When you ask your child to eat fresh fruit for a snack instead of candy, he may challenge you to prove your point by explaining why. Though "because I said so," may end the conversation, better to arm yourself with facts about the nutritional benefits of fresh fruit. Grabbing an apple instead of a chocolate bar or a banana instead of jelly beans can improve your child's health in more ways than one.
Fiber
Candy contains little, if any fiber. Fruits such as apples, grapes and pears contain beneficial fiber, especially if you eat the skins. Fiber aids digestion, helping prevent constipation. Fiber also lowers cholesterol and slows digestion, so you feel fuller longer.
Vitamins
Eating fresh fruits provides nutrients you need to stay healthy. Citrus fruits and strawberries are good sources of vitamin C, while melons provide vitamin A. Fruits are also excellent sources of potassium, a nutrient that helps build strong bones and lowers blood pressure. Fruit also contains water, which helps you stay hydrated.
Fat
Fruits are naturally low in fat and contain no cholesterol, while most candies are high in fat. Eating more candy than fruit can contribute to obesity. A study reported in the January/February 2010 issue of, "Public Health Reports" found a correlation between consuming candy, cookies, salty snacks and sugary beverages and a lower intake of fresh fruits and vegetables. Such habits may be contributing to the rise in obesity rates in America, and particularly among children.
Sugar
Fruit and candy contain sugar, giving them the sweet taste many people love. But an apple contains much less sugar than a candy bar. And other ingredients in fruit, such as fiber, slow down the processing of this sugar in the body, making it easier to regulate blood sugar. The sugar in candy is often processed sugar, such as high fructose corn syrup, while the sugar in fruit is natural sugar.
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