The Hidden Dangers: Why Processed Foods Are Bad for Children
In today’s fast-paced world, processed foods have become a ubiquitous part of children’s diets. These convenient and tasty options may seem like a blessing for busy parents, but they come with a hidden cost.
Processed foods, laden with artificial additives, excessive sugar, unhealthy
fats, and a host of other harmful ingredients, this pose’s a grave threat to children’s health an well-being.
Processed foods are notorious for their low nutritional content.
They are typically stripped of essential nutrients during manufacturing and are often loaded with empty calories, leaving children malnourished despite consuming a seemingly full meal.
They are also loaded with excessive sugar, making it taste delicious and therefore addictive. We definitely recommend thinking twice before letting your 1 year old have a lick of your ice cream just to see their adorable reaction to sugar!
To make processed foods seem more appetizing, numerous synthetic additives such as artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives are commonly added. Some of these additives have unfortunately been linked to hyperactivity and behavioral issues in children.
Another factor is to avoid unhealthy fats.
Processed foods often contain trans fats and high levels of unhealthy saturated fats. These fats can lead to heart disease, high cholesterol,
and other cardiovascular problems, even in children.
We should stick to cooking with high-oleic oils which are monounsaturated fats, which are more stable at high temperatures. Stable meaning its ability to not go rancid.
What makes oils become rancid is the way oxygen breaks the oil down. The fatty acids become volatile to oxygen and then in turn your oil becomes unstable, resulting in an unpleasant smell and flavor, indicating that the health value deteriorates.
What type of oil do you choose to cook with at home? Vegetable oil, olive oil, ghee? Avocado oil? Let us know!
Just remember what fuels our guts, fuels our brains, they go hand in hand. Therefore, research suggests a connection between processed food consumption and mental health issues in children, including depression and anxiety.
We should all opt for fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, as the foundation of their meals.
By steering clear of processed foods, parents can safeguard their children’s health and (your own), fostering healthy growth and development that will serve them well into adulthood.
As a parent we want to offer the best lives possible to our children, what type of snacks do you like to offer your children?
We’d like to share one of our favorite recipes with you: Zucchini Hummus!
We’d love to know what you think of it!
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