Feeding your child a variety of nutritious foods will help foster proper growth and development. You do not need to completely ban any food from your child's diet, W. Allan Walker reports in his book, "Eat, Play and Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating for Kids," but there are foods that you should avoid on a regular basis. Foods high in salt, sugar and fat should be reserved for special occasions and kept out of your child's daily diet. Get started on improving your child's diet by removing these foods from your cupboards and pantry.
Foods with Trans Fats
Trans fats are dangerous fats that occur when vegetable oils are hydrogenated to preserve their freshness for longer periods of time. According to KidsHealth, trans fats can raise your child's cholesterol levels and put him in greater danger of developing heart disease as he gets older. The most common foods that contain trans fats are margarine, fried foods and packaged baked goods like cake, cookies and doughnuts. Read labels closely when buying food for your child and avoid any items that list partially hydrogenated oil on the ingredient list because these also contain dangerous trans fats.
Sugary Foods
There is a difference between foods with naturally occurring sugar and added sugar. Foods with natural sugars, such as fruit, are a healthy part of your child's diet. Diets high in added sugar have been linked to an increased risk of childhood obesity, KidsHealth reports. Sugary foods can also contribute to tooth decay in children. Foods that contain added sugar are often high in calories and do not have any nutritional value. You should avoid serving your child foods like soda, cookies, candy, fruit drinks and ice cream because they contain several grams of added sugar per serving.
Fast Foods
Many fast foods, such as chicken nuggets and french fries, are high in fat and calories and low in any type of nutrition. According to the book, "Healthy Child, Whole Child," french fries are often the only serving of vegetables that a child gets in a day, and they cannot be considered healthy. Cheeseburgers, pepperoni pizza and any type of fried fast food should not have a place in your child's diet because they are high in salt and saturated fat and do not provide enough nutrition. Grilled chicken sandwiches are a lower fat alternative that supply some nutrition.
High-Calorie Snacks
Children need access to one or two nutritious snacks throughout the day. Many convenience snacks are high in calories for the amount of food your child gets, which makes them low in nutritional value. Snacks like potato chips, tortilla chips and many types of crackers, contain large amounts of calories without providing any important vitamins or minerals. Many types of packaged popcorn also contain more calories than nutrition. Fruits, vegetables, pretzels or string cheese are healthier snack options.
References
- "Eat, Play and Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating for Kids"; W. Allan Walker; 2005
- KidsHealth: Fats and Your Child
- KidsHealth: Carbohydrates, Sugar and Your Child
- "Healthy Child, Whole Child"; Stuart H. Ditchek, Russell H. Greenfield and Lynn Murray Willeford; 2009
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