Posts Tagged ‘nutrition for kids’
Wednesday, September 15th, 2010
I was shocked the first time my daughter parroted a TV commercial back to me; she was two and a half! I was amazed that the marketing was able to hit its mark and make an impression on such a young child. Here I was, unsuccessfully trying to get her to remember the ABC song, yet Kellogg’s had no problem getting her to both sing and quote their commercial. It was shocking.
A study from Yale University’s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity found that the least healthy breakfast cereals are the most aggressively marketed cereals. The study also showed that cereal companies are purposely targeting children (as young as age 2) with these commercials.
Many companies are also using online marketing in the form of cereal websites and “advergames”. For example, General Mills’ Websites Millsberry.com averages 767,000 unique young visitors a month; each visitor remains on the website for about 24 minutes each visit.
General Mills has the distinction of marketing to kids more than any of its competitors. Six of the 10 least healthy cereals advertised to kids are from General Mills!
How do companies decide which cereals to market to our kids? It seems that they simply choose the least healthy cereals and make them “kid” cereals. This study showed that cereals marketed to kids have 85% more sugar, 65% less fiber, and 60% more sodium than cereals marketed to adults.
Cereal companies spend nearly $156 million annually on kid-friendly TV commercials for kids. Why do companies spend so much money on child targeted advertising? Because it works! These commercials prompt our kids to crave these unhealthy items. And with the average child seeing 40,000 commercials a year, mostly for high-fat, high-calorie foods, that’s a lot of cravings!
When was the last time you remember seeing a commercial for a fruit or a vegetable? These healthy foods are rarely promoted on TV because they are not branded items and don’t turn out the same profits.
What can parents do to protect their kids? As always, it starts with communication. Sit down with your child and talk about the commercials. Explain to your kids that the purpose of the commercial is to get them to spend money. Ask them if they think there might be some important information that the advertiser is leaving out. “Do you think this is a healthy cereal? Why do you think the commercial doesn’t mention anything about how much sugar is in this cereal? Can you think of other cereals that are healthier?”
You can also discuss the use of cartoon characters. “Why do you think the company chose a cartoon bear to sell this cereal? Does it have anything to do with the cereal or is it just a way to get kids to watch the commercial?”
Most kids, even the younger ones, can be taught to see commercials for what they truly are.
The most successful way to avoid this problem, however, is to limit the amount of time your children spend watching television and playing computer and video games. Companies are even starting to advertise there, as well. It is possible that as your child is playing a beloved game, an advertisement is flashing before his eyes. So limit the exposure to this “noise”.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends fewer than 2 hours of TV and computer/video games per day. Parents seem to believe that their children will not agree to these limits but elementary and middle school children can usually be persuaded to cut down on TV, especially when parents give them ideas for other fun activities to do instead. Sit down with your child and brainstorm all the fun things they can do that don’t involve electronics.
Food companies and advertising executives spend large amounts of time and money trying to control your child’s cravings. Fight back with communication, education, and redirection. Parents can (and should) be the ones with the most influence over their young children.
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Tags: advertisements, Child Obesity, commercials, diet for kids, healthy commercials, healthy eating for kids, junk food commercials, nutrition for kids, overweight child
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Monday, August 16th, 2010
A new study from the journal Pediatrics finds that girls are beginning to develop breasts at the early age of 7 or 8. These results support the findings of a 1997 study that noted puberty beginning in girls at the age of 7 or 8. But why are our children starting puberty so much earlier? Evidence indicates that the increasing rates of obesity play a major role.
According to current medical understanding, puberty normally begins in girls between ages 8 and 12 and in boys between ages 9 and 14. Historically, “precocious puberty” (early-onset puberty) has been defined as before the age of 8 for a girl and before the age of 9 for a boy. The beginning of puberty is marked by penile enlargement or pubic hair growth for boys and breast bud formation and pubic hair growth for girls. If a child shows such signs of puberty before this age, she is sent to a pediatric endocrinologist for a full workup.
