cookie

Our site uses cookies to make your experience on this site even better. We hope you think that is sweet.

Yes, I am okay. Know more
Planning for a baby?
Already Pregnant?
Have a Baby?
Have a Toddler?
Positive Parenting
Baby Names
Child Safety
Cord Blood
Life Skills
Premature Baby
Twins
Feeding
Got a Toddler?

Top 10 Most Unhealthy Foods For Kids

4 min read

Unhealthy foods for kids
The lady of the house is the first person to adopt food trends such as low fat, baked or vegan and the entire family follows it. Fat free foods, zero calorie juices and coke, skimmed milk, baked items and confectionery – all are attractive buys, but are these really nutritious for your child or just a fad? As you happily arrange the food items shopped from the supermarket, are you sure you have purchased healthy foodstuffs for your child and the family? Are you sure none of them may pose potential health hazard for your little one? Read below to find the disguised foods items which may be dangerous for your kid:

  • Top 10 Unhealthy Foods For Your Child
  • Healthy Kids-Friendly Foods

Top 10 Unhealthy Foods For Your Child

  1. Potato chips and French fries: French fries is a very popular food among children and even adults like to snack on it. Caution! It is deep fried. The same goes for potato chips. Even though recently baked varieties have been promoted, they are still high in trans-fat and salt. Such high quantity of saturated fats increase bad cholesterol and increase the risk of obesity, high blood pressure, respiratory disorders and osteoporosis. In addition to this, Acrylamide, a cancer-causing toxin forms in such starchy foods which are cooked at high temperatureBoy loves french fries
  2. Chocolate Milk: Many parents feed their kids chocolate milk or chocolate milk shakes so as to disguise milk. However, chocolate milk only makes the kids vouch and reach out for chocolate, milk never gets a favor here
  3. Doughnuts and other fried sweets: Double chocolate glazed doughnuts, cream doughnuts or jalebis, these contain high amount of sugar and artificial flavors. Such food additives are used to enhance flavor, add color, as preservative or as artificial sweeteners. MSG or mono-sodium glutamate is already banned by most food authorities. Other food additives contain chemicals causing headache, obesity, tissue damage and cancer. If your kid has sweet craving, make fruit chat, fruit bun or fruit cream using yogurtChild with doughnuts
  4. Sausages and hot dogs: The smooth, slippery texture aided by oil or sauce raises a red flag due to potential choking hazard in children below 10 years of age. More prevalent in the western countries, in February 2010, American Academy of Pediatrics specially mentioned hot dogs as one of the leading food related fatal choking. Apart from the risk of choking, they are fried/grilled, contain preservatives and do not provide any nutrition
  5. Uncooked eggs and meat: Half-boiled egg is an easy snack to keep kids engaged. However, it is to be noted that uncooked eggs and meat contain salmonella bacteria. Although it is not harmful in itself, the condition becomes serious when the bacteria enters bloodstream. This can happen with young children, whose immune system is weak and in developing stages. So make sure that the meat is completely cooked, i.e. “well done”, not even slightly pinkish and opt for full boiled eggs
  6. Butter and Cheese: Children love butter and cheese and honestly, who doesn’t? A spread of butter or a generous spoonful of cheese sort of ensures that the plate is licked neat. However, butter and cheese contain saturated fats and chemical pollutants – hence not being safe for kidsGirl smearing peanut butter
  7. Candies and lollipops: With loads of sugar, artificial coloring and flavors, hard candies, gums, lollipops, jelly toffees etc can cause cavities and other dental problems. The nutritive value is nil,but the taste could particularly be liked by tots. There foods can be reserved as special treats but owing to the empty nutrition cart, they are best consumed in check
  8. Raw peanuts: Peanuts do not suit everyone and may cause adverse allergies. Whether boiled or roasted, the size and smooth texture of peanuts increases the risk of swallowing directly or lodging in the throat or windpipe. This may cause fatal choking
  9. Popcorn: Cheese popcorn, caramel popcorn or the classic salted, they can now even be made at home thanks to ready to make packs. These munchies are often favored since they are not fried and appear as healthy alternative. However, their texture and shape is what enlists them as one of the dangerous food for children. They not only stick to the teeth. But, their tiny, lightweight particles can be easily sucked in the windpipe while laughing or swallowing. This may cause choking and difficulty in breathing. God forbid! if the bit of popcorn travels down to the lungs, it may cause lung infection or even pneumoniaPopcorn is unhealthy
  10. Seeds of fruits: Serving fresh fruits to the kids is a very important part of a balanced diet. However, caution should be exercised with fruits containing stones or small seeds- example cherries, apples, plums, peaches, apricots etc. The seeds contain amygdalin, which produces cyanide. Cyanide is a very harmful toxin and large consumption causes poisoning. Choking hazards are also common when it comes to seeds

In addition to the above foodstuffs, smoked meat, sports drinks and sweetened yogurts are other items which must be consumed in moderation. These contain high amounts of saturated fats and sugar.

