15 Unhealthy foods for kids that should avoid
There is the thinking that if we eat well, we have to spend a lot of money, and for that reason, we don’t eat the foods that give us the most nutrients. But those foods are cheaper.
If you are aware of taking food, I’ll suggest you spend 90 percent of your budget on whole foods and only 10 percent of processed foods. Based on food specialists’ states, we present you with 15 unhealthy foods for kids that you can take for your children. So, let’s get started.
A list of unhealthy foods for kids
Somehow there have always been very typical foods that belong in childhood! But it is precise because of this habit that we do not question many eating habits at all – and one unhealthy dish after another ends up on our children’s menu. Here is the list of 15 unhealthy foods for kids which you should avoid.
1. Boxed cereals:
An investigation by Consumers International, a world consumer association, points out which is very real, even when they claim to be rich in fiber, which could somehow counteract its harmful effect, this being true only up to a point.
In this case, it is much better to go back to old cereals such as oats than if it has reliably demonstrated its healthy properties.
2. Fizzy drinks:
fancy drinks are nothing more than water, coloring, and high levels of sugar, with which the only thing they do is gain weight and increase the chances of suffering from diabetes at an early age.
It is a good point of view that excess sugar in our body is converted into fat and thus also favors its deposit in the arteries, which can cause vascular accidents and heart attacks at an early age.
3. Cola drinks:
I make this differentiation because they are undoubtedly the most harmful due to their high caffeine content and great acidity. It has been proven that it damages and destroys tooth enamel, thereby further promoting cavities. It also irritates the mucous membranes of our digestive tract.
Due to caffeine, it can cause arrhythmias and pressure rise, while noting that it acts on our alertness and thus impacts our nervous system, which can translate into the presence of insomnia.
Other soft drinks:
Many studies warn that soft drinks, juices, and the like contain far too much sugar. Especially for children, this is anything but beneficial to health. There are a few possibilities to offer a change from tasteless water. For example, diluted sprays, unsweetened teas, or water with added fruits like grapefruits, strawberries, and oranges.
By the way: Diet or light drinks should also be avoided. The additives that replace the sugar may have fewer calories but are still not healthier because among other things.
5. Fats and sugar-related food:
Most children’s foods are too sweet and too greasy. You can find out which foods fail the nutrition experts here. Fat and sugar traps lurk everywhere in everyday life.
Therefore, many foods for children correspond precisely to the opposite of what experts call a healthy and balanced diet. Dangerous additives also are hidden in foods that are supposedly specially designed for children.
6. Water ice:
It continues with delicious ice cream. Especially in summer, the little ones look forward to a sweet refreshment. Brightly colored types of ice cream are particularly popular. They taste sweet as sugar and color the tongue in a funny, colorful way.
But this is exactly where parents should pay attention: In addition to lots of sugar, it contains many artificial colors. The food which contains artificial colors, those are not good for health. So before the eaten water ice cream, it should be taken care.
7. Crisps:
When children want to nibble something, they usually choose crispy chips. With these applies: baked in the oven is always better than fried.
Instead of using the supermarket’s vast selection, a healthy alternative can also be prepared at home. Cut potatoes or vegetables such as carrots into thin slices, season with olive oil, and salt.
8. Cereals in breakfast:
Many cornflakes specifically appeal to children with breakfast cereals for childrenWith bright colors, great shapes, and a sugar-sweet taste. They are by no means healthy; many products’ sugar content is more like that of sweets. Often it is not even natural sweetness but artificially added sugar.
Therefore: look at the label beforehand – 10 percent sugar is okay for breakfast. Even better: put together delicious muesli yourself from oat flakes, chopped nuts, and dried or fresh fruits. A few coconut chips provide delightful sweetness.
9. Sweet snacks:
In the case of small snacks for the break, manufacturers like to advertise. Kids are like it, too, so one or the other pack can quickly find its way into the bag for kindergarten and school.
But these small “snacks” are real sugar and fat traps and hardly provide 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 seem like a relatively healthy snack for in between meals. Unfortunately, appearances are deceptive, and 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 into their shops. The fact that fries, burgers, and the like are incredibly unhealthy should no longer surprise anyone.
Instead of falling into the fat and additive trap, many unhealthy delicacies can also be cooked 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, which, due to their appearance, are intended to appeal to children’s tastes specifically.
The morning yogurt can quickly become a sugar trap. It is better to use natural yogurt – it does not contain any artificially added sugar. Since children are known to like a little more sweetness, this refined with delicious berries, a little honey, or agave syrup.
13. Pudding:
Of course, we know that desserts are not healthy. The dessert is just a pacifier that we need now and then. However, it would help if you mainly scrutinized ready-made desserts from the refrigerated shelf.
In addition to a lot of sugar and fat, there are often thickeners such as carrageenan and guar gum, which 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 the Ökotest, fish fingers also contain a lot of phosphates.
These dubious additives are thought to cause hyperactivity and aggressiveness in children.
15. Iced tea:
A cold glass of iced tea in summer? Delicious! When it comes to bought iced tea, however, it is often a real sugar bomb.
Beware: you should also make sure that you make ice tea yourself, whether it is suitable for children. Because of the drink contains lemon, the acid can destroy the teeth’ enamel and make them thin and brittle.
Recommendations for the unhealthy foods for kids by WHO
At the beginning of 2015, the WHO(World Health Organization) defined requirements according to which children’s foods may only be advertised according to certain nutritionally balanced aspects.
These specifications include sugar, salt, fat, and added sweeteners. As a result of the wrong diet, many children have 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 their health expense. Before taking any food, we should look after it because unhygienic foods are always dangerous for health. I hope you will see all the unhealthy foods for kids. If you have any other, suggestions let us know via email.