Why does obesity lead to early-onset puberty? Adipose (fat) tissue is metabolically active; fat tissue produces estrogen. The more fat tissue a child has, the more estrogen she is exposed to. It is generally accepted that overweight kids begin puberty earlier for this reason.
The presence of increased amounts of environment chemicals that mimic the effects of the sex hormones may also speed up the onset of puberty. To date, there is no evidence to prove that assumption. Dr. Frank M. Biro, the author of this new study, believes environmental chemicals are playing a role and will begin studying girls’ hormone levels and lab tests measuring their exposures to various chemicals. More research needs to be done before we can conclusively state that these chemicals are affecting our children.
Early-onset puberty can lead to medical problems. Girls who begin menstruating early have a slightly increased risk of breast cancer than other girls; such girls have a longer lifetime exposure to estrogen and progesterone, which can increase the growth of certain tumors. While this study looked at breast growth and not menstruation, breast growth is also a sign of hormone exposure and likely also indicates an increased risk of cancer.
Kids with early-onset puberty also suffer from short stature. While they initially appear taller than their peers, their growth plates close early, preventing the attainment of normal height. The child who was the tallest in her class soon becomes shorter than her friends.
Girls with early puberty are also more likely to have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is a hormone disorder that begins in puberty and causes infertility, acne, and other endocrine abnormalities.
The onset of puberty differs among races. African American and Hispanic children often begin puberty earlier than kids of other races, even when weight is taken into account. This differential was confirmed in the current study. While all kids seemed to enter puberty earlier, African American and Hispanic children began the earliest.
Not all doctors agree with the results of this study. Dr. Catherine Gordon, a pediatric endocrinologist and specialist in adolescent medicine at Children’s Hospital Boston, said that so far, most evidence showed that neither breast development nor menstrual age had changed for white girls of normal weight. Yet according to Dr. Biro, “our analysis shows clearly that the white participants entered puberty earlier than we anticipated.”
The new study included 1,239 girls ages 6 to 8 who were recruited from schools and examined at one of three sites: the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in Manhattan, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital or Kaiser Permanente Northern California/University of California, San Francisco. The group was roughly 30 percent each white, black and Hispanic, and about 5 percent Asian.
At 7 years, 10.4 percent of white, 23.4 percent of black and 14.9 percent of Hispanic girls had enough breast development to be considered at the onset of puberty.
At age 8, the figures were 18.3 percent in whites, 42.9 percent in blacks and 30.9 percent in Hispanics. The percentages for blacks and whites were even higher than those found by the 1997 study that was one of the first to suggest that puberty was occurring earlier in girls.
The question remains, when should doctors refer a child for a precocious puberty workup? Some endocrinologists worry that if we accept puberty beginning at age 7 or 8 we would overlook serious medical problems, like endocrine diseases and tumors. On the other hand, if this earlier puberty is the new norm, why should we frighten families and waste valuable time and money on unnecessary tests? At this time, current practice does warrant a workup for any girl who shows signs of puberty before age 8.
It is clear that early-onset puberty is just one more effect of the child obesity epidemic. It is imperative that we help our overweight children attain a healthy weight as soon as possible. Parents are urged to get help for their overweight kids as soon as they begin to show signs of abnormal weight gain.
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Tags: breast development, Child Obesity, diet for kids, early puberty, healthy eating for kids, new study on puberty, nutrition for kids, overweight child, precocious puberty, puberty
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Tuesday, June 29th, 2010
Summer is finally here and it’s time to hit the beach. But summer doesn’t give us the right to eat poorly. It’s important to stay healthy all year round. Relaxing at the beach is a great way to spend the day, but make sure you bring some healthy treats to share.
