Do you know what you are feeding your child?

Our country is faced with the growing epidemic of obesity and specifically, childhood obesity. The ease of access to highly processed foods can be seen everywhere from your local market to the fast food restaurant down the street.

The problem with highly processed foods is that their nutrition value is terrible. An even bigger problem is that many of these foods are designed to be very tasty, which encourages us to seek these items out as comfort foods and quick, easy replacements to quality home-cooked meals.

In today’s fast-paced world, parents are turning toward quick answers to feed their children. As a result, more and more children are eating unhealthy foods more regularly than in the past.

Who stands to suffer? Your children. The sugar content in processed/fast food products are enough of a health concern, let alone the fat content and preservatives added to these products.

Here are 5 tips for the concerned parent when deciding what they should feed their children:

• 1: Foods claiming to “support your immune system”.
• Many of the processed foods make this claim. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables is what you really need to support your immune system.
• 2. Sugar-filled foods that advertise their virtues.
• Many foods geared toward children are FILLED with sugar. Whether it be loaded with chocolate or marshmallows, products marketed toward children introduce high levels of sugar into their diets. Is it any wonder more children are being diagnosed with diabetes or behavioral issues like A.D.D.?
• 3. Treats made with ‘real fruit’.
• For any product boasting this claim, check the ingredient label found on all boxes/packages of food. The manufacturer is required to list the ingredients in order from the most abundant found in the product to the least abundant.For example: a can of mixed nuts (salted) will list the types of nuts, starting with peanuts (the most abundant nut in the can) and finishing with pecans (the least abundant nut in the can). This is followed by whatever else the manufacturer adds, typically a type of oil and salt.Seriously, how much ‘real fruit’ comes in a fruit roll-up?
• 4. Foods made with whole grain.
• Whole grains have been a strong selling point and has seemed to pick up momentum recently. Numerous products advertise they are made with whole grains, but many of these products also carry sugars, high fructose corn syrup and other processed additives.Once again, consult the ingredient label on the food package to get an idea of how much ‘whole grain’ is included in the product.
• 5. Products claiming they are “natural”.
• Simply put, if it is not a piece of fruit or a vegetable in your hand, the term “natural” carries little or no significance.

 

These are a handful of helpful tips that will help you make better choices when choosing the types of food you feed your children.

It is important to remember that many good eating habits can be established when your child is young. Often times our children are simply little versions of the good and bad habits we have developed throughout our lives. We should keep that in mind when trying to establish a healthier way of life for our children.

If you feel you need help in promoting a healthier diet for you and your children, please attend our workshops or seek further expertise from a nutritionist.

We are available by free consult on topics including, but not limited to dietary health, stress reduction, spinal maintenance and much more.

Sincerely,

Dr. Bianca Treski, D.C.
Active Family Chiropractic, P.C.