Kids eating junk food

Nowadays, with the improvement of living standards, food is becoming more abundant, but junk food is also increasing. Some children are reluctant to eat staple food and are always slow to eat, but they are very keen on junk food such as fried chicken, French fries, and biscuits. Although such junk food has low nutritional value, it tastes very delicious and is very popular with children. So what are the more common junk foods in daily life?

Children love to eat junk food

Junk food such as fried chicken, French fries, biscuits, cakes, etc. not only have a strong aroma and good taste, but also make people feel happy after eating. Therefore, children often cannot resist the temptation and can't help eating them one bite after another. However, the nutritional value of junk food is extremely low, and eating too much can easily lead to obesity and chronic diseases. Parents should discourage their children from eating junk food.

Top 10 junk foods

The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced the top 10 junk foods, hoping to let people know that while enjoying delicious food, they may cause harm to their health. The following are the top 10 junk foods:

Fried food

Increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Pickled

Excessive sodium content can easily lead to high blood pressure.

Processed meat

It contains nitrite, whose main function is preservation and coloring. If used in excess, it may produce carcinogenic nitrosamines in the body.

Biscuits

It is a high-sugar, high-oil, high-calorie food with low nutritional value.

Soda and cola products

Contains too much phosphoric acid and drinking too much will inhibit calcium absorption.

Convenience

Too much salt and too many preservatives and flavors.

Canned Food

Too high in calories and low in other nutrients.

Preserved plums

Too much salt and too many preservatives and flavors.

Frozen desserts

It is a high-sugar, high-oil food and can easily cause obesity.

BBQ

It contains a lot of carcinogens and is harmful to your health.

5 Steps to Quitting Junk Food

If parents want to keep their children away from junk food, they must set a good example by quitting junk food themselves first, and then gradually influence their children's eating habits. In addition, when dining with children, parents should also instill the concept of healthy and balanced diet in them so that they can understand the benefits of healthy food and increase the incentives for them to consume it.

Parents Lead by Example

If parents want to help their children get rid of the habit of eating junk food, they must set a good example themselves. They should try to reduce the storage of junk food at home to avoid letting their children see it. They must also stay away from junk food themselves. They must not just tell their children not to eat it while continuing to eat it themselves. In addition, some parents use junk food as a reward, hoping to encourage their children to develop good daily behaviors. However, once children taste the deliciousness of junk food, they will never forget it and ask their parents to provide it often.

For children who are cared for by grandparents or nannies, parents should make them aware of the harm of junk food and ask caregivers not to provide it to avoid making it difficult for children to quit eating junk food.

Reduce the frequency of eating out

Not only does the junk food on the market add too many seasonings, but some fast food restaurants also fry the fried food first and then freeze it. When selling, it is fried again in the pan, which means it absorbs oil twice. Eating too much will cause a burden on the body. Therefore, parents should avoid eating out. If they need to eat out, they should also avoid choosing fried food, as this type of food will invisibly add too much fat to the body. It is recommended to try to adopt healthier cooking methods such as steaming, braising, and blanching to eat healthily.

Change the way you cook

If parents want their children to be more accepting of healthy food, they can first buy the types of food that their children like, such as chicken, chicken legs, etc., and use healthier cooking methods, including reducing oil, salt, sugar and other seasonings, and mainly using steaming, baking, boiling and other methods, avoiding frying, so that children can gradually get used to food with lighter taste. Taking fried chicken legs as an example, the mother first buys semi-finished chicken legs in the supermarket, and then bakes them in the oven after returning home. Not only does the process not use a drop of oil, but the child can also eat the food he wants. In addition, you can also change cooking utensils, such as using non-stick pans, air fryers, etc. to reduce the amount of oil used.

Increase your intake of healthy foods

So-called healthy food refers to food that does not contain too many seasonings, has high nutritional value, and helps growth and development, such as vegetables and fruits. However, compared to junk food, these foods have a lighter taste and children may not be able to accept them all at once. Parents are advised to mix healthy food with junk food, for example: wrap vegetables in scallion pancakes, use the aroma to cover the vegetables, and increase children's appeal to healthy food.

Develop good eating habits

When children gradually get rid of the habit of eating junk food, parents should gradually establish healthy eating habits. In addition to choosing more healthy, natural and fresh ingredients and avoiding processed foods with too many food additives, they should also consume a balanced intake of six major food groups. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, children aged 1 to 3 years old should consume 1.5 to 2 servings of whole grains and roots, 2 to 3 servings of beans, fish, meat, and eggs, 2 cups of dairy products, 2 plates of vegetables, 2 servings of fruit, and 4 servings of oils and nuts and seeds every day; children aged 4 to 6 years old should consume 2.5 to 3 servings of whole grains and roots, 3