Top 5 unhealthy foods we feed our kids

We fight so hard against chips, soda, and chewing gum that sometimes we ourselves give the child much more unhealthy food! Products that seemed safe and even useful to us, in fact, can have a detrimental effect on the health of babies. Here is a list of food "irritants" from which it is worth protecting the children's diet, and dishes that can replace them.

5 PHOTOS

1. Packaged juice

It seems to us that fruit juice is healthy and with a light heart, we slip a bag with a straw to the child when he wants to drink. In fact, this essentially canned drink can contain a range of phosphates, chlorides, and sulfates. Among other things, it contains no less sugar than in "harmful" soda: one glass of reconstituted orange juice contains 6 teaspoons of sugar! Least of all-natural extract of fruits in packaged nectars (25 - 50%) and fruit drinks (15%).

What to replace? Any freshly washed juices and natural smoothies. At worst, look for packaging labeled "straight-press", and "no sugar or preservatives". And if the child is just thirsty, then buy him a bottle of mineral water.

2. Semolina

Who was not fed semolina in childhood? Adults said: "To be strong, you need to eat a lot of porridge." However, the benefits of semolina are greatly exaggerated. It contains only carbohydrates, so its calorie content is extremely high. Moreover, during cooking, it loses the already few vitamins and minerals. Moreover, it contains a lot of gluten, to which some children may be allergic. Yes, and remembering your childhood: did anyone like the taste of sticky, sticky, almost bland semolina?

What to replace? Oatmeal, buckwheat, or millet porridge. And be sure to add fresh fruits, berries, or nuts to it.

3. Cereal

A favorite option for a quick breakfast! Are you late for work? Slept through school? Have you decided to lie in bed for an extra 15 minutes? A dry breakfast will come to the rescue! And yes, the kids love it. The only problem is that in such food there are no vitamins and microelements necessary for the child (do not believe advertising that says the opposite!). But there is plenty of sugar. Moreover, such a breakfast is maximally saturated with fast carbohydrates, which means that in an hour your child will be hungry again.

What to replace? Natural cottage cheese (cook for 2 minutes - put on a plate, add a little sour cream, and replace sugar with fruits and berries) or rolls in a thin flatbread with vegetables, cheese, and herbs (cooking time - 5 minutes).

4. Milkshakes

Between the scary and terrible Coca-Cola and the "harmless" milkshake, parents will always prefer to order their child the second one. However, who said that there is less sugar in a milkshake than in soda?! In addition, it contains a lot of unhealthy fats, and its calorie content is so high that such a drink can replace a full dinner for a child, thereby depriving him of all useful trace elements. In addition, most milkshakes are made from dry mixes using colorants and food additives.

What to replace? If a child really asks, then it’s better to buy ice cream for him, since now there are many organic and natural brands with a good composition. If you are thirsty, then the advice is the same as with juices: there is nothing better than plain mineral water.

5. Marmalade

“Mom, buy bears, worms, turtles!” Almost all children love marmalade and require it almost daily. It has long become one of the most familiar children's sweets. And very in vain. We will not even talk about harm to teeth (for lovers of jelly and chewing sweets - caries is guaranteed). Just think about gelatin, which is part of almost any marmalade and is made from recycled animal tissues (read, it’s not clear from what). In addition, marmalade is full of sugar, dyes, and numerous harmful additives. If marmalade contains agar-agar, then this can completely cause an excess of iodine in the child's body.

What to replace? There is a less harmful natural marmalade, which is prepared without chemical additives. The healthiest organic marmalade is expensive and often distasteful to children (they need to be taught not to be overly sweet). Buckwheat chocolate can also be offered to children as an alternative dessert.