Before you set out for a day at the beach, it’s always smart to plan ahead and pack some yummy food to bring along. Instead of bringing junk food, this year try something new and healthy. I love to freeze different foods the night before my beach escape. Frozen fruits, like grapes and blueberries, are especially refreshing in the heat, taste great, and provide you with healthy nutrients. Freezing yogurt the night before can also make for a great beach snack. By the time you’re ready to eat, the yogurt won’t be frozen but will be nice and cold. You can also bring along some granola or make your own trail mix. These snacks provide energy and can be added to the yogurt and fruit to make your own parfait. Try to avoid salty foods though, like salted pretzels or salted nuts. It’s important to stay hydrated and keep your energy level up when spending the day in the sun. Salty foods will do just the opposite by dehydrating you. Foods like fruit and veggies are high in water content which will provide you with a little extra hydration. Making sure you have lots of water is extremely important as well. For those who don’t love to drink plain water, bring along some flavor packets to keep everyone happy. Drinking is the key to making it through a day at the beach and in the sun.
Plan on eating a meal at the beach? Don’t spend all your money on greasy cheeseburgers and pizza; instead, bring a healthy lunch that everyone will enjoy. Reduced fat peanut butter and cut up apple pieces on a whole-wheat sandwich will be popular, especially with the kids. Besides being easy to prepare, the peanut butter will provide some protein and the apples will add some extra water content. To make the sandwich even more enticing for the kids, try putting the peanut butter and apples in small whole-wheat tortillas to make eating more fun. It tastes extra-yummy when the peanut butter melts in the sun and gets all gooey. Don’t forget extra napkins! Feel free to add some of that granola or some banana. Making a normal sandwich into a wrap not only makes eating more exciting but also makes them cleaner; wraps are easier to hold so you don’t have to worry about your sandwich contents falling into the sand.
If your kids insist on eating at the snack bar, let them choose between a grilled chicken sandwich and grilled chicken fingers. Most snack bars will be happy to substitute grilled chicken for the fried chicken on the kids’ menu. Forego the fries and get baked potato chips instead. If your kids are clamoring for the ice cream truck, have them choose ices over ice cream for a lot less fat.
With all these healthy choices, everyone will be satisfied and you are guaranteed to enjoy a great day at the beach. Your friends and family with thank you, as will your body. And don’t forget the sunscreen.
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Tags: Child Obesity, diet for kids, healthy eating for kids, nutrition for kids, overweight child
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Friday, March 12th, 2010
We were starting to think that Vitamin D deficiency was a thing of the past. I mean, when was the last time you met someone with rickets? But a recent study in Pediatrics showed that over six million children in the United States do not get enough Vitamin D. That is one out of every five kids! It seems that Vitamin D deficiency is more common than we thought.
Vitamin D is an important vitamin! New studies are proving that vitamin D can help prevent many diseases such as cancer, depression, diabetes, hypertension, osteoporosis, chronic fatigue, autoimmune diseases and cardiovascular disease. Other research has linked low Vitamin D levels to obesity; studies show that overweight individuals are much more likely to be Vitamin D deficient. It is not clear, however, whether increased body fat leads to Vitamin D deficiency or if low Vitamin D levels cause a person to gain weight. Is one responsible for the other? More research is needed in this area.
There are a few different ways to get vitamin D. Vitamin D may come from foods or vitamin supplements; vitamin D can also be made by the skin when it is exposed to ultraviolet rays (UV light). Fortified foods are the main dietary sources of Vitamin D as few foods naturally contain it. Although milk is fortified with vitamin D, dairy products made from milk, such as cheese and ice creams, are generally not fortified with vitamin D. Fatty fish and fish oils are natural sources of Vitamin D.
Vitamin D deficiency is often missed because there are no real symptoms associated with it. Rickets and osteomalacia (softening of the bones) are the most common signs of vitamin D deficiency but there is no way for parents to tell if their child is suffering from these illnesses. The only way to prove that your child is vitamin D deficient is by completing a blood test which screens for a particular form of vitamin D, called 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D).
