Unhealthy Foods that You Think are Healthy for Kids

All eatables that are termed as healthy are not necessarily healthy. Read on to learn about the unhealthy foods that you think are healthy for kids.

The world of nutrition is so fraught with contradictory sources of information that it is easy for you to get confused. This list will let you know about those types of foods which look healthy but are actually very unhealthy for your children.

Multi Grain and Whole Wheat Bread

Terms like multi grain bread and 10 grain bread may seem healthy and wholesome but the reality may be different at times. Usually such types of bread are made with refined grain so your body will be unable to extract the full nutrition from such kind of food. Check the label of whole grain and multi grain bread before buying them and if the ingredient list says refined somewhere or bleached then do not buy it. Refined flour is not good for the digestion and not good for the heart.

Pre Made Salads

Just because your paediatrician told you to feed your kid a lot of fibre does not mean that any source of fibre is good for your kids. Readymade salads sold in plastic plates in malls are bad in more than one ways. The veggies may look nice and fresh but they are usually quite old and coloured with artificial agents. These kinds of salads are laden with loads of calories and fat in the form of super greasy dressings. Better make simple salads at home with organic dressings; they are really good for your kids.

Energy Bars

It is easy to think of energy bars as the best snack for your active kid but they may actually turn out to b pretty unhealthy. Many energy bars are filled with high density fructose dripping corn paste and loads of refined sugar along with artery affecting fat. Most bars also contain more than 380 calories that can cause your kid to gain a lot of weight. If you have to feed your kid energy bars then consider making them at home with natural ingredients.

Packaged Juice

Nutritionists have been writing about the potential side effects of juice since ages. Not only the fibre content, vitamins, minerals and nutrients are lost while juicing the fruits, but also the packaged juice is loaded with unhealthy elements too. 90% of the packaged juice brands add preservatives, artificial colours and loads of sugar to improve the taste and look of the juice. The alternative is quite simple; quit serving juice to your kids and give them whole fruits instead.

Gluten Free Spaghetti and Pasta

With the whole world raging against gluten now it is natural for you as a parent to feel concerned about serving anything with gluten in it to your kid. However, unless your kid has a medical problem like Gluten intolerance it is better to skip feeding new fangled items like Gluten free Spaghetti and Pasta. Manufacturers of such items use nutrient dense flour and high amount of fat to replace the gluten content of the food. So gluten free food often means low nutrition food with high fat.

Instant Oatmeal

Oatmeal is a great source of whole grain and a great food option for both adults and kids. However, oatmeal can also be a big bowl of refined carbohydrate that can make your kids glucose level soaring and make them hyperactive and jittery. You should avoid an instant oatmeal brand that has added sugar and ingredients like dried fruit and preservatives. If you can do so then make fresh oatmeal mix and add whole fruit with strawberries as toppings.This list will tell you all about those seemingly healthy foods which you need to cut off from the diet of your children. Focus on providing homemade wholesome foods to your children.

Which food items are unhealthy for kids? How to differentiate between healthy and unhealthy foods for kids? What are the ways to avoid giving unhealthy food to kids? Discuss here.