In today’s fast-paced world, many believe that eating healthily requires a hefty budget. This misconception often leads families to overlook nutritious options available at lower prices. Contrary to popular belief, many whole foods are both affordable and packed with essential nutrients that can support children’s growth and development.
To promote better eating habits, consider allocating a significant portion of your food budget—about 90 percent—to whole foods, reserving just 10 percent for processed items. By doing so, you can provide your children with nourishing meals that don’t break the bank.
In light of this, we’ve compiled a list of 15 unhealthy foods that are commonly consumed by kids. Understanding these options can help you make more informed choices about what to include in your family’s diet. Let’s dive in!
15 Unhealthy Foods for Kids:
Somehow, there have always been typical foods that are associated with childhood! However, it is precisely because of this habit that we often do not question many eating practices, resulting in one unhealthy dish after another landing on our children’s menu. Here is a list of 15 unhealthy foods for kids that you should avoid.
1. Boxed cereals:
An investigation by Consumers International, a global consumer association, highlights a very real concern: even when products claim to be rich in fiber, this may only partially counteract their harmful effects.
In this case, it is much better to return to traditional cereals like oats, which have reliably demonstrated their health benefits.
2. Fizzy drinks:
Fancy drinks are nothing more than water, coloring, and high levels of sugar, which only lead to weight gain and an increased risk of developing diabetes at an early age.
It is important to note that excess sugar in our bodies is converted into fat, which also contributes to its buildup in the arteries, potentially causing vascular accidents and heart attacks at a young age.
3. Cola drinks:
I make this differentiation because they are undoubtedly the most harmful due to their high caffeine content and acidity. It has been proven that they damage and destroy tooth enamel, further promoting cavities. They also irritate the mucous membranes of our digestive tract.
Due to caffeine, they can cause arrhythmias and increased blood pressure, while also affecting our alertness and impacting the nervous system, which can lead to insomnia.
4. Other soft drinks:
Many studies warn that soft drinks, juices, and similar beverages contain far too much sugar. This is particularly detrimental to children’s health. There are several alternatives to tasteless water, such as diluted sodas, unsweetened teas, or water infused with fruits like grapefruits, strawberries, and oranges.
Additionally, diet or light drinks should also be avoided. The additives that replace the sugar may have fewer calories but are still not healthier for various reasons.
5. Fats and sugar-related food:
Most children’s foods are too sweet and too greasy. You can find out which foods fail nutrition experts here. Fat and sugar traps lurk everywhere in daily life.
As a result, many foods for children are the exact opposite of what experts consider a healthy and balanced diet. Dangerous additives are also hidden in foods that are supposedly specially designed for children.
6. Water ice:
It continues with delicious ice cream. Especially in summer, children look forward to a sweet refreshment. Brightly colored varieties of ice cream are particularly popular. They taste as sweet as sugar and color the tongue in a funny, colorful way.
However, this is exactly where parents should pay attention: in addition to a lot of sugar, it contains many artificial colors. Foods that contain artificial colors are not good for health. Therefore, care should be taken before eating water ice cream.
7. Crisps:
When children want to nibble on something, they usually choose crispy chips. In this case, baked in the oven is always better than fried.
Instead of relying on the supermarket’s vast selection, a healthy alternative can be prepared at home. Cut potatoes or vegetables, such as carrots, into thin slices, and season with olive oil and salt.
8. Cereals in breakfast:
Many cornflakes specifically appeal to children with their bright colors, fun shapes, and sugary taste. They are by no means healthy; the sugar content of many products resembles that of sweets. Often, this sweetness is not even natural but comes from artificially added sugar.
Therefore, check the label beforehand—10 percent sugar is acceptable for breakfast. Even better, create your own delicious muesli using oat flakes, chopped nuts, and dried or fresh fruits. A few coconut chips can add delightful sweetness.
9. Sweet snacks:
In the case of small snacks for breaks, manufacturers like to advertise. Kids enjoy them too, so one or another pack can quickly find its way into bags for kindergarten and school.
However, these small “snacks” are real sugar and fat traps, providing hardly any essential nutrients. Homemade fruit snacks, such as apples, pears, bananas, or sweet berries, are recommended as a healthy (and delicious) alternative.
10. Shortbreads:
Without chocolate, these cookies may seem like a relatively healthy snack between meals. Unfortunately, appearances can be deceptive, as the biscuits contain a lot of fat.
Homemade wholemeal biscuits or delicious muesli bars from our production serve as healthy snack alternatives.
11. Fast food:
With small portions and enclosed toys, fast food companies lure even the youngest customers into their shops. The fact that fries, burgers, and similar items are incredibly unhealthy should no longer surprise anyone.
Instead of falling into the trap of unhealthy fats and additives, many indulgent treats can also be prepared at home. How about some baked sweet potato strips or delicious breaded cauliflower nuggets?
12. Ready-made fruit yogurt:
Fruit yogurts are stacked on the refrigerated shelves of supermarkets and are designed to appeal specifically to children’s tastes due to their appearance.
Morning yogurt can quickly become a sugar trap. It is better to use natural yogurt, as it does not contain any artificially added sugars. Since children tend to prefer a bit more sweetness, you can refine it with delicious berries, a little honey, or agave syrup.
13. Pudding:
Of course, we know that desserts are not healthy. Desserts serve as a pacifier that we need now and then. However, it is essential to scrutinize ready-made desserts from the refrigerated shelf.
In addition to high levels of sugar and fat, these desserts often contain thickeners such as carrageenan and guar gum, which can damage the intestinal mucosa and weaken the immune system.
14. Fish fingers:
Who didn’t eat them as a child? The breading is not only full of bad carbohydrates; according to Ökotest, fish fingers also contain a lot of phosphates.
These dubious additives are believed to cause hyperactivity and aggressiveness in children.
15. Iced tea:
A cold glass of iced tea in summer? Delicious! However, when it comes to store-bought iced tea, it is often a real sugar bomb.
Beware: you should also ensure that you make iced tea yourself, as it may not be suitable for children. The drink contains lemon, and the acid can destroy tooth enamel, making it thin and brittle.
Recommendations for the unhealthy foods for kids by WHO
At the beginning of 2015, the WHO (World Health Organization) defined requirements stating that children’s foods may only be advertised based on certain nutritionally balanced aspects.
These specifications include sugar, salt, fat, and added sweeteners. As a result of poor diets, many children suffer from type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, or high blood pressure.
Final Word
Despite the food companies’ signatures, the apparent result shows that their voluntary commitment has not led to more responsible marketing of children’s foods.
Calorie and sugar bombs will continue to be marketed to children, at the expense of their health. Before consuming any food, we should consider its hygiene, as unhygienic foods are always dangerous to health. I hope you will be aware of all the unhealthy foods for kids. If you have any other suggestions, please let us know via email.