Healthy food for kids is not just about nutrition for kids, it is about
your whole approach to healthy kids food and eating. If your family and
you embrace that food is to be enjoyed, you should avoid “good” and
“bad” foods. It is unrealistic to exclude totally certain
ingredients or foods, it is all about moderation – see Kids Food Pyramid
and 5 Tips for Kids Nutrition.
Salt
- A little salt is a part of a healthy diet. Too much salt is bad for the teeth and higher blood pressure later in life.
- Avoid giving your child savoury snacks that are high in salt, or prepackaged or tinned foods which can be high in salt (sodium)
- Sugar is common in lots of processed foods, often it is referred to as sucrose, maltose, dextrose, glucose, fructose, honey or sugar syrup. There can be a lot of sugar in processed food like baked beans, peanut butter, pasta sauces, and chips.
- Sugar is a major cause of tooth decay, can be cause of diabetes, and can produce a quick burst of energy followed by a low leaving the child lethargic.
- Try not to encourage the idea that sugary foods are treats.
- Avoid giving toddlers artificial sweetners, there is a lot of contention as to what their effects on toddlers can be.
- Many processed foods contain sweetners instead of sugar, so carefully check the labels before buying them. Artificial sweetners have many names such as mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, hydrogenated glucose syrup, aspartame, saccharin, and thaumatin.
- Caffeine is a stimulant that can cause toddlers to be edgy and hyperactivity. It is found in tea, coffee, and fizzy soft drinks like cola.
- Lots of drinks aimed for children contain sugar, caffeine and additives. Sugar is bad for toddlers teeth.
- Try to encourage your toddler to drink water, or alternative drinks like: fruit smoothies, diluted low sugar cordial, or tr fruit teas.
- Lots of breakfast cereals aimed at children are high in sugar and sometimes salt.
- Try to get cereals for you toddlers that are low in sugar and salt, such as muesli or whole wheat cereals
- Try to avoid regularly buying supermarket bought precut and cooked oven chips. These can still be high in fat and have little nutritional benefit. It is better to make your own chips or wedges.
- TV advertising plays a major part in creating the desire for burgers and chicken nuggets. Processed foods can contain a lot of saturated fats and additives to make them taste better.
- It is more healthy and cheaper to make home made burgers, nuggets and fish fingers. Home made burgers can be easily made with lean mince, while nuggets can be made with chicken breast.
- You migth not be able to avoid all processed foods, just try to not to make it a regular part of your diet.
- Tinned baked beans are a good source of fibre, protein and vitamins. However, they can also contain a large amount of sugar and salt. Try some of the low salt brands that are now available.
- Delivered pizzas can contain sweetened tomato topping and processed cheese and meats.
- A healthier and cheaper alternative, is to make the pizza at home using get your children to help with the toppings
- Sweets and chocolates aimed at children can contain a lot of fats, additives and sugar.
- Healthier alternatives to try are dried fruits or good quality chocolate – 70% cocoa
- Crisps are high in fat and salt. Even brands promoted as low in fat can contain 20% fat. Some flavoured crisps will contain sugar and lots of additives.
- Shop bought yoghurt and fromage frais aimed at children are often high in sugar or artificial sweetners.
- An healthy alternatives is to use natural full fat yoghurt mixed with fresh fruit, honey or vanilla.
No comments:
Post a Comment