|
Kids like junk food; and they do require extra
calories between meals. Nutritionists feel that because children and
teenagers expend a tremendous amount of energy, they often can
safely indulge in some junk food, as long as it doesn't push
nutritious food out of their diets.
On the other hand, a steady intake of fatty foods
from childhood to adulthood greatly increases the risk of serious
diseases. The key to dealing with this dilemma is to return to the
notion that some foods should be reserved as "treats" and to teach
children that these foods are to be eaten only occasionally, along
with a large variety of choices from five basic food groups. When
teaching children about food decisions, explain your reasoning, and
try to set a good example. If older children rebel against parental
eating habits, don't fret; eventually most will return to the
patterns they acquired at home.
Set standards for kids that allow them the extra
calories they need without turning treat foods into staples. Some
parents keep only healthful foods in the house, but allow sweets at
restaurants, birthday parties, or movies. Nutritionists say that
growing children shouldn't eat more than one fast food meal a week.
And one night a week will satisfy most children's demands while
reinforcing the idea that this type of food is a treat.
At the community level, you can request that schools
and recreation centers upgrade their menus and change the snacks
offered in vending machines. A 1993 American Academy of Pediatrics
study offered a low-fat meal as one of two daily lunch choices in 16
elementary schools and found, "With this intervention the fat
content of the average lunch selected by students dropped from 36
percent to 30 percent calories from fat." This strategy is
especially effective because it simply changes the kids' available
choices instead of attempting to change their attitudes about
low-fat foods. Changes like these in the outside world can encourage
better eating without increasing tension between parents and
children. |