Think that name sounds complicated? Unfortunately, many doctors do too. In fact, doctors often order the wrong blood test when assessing vitamin D levels. Be sure to ask for 25(OH) D blood test not 1, 25-dihydroxy-vitamin D (aka calcitriol). With such complicated names, it is no wonder that such mistakes are made!
Vitamin D deficiency exists when 25(OH) D levels fall below 25 ng/mL. Levels may vary depending on time of year, direct sunlight exposure, skin color and vitamin D consumption. Levels should be between 50 – 80 ng/mL year-round for both children and adults.
As a doctor, I am finding more and more children with low levels of vitamin D, mainly because kids are spending less time in the sun. These days, toddlers are more often inside watching TV than playing outside. And if they are in the sun, they are lathered with sun block, which reflects the sun’s rays and decreases vitamin D formation. Obviously, sunscreen is important and should not be avoided! But it does lead to lower levels of vitamin D. Also, many toddlers do not get enough vitamin D to meet their needs since there are limited food sources of high vitamin D content.
The current recommendation is 400 IU per day in the form on of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). New studies are showing that higher levels may be needed to prevent the diseases discussed above. Many are now recommending 1,000 IU per day in the form of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). If your child doesn’t get this amount of vitamin D in his diet, you may want to consider a multivitamin that contains vitamin D.
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Tags: child diets, child nutrition, Child Obesity, diets for kids, milk, nutrition for kids, school lunch, Vitamin D, vitamin D deficiency, whole milk
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Friday, March 5th, 2010
Recently, America’s school lunch menus have been under fire and parents are becoming increasingly concerned about the state of their children’s health and well-being. Federal law, under the School Lunch Act, provides nutritional guidelines and criteria to which schools must adhere. These guidelines include the amount and type of foods the cafeteria must offer, in addition to placing limits on nutrients like saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium. Specifically, school lunches must provide 1/3 of the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for protein, calcium, iron, vitamin A, vitamin C, and 1/3 of the Recommended Energy Intake (REI) for calories. In addition, the cafeteria must offer 5 components as part of a school lunch, of which three of the five must make their way onto the child’s lunch tray. These include a starch, meat (or meat substitute), fruit, vegetable and milk. There are similar guidelines for schools that serve breakfast as well. These guidelines are especially important because many children eat the majority of their meals at school.
Milk contributes a good portion of nutrients to school lunches. It is a valuable, nutrient-dense source of protein, calcium and vitamin D, all of which are important for achieving adequate nutrition and optimal growth in school-age children. However, whole milk can significantly contribute to the saturated fat and cholesterol content of a meal.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) whole milk and other full-fat dairy products are only appropriate for children under the age of 1-2 years old. Children under two, who are in a stage of rapid growth and brain development, have high energy and dietary fat requirements. They need the extra fat that whole milk contains.
Everybody else, however, should choosing low fat dairy products, including skim milk. In fact, the AAP states that no child over the age of two should be drinking whole milk. Skim milk is identical to whole milk in terms of nutritional value, but is markedly lower in saturated fat, cholesterol and calories. Diets high in saturated fat are associated with increased risk for obesity, heart disease and certain cancers. Saturated fat intake causes harmful buildup in the arteries and blood vessels of healthy individuals, starting in young children. It is important to begin healthy eating habits as a child and to continue making healthy choices throughout life.
A good portion of a child’s learning happens through modeling. That is, by watching their parents or other caregivers’ actions, they learn how to be an adult. This is especially important when it comes to eating: your food preferences as an adult are closely related to the foods you saw your parents eating. But what happens when your child is eating 2 out of 3 meals a day at school, plus a snack? Because they are eating so many meals outside the home or the care of their parents, kids are increasingly reliant on teachers, caregivers and cafeteria staff to guide them to make healthy choices and model healthy eating behaviors.
