease, and high cholesterol in kids. 

Serve children ordinary popcorn instead.

Canned and frozen food: These foods contain a lot of sodium and a chemical called bisphenol-A or BPA that has been linked to childhood asthma, obesity, reproductive changes, diabetes, thyroid dysfunction, and liver problems. 

Provide your children fresh vegetables and fruits instead.

Last but most important the mothers felt that it was it was best to slowly switch on to natural food that was more healthy for the children in the long run.