heart health for kids

Healthy Options for Children Living in a Fast Food World

We've all seen the news about parents who exercise fast food obesity of their children. We are on the side of the golden arches or parents on the subject, the fact of the matter is that obesity is a growing problem for our nation's children. Plans are to treat chicken nuggets, fat responsible for chips, soda and sugar filled doing nothing but expanding waistlines of our children.

With an increasing number of households where both parents work, people are looking for options for quick and easy dinner. Unfortunately, restaurants like McDonalds and Burger King are all excited to meet this need. Check out how the average child Batteries food nutritional recommendations of the food pyramid for kids half chicken nugget kids meal contains 520 calories and 23 grams of fat. A typical kids meal with cheese contains 650 calories and 25 grams of fat.

According to the recommended energy intake for children 1-3 years old need 1,300 calories per day, 4-6 years need 1,800 calories per day, and 7-10 years old need 2,000 calories per day. Therefore, depending on the age and the child's meals, could have easily spent half of your calories for the day with this meal. This does not leave much for the other two meals and snacks. It is not surprising that obesity is a problem with so many children to consume more calories than recommended.

Then there is the whole issue of fat. It is recommended that the amount of calories of fat or less than 30% of total calories. These give much fat meals. Excess fat in the diet can lead to serious health problems for children in the future. These health problems are heart disease and hypertension.

In addition, these foods do not give fruits, vegetables or whole grains. All these elements are essential for a healthy diet to ensure they get all the vitamins and minerals they need. For example, a year having 8 to 1.5 cups of fruits and vegetables. Happy Meals not provide half cup should get at each meal.

So what can parents busy to eat healthier children when a busy schedule dictates meals must be eaten quickly? A good option for busy parents is cooking month once. All meals are prepared for a month in advance and frozen. Foods that are thawed and then heated as needed. This ensures that the family will always have a healthy meal if time is near. The whole family can participate in planning healthy meals. The kids can help cook too! Thus, the unhealthy Happy Meals can be completely avoided.

Many parents are faced with picky eaters. So what should parents do if your child refuses to eat other than the price of regular fast food any good? Find ways to make your favorites at home and make them healthier. Chicken pieces coated fiber can be crushed cereal and cooked a delicious chicken nugget the other. French fries house can be sprayed with a little olive oil and bake until crisp a heart-healthy alternative to fried potato chips. Be sure to offer a variety of fruits and vegetables as sides. Your child may experience at first, but eventually get used to the new way of eating.

If you do go with fast food, the best benefit options lateral parts. Most fast food restaurants are now alternatives to standard fries and soda. Encourage your children to take the apple or mandarin slices instead of fries and milk instead of soda. At least this way they will receive their portions of fruit and dairy products.

No matter where you eat dinner, please do not forget to exercise. This is an important aspect of the recommendations of the food pyramid for kids. Children should aspire to sixty minutes of exercise almost every day. Parents should do everything possible to please the children. Enroll your child in dance classes or karate. Encourage them to participate in sports. Take a family walk after dinner. Spend Saturday hiking through the woods in a state park nearby. If your kids like it is more likely to continue into adulthood. Your health will benefit greatly from the extra activity.

So the next time your child has to be taken to the Golden Arches, smile and tell her son Ronald McDonald gets a break from cooking tonight because you're going to eat dinner at home mom. The arteries of your child will thank you

Jennifer Voss is a registered dietitian. She writes about nutrition, healthy cooking and organic life in the kitchen I Organic.