The fact is, the people who are responsible for serving food to or eating with your children usually receive no formal nutrition education. In most cases, a position as a preschool classroom aide or a kitchen worker requires a high school level education. Regardless, whatever their educational background, it is a common misconception for people to think that whole milk has a nutritional advantage over skim milk. It is also very common that parents encounter teachers or caregivers who have different beliefs than their own when it comes to feeding their child. Especially when you’re talking about the welfare of a child’s health, when a parent feels one way but their caregiver feels another way, this can create some tension. A well-meaning day care worker just may not be aware of or understand the reasons why full-fat milk can be dangerous, even for young children. Parents often have a difficult time getting this message across but should continue to be an advocate for their child’s health.
In situations like this, as a parent you have the right to decide what your child does and does not eat. You can stress this issue to the teacher in a polite way while still standing firm. If needed, refer them to an appropriate resource, such as www.MyPyramid.gov, the American Academy of Pediatrics, your pediatrician, or even a local dietitian for further advice on this matter. Your child’s health comes first!
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Tags: child diets, child nutrition, Child Obesity, diets for kids, milk, milk in schools, nutrition for kids, school lunch, whole milk
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Monday, January 4th, 2010
Welcome Year 2010! Let this be a year for being fit, having fun, spending time with family, and making healthy choices. Here are some tips and daily reminders for starting off the New Year right.
Tip 1: Do not let last year discourage you!
Let last year’s bumps in the road be a stepping stone for this year’s improvements. Focus on how you and your family can improve the food choices you make each day. For example, when you’re dining out, help each other choose healthier options from the menu. Encourage your family members to avoid the bread and butter before the meal is served and avoid heavy dressings and sauces that often contain hundreds of extra “hidden” calories. Remember to help each other out while dining out and also while at home. Everybody needs a support system.
Tip 2: Be smart! Do not let the mish mash of words advertised on food packages trick you.
Phrases such as “whole grain”, “no artificial flavors and colors added”, and “fortified with vitamins” do not necessarily indicate healthy and nutritious food options. Instead of trusting a food’s advertisements, check out its nutrition label. It would be helpful to compare two similar products and their calorie counts, grams of carbohydrate, and sugar content per serving. Remember, nutrition labels never lie!
Number 3: Have the whole family get involved and plan ahead.
Make a New Year’s Resolution to plan ahead. Set aside one half hour each night during the week, possibly right after dinner, to sit with your kids and plan the next day’s meals. First, plan a healthy and balanced meal for breakfast (aim to include at least one serving of fruit). A smoothie made with low-fat yogurt and varied fruit is a simple way to sneak much-needed fruit and dairy into breakfast. Yum!! Each week, one family member can be in charge of picking the smoothie flavors for the week. During this time you should also help each other pack lunch boxes for the following day. Planning ahead will give you and your family time to think clearly through each meal, becoming aware of your options and choices. Rushed choices are generally not the most nutritious. Planning ahead can lead to a much healthier diet!
Number 4: Be smart about food shopping.
First, remember to bring your list and if you usually do not bring one, start one! It is easy to get distracted with all of the advertisements on food packages. Sticking to your shopping list will help you avoid purchasing unnecessary and unhealthy items. Secondly, it is a good idea to have a snack before going food shopping. This will help you focus on the health value of what you are buying and not on what looks good for a snack at the moment. Hungry shoppers always buy more food! Snacking beforehand will also help you avoid “free samples” that add plenty of extra calories. Recently, even non-food stores have added snack sections offering sugary sodas, candy, and salty snacks to distracted and hungry customers. Therefore, it is a good idea to have a snack prior to leaving the house.
Number 5: Educate your children.
Lastly, it is important to talk to your kids and teach them how to make healthy choices. The best way to do this is to keep them involved. Instead of simply banning unhealthy foods from the house, explain to them why it is important to eat a healthy diet. Educate them by explaining that eating healthy at a young age leads to a healthy heart and body and will keep them feeling great for life! Explain the importance of eating a variety of different foods each day. You should also explain the importance of each food group. By researching and learning about healthy choices and diets together, you and your children can start off the New Year on the right food and create a live-able, easy, and fun pattern of eating.
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