Worst Foods For Kids: What Parents Should Know

Modern-day parents are packed with a busy schedule that preparing meals for their little ones has become a squeezed-in task. And during these times, when the 8-hour job and the travel time to and from has become so stressful, many parents turn to instant food and see these products as their savior. What parents do not know is that, the increase in the availability of convenience food has a great impact on their children’s health. In fact, these foods that are marketed for children are full of sugar, highly-processed, and contain very small amount of nutrients. If children develop the habit of eating packed meals and instant food on a regular basis, their health is definitely at risk. If you are one of the parents who are strict on what to give their children, this list will tell you what food to avoid.

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Sugar breakfast cereals: It is a fact that when it comes to food, children are very hard to please. But not if they are given breakfast cereals—those colorful and nicely-shaped breakfast meal that come in an eye-catching animated packaging. But here is what you should know: cereals, despite the “whole grain” label, are actually full of sugar and artificial flavorings and coloring. The level of fiber and nutrients are very low as well.

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Instant noodles: You even consider instant noodles your comfort food, right? But wait until you read this: instant noodles are actually full of cancer-causing chemicals that are used to lengthen its shelf life and preserve its form. Cancer-causing chemicals. Won’t that scare you? That alone is enough to convince you not to serve this instant food to your children.

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Chicken nuggets: Chicken nuggets are so tasty; you do not mind giving it to your children. It is chicken, so what is wrong with giving it to kids? Take note that not all nuggets are made of chicken and just use artificial flavoring to achieve the taste of the real thing. Commercial-made chicken nuggets have 20 or more unhealthy ingredients, not to mention that is deep fried in oil and smothered with different types of sauces. All these put together can instantly deteriorate the health of your children. 

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Processed food: Anything that is processed—deli meat such as hamburger, bacon and hotdogs, processed chips, crackers and chips, and the like are very high in sodium, simple carbohydrates, and unhealthy fats. These components, when put together, put your child in high risk of getting certain diseases very early on in life.

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Being a parent these days is a tough job. To provide the children all their needs, both the mom and the dad have to leave the house to work and be away from their children for long hours, including the time they eat their meals. But being a parent does not only mean providing them their financial and material needs—it also means being responsible of their health and the food they eat.