What Foods To Keep The Kids Away From?
Synopsis:
Kids just love sweets and other meals that lack nutritional value. Since the foods that your children take can definitely impact their growth and development, it essential to know which specific foods to avoid. Knowing which kinds of food products and meals to avoid can help you in guiding your kids when it comes to the food that they eat.
Of course, you cannot monitor your kids’ activities 24/7 especially if they are in school. But while they are still young, you need to help them develop the right eating habits.
Stay Away From These:
1. Limit Sugar:
Everyone of use had our childhood experiences of eating different candies and chocolates.
For children, they are at their happiest when they get to have these yummy candies and delicious chocolates. There is really nothing wrong in allowing your kids to have sweets. But you should make sure that they don’t overdo it. According to the American Heart Association, children are limited to have 12 grams per day or 3 teaspoons a day.
There are ways for you to reduce sugar intake.
- For one, you can use less sugar whenever you prepare and cook meals.
- Another option is to avoid having sugary drinks like softdrinks and sodas.
- Instead of these drinks, you can replace nutritious smoothies.
- Lastly, you should not allow your kids to have processed foods.
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2. Lessen Consumption of Products with Salt:
Sodium is also needed for the body. But kids cannot have too much salt. One teaspoon of salt is already equivalent to 2,300 mg of sodium. There are guidelines when it comes to maximum salt intake recommended for young kids.
- For kids 1 to 3 years old, the maximum salt intake is 1,500 mg a day.
- Kids age 4 to 8 years old, they should not consume more than 1,900 mg of sodium in a day.
- For kids 9 to 13, the maximum salt intake is set at 2,200 mg per day.
3. How do you limit their salt intake?
There are several ways to lessen salt intake.
Nowadays, many kids just love to go to restaurants and fast food. Most of these establishments make use of too much sodium. To lessen salt consumption, it is strongly suggested that you prepare meals at home instead of going to fast food restaurants.
It also recommended to have fresh vegetables instead of canned vegetables. When buying products, you must choose low salt products.
4. Avoid Eating Junk Foods:
Junk foods are everywhere. For sure, your kids would also enjoy eating different junk foods. These products lack nutritional value and some of them even contain too much salt and sugar. As such, you need to encourage your kids to avoid eating junk food or if it is not possible, at least, they can lessen their junk food consumption.
There are different alternatives that are more nutritious.
- For instance, instead of having potato chips, your kids might as well have graham crackers, fruit dips, bagels, English muffins.
- Instead of having ice cream, your kids can enjoy frozen yogurt that has low fat or even fruit smoothies.
If you find this article useful, don’t forget to share it with your friends and family, as you might help someone in need. Thanks.
Eat Healthy. Live Healthy!
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