Worst Foods for Kids

We all know that childhood obesity is a big issue these days. But the crazy schedules of today’s working families make it hard to avoid the quick meal solutions offered by fast food restaurants and the freezer section of the grocery store. If you want to do better for your kids, read on…

A recent article by MSNBC gives some startling information:

The typical burger, soda, and fries that you and I ate as kids contains an average of 214 more calories today than that same meal did in the 1970s — enough to add at least 3 pounds of weight a year to your child’s body, even if he or she ate that fast-food meal just once a week.

The article goes on to highlight the worst foods you can feed your kids, based on calories, fat and nutrition content. The list is pretty comprehensive, including everything from the worst breakfast cereal or packaged snack to the worst chinese food entree. The author explains the reasoning behind each selection and offers a healthier alternative. For example:

Worst PB&J
Atlanta Bread Company Peanut Butter & Jelly
550 calories
15 g fat (3.5 g saturated)
690 mg sodium
34 g sugars

Apparently it’s a bad idea to stick an American classic on French bread. How else could we explain a 550-calorie peanut butter and jelly sandwich? Toss some chips onto that plate and you’ve got a meal that can quickly make a small child big. Make this meal at home instead and you not only save a ton of money, but you can also cut the caloric load by half.

Eat this instead!
Kids Cheese Pizza
300 calories
7 g fat (3.5 g saturated)
660 mg sodium

Anyone who feeds children, either at home or in a child care setting, should have a look at this article. I know you’ll learn something. I did!