Many parents seek advice on how to grocery shop for the whole family. They want to select foods that are both healthy and appealing, especially for little ones, who tend to be a bit pickier. However, there are some foods that seem like good options, but when it comes down to the ingredients, some of these foods just do not make the cut. Lunchables- such a cute concept, but don't do this to your child. I know it's what the cool kids are doing. I was susceptible to this thinking once. I remember as a child, one of my friends bringing Lunchables every day to school. I thought it was so awesome. Years later, I saw this friend...let me just say that I am SO glad that my Mom used her better judgement to limit these sodium-laden perpetrators! Lunchables are easy to makeover and recreate in your own kitchen. I will do a separate post on DIY lunchables. Lunchmeat, Hotdogs, and Breakfast Meats-Again, lots of salt added to these processed meats, including bacon and sausage. Furthermore, highly processed meats have been classified as carcinogenic or cancer-causing. Fruit snacks-these little guys seem innocent enough. I mean, they have fruit in the name, right?? Don't be fooled! These stealthy diet busters are no more worthy of a relation to fruit than a beast is to a beauty. They have the artificial flavor and color of fruit and none of the nutrients. Vitamin C, you say? Nope, still not convincing enough to crown this food as something that we want to feed our families. Try whole fruit, like an apple or banana, instead. Cereal-Many companies are trying to change the face of their products by decreasing sugar, throwing some whole grain flours in the mix, and increasing fiber content. However, don't depend on the claims on the front of the box to guide you in selecting a healthy option. Flip that box over and read the ingredients. If "whole grain" is not listed in the first 5 ingredients, chances are the percentage of whole grain in the cereal is so small that it is irrelevant. Conversely, if the amount of sugar is lower according to the claim on the front of the box, but sugar or one of its many alias' remains one of the first ingredients, it may be best to leave the cereal on the shelf. At the very least, reserve it for more of a dessert-type cereal. Some of my favorite options for a healthy cereal include plain or multi-grain Cheerios, Rice Krispies, and Honey Bunches of Oats. Adding fresh berries or banana slices can sweeten up the situation, while adding more nutrition.
Yogurt - I have this listed because there are so many yogurts that have added sugar. Some added sugar is okay, as yogurt can be pretty tart without it. However, some yogurts have so much sugar that they may be confused with diabetes. Brands including Chobani and Fage offer a variety of options. While these aren't really marketed as yogurt for children, I promise that the yogurt will not know that a child is eating it. There is not a significant nutritional difference between your basic children's yogurt and a yogurt not marketed as such. Your child might miss the flashy containers, but there is an easy fix for this. Put the yogurt on a plate instead of giving it to him or her from the container. As a matter of fact, just save some money and buy the large container of yogurt and spoon out your desired portions. Stick with 2% yogurt rather than fat free. Marketing ploys with all of their bright colors and cutesy characters make it really hard to discern what foods are healthy at the grocery store. However, by reading labels and learning about ingredients, you can be more confident that the items in your shopping cart will translate to a healthy heart (and a healthy being overall).
6 Comments
Natia
2/23/2016 05:46:53 am
great article. I have a 6 year old and this information is very helpful. thanks
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Alena
2/24/2016 01:37:56 pm
Hi Natia, glad you found the article helpful. Thank you for stopping by and commenting.
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Kit
2/26/2016 08:26:00 am
Love this article, very informative. I also reread your March, 2014 rendering about juices and smoothies and was once more inspired to stay on that path. thank you
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Alena
2/29/2016 06:52:15 am
Hi Kit, thank you for reading. I am happy to have inspired you to continue on that healthy journey!
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Aunt Gwen
2/10/2017 06:42:15 pm
Good Evening Alena, I will share with your cousin Kenny and his family your article "The Top Kids-Friendly Foods, to Avoid". They have a two and a half years old and are very careful what they feed him. I'm sure they will benefit from your healthy children information. I will also continue to follow your articles for information that will assist me in my dietary and nutritional guidance. Thank you very much
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Alena
2/12/2017 06:17:45 am
Hi Auntie Gwen, thank you so much for reading, commenting, and sharing. Not sure if they have gotten to this stage yet, but Kenny and his family may also want to check out the article on picky eaters: http://tastewithoutwaist.weebly.com/home/how-to-cope-with-picky-eaters
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AuthorHello there, my name is Alena and I am a Registered Dietitian! This blog is a platform through which I can share my knowledge and perspectives on a variety of nutrition-related topics. Feel free to contribute by commenting. Archives
November 2021
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