Healthy Kids-Friendly Foods

Give fresh, home-cooked food to kids. Keep pizza, cereal bars or above mentioned items reserved as treats. During those developmental years, it’s essential to provide them the necessary calories and nutrition for healthy growth. Pamper your little one with:

  • Full fat milk: Just ensure they have enough outdoor play and exercise
  • Fresh fruits and juices
  • Lots of greens and colored vegetables
  • Beans and tomatoes: These are the new superfoods!

On that note, happy cooking and healthy eating!

Responses (0)

Please check a captcha
Read this next

10 Outdoor Learning Activities for Preschoolers

As the working lives of parents get busier, cities become more crowded and technology takes a grip on our lives. As a result, our children are spending more and more time indoors. The lives of children today are much more structured and supervised, with few opportunities for free play. Research has found that 56% of children globally play outside for one hour or less each day– which is less than the two-hour guideline for maximum security prisoners in the US. Furthermore, in India, 56 per cent of parents believe their child has less opportunities to play than they did as a child. Studies have provided cogent evidence that the way young ones feel in pleasing natural environments improves recall of information, problem solving, and creative skills. Early experiences with the natural world has a direct link with the development of imagination and the sense of wonder. Seventy-nine per cent of children report that having time to play at school helps them to concentrate in lessons. Little ones respond more positively to experiences in the outdoors and it greatly adds to their ability to naturally experiment with independence. Children’s social, psychological, academic and physical....

4 min read

Baby’s First Food- Green Peas Puree (4-6 Months)

Are Green Peas Good For My Baby? When Can I Introduce Green Peas To My Baby? Should I Use Fresh Green Peas Or Frozen Peas For Making My Baby's Puree? Green Peas Puree Recipe (4-6 Months) Are Green Peas Good For My Baby? Though they look small and tiny, the nutritional value of peas is considerably high. This bright green vegetable is a great source of vitamins A, C and B1, and offer folate, phosphorus, iron, proteins and fibre. However, peas can cause gas in some babies, just like in adults, so you may want to wait a couple of months before introducing them to your baby. Just like with any other new food, do not forget to go by the 3 day wait rule for babies. When Can I Introduce Green Peas To My Baby? Though it is safe to introduce your baby to peas by the time he is 6 months old, some parents may prefer to delay till the baby's digestive system is more mature - around 12 months of age. The best way would be to check with your pediatrician who would be able to advise you better. Should I Use Fresh Green Peas Or Frozen Peas For Making My Baby's Puree? Frozen peas are more readily available than garden fresh peas. Frozen peas also tend to cook easily, whereas garden peas....

3 min read

Motor Skills Developmental Milestones

Motor Skills are an individual's ability to coordinate his actions through muscles control. It is controlled by the nervous system and brain. A child's upbringing has a great impact on his motor skills development. Willingly moving hands, grasping, making gestures, waving, walking, running, etc are some examples of fine motor skills. A child learns all this with some time and practice. The wait for watching your baby's first steps and catching a ball is incredible and totally worth. Age, physical ability, atmosphere and inheritance all these factors play a vital role in Motor Skills development. Though the pattern for every child's Motor Skill development is quite similar, yet a child could hit the milestones at different ages. Children who are born premature, or are multiples, take some time but gradually catch on their peers of the same age group. At the time of birth, the child has no significant control over his body. The action of moving arms, hands and legs are random. The child learns to do many things as he grows up and he gets on the cruise of discovering his body and various things he can do with his body parts. Here is the list of obvious and proposed motor skills....

4 min read

Working Through Your Pregnancy

If you are healthy and your pregnancy is not a complicated one, you could continue to work up until the last few days before you deliver. Some women like to opt for a maternity leave a week or two before the due date so as to prepare themselves for labor and other things. Some even have to quit their work during the earlier days of pregnancy owing to complications. Whatever stage of pregnancy you are, you need to take proper care of yourself. Below tips would be helpful if you are working during your pregnancy – Assess Your Workplace and Nature of Work – Being pregnant would mean you would not be able to perform strenuous jobs and the exposure to anything toxic needs to be negated – hence the first thing to do is to assess your workplace and the nature of work. Ask your HR to shift you to a different role or profile, atleast till you are pregnant and nursing. Inform Your Boss and Co-workers – Breaking the news to your manager and colleagues should be done well in time. This would save you and others plenty of time to distribute work and knowledge during your absence. Easing Nausea – Most women suffer from morning sickness and nausea – and you need to face it. While at....

3 min read

Want personalized reading and shopping suggestions for your exact stage of pregnancy?

Come on, sell the idea of signing up with us in two lines so well that they HAVE to sign up.

Sign Up
image

Want curated content sharply tailored for your exact stage of pregnancy?

Sign Up
Load More

165+ Services.

6+ Cities.

60K+ Parents Reviewed.

Explore Local Services.

Get regular updates, great recommendations and other right stuff at the right time.

search-icon
Begin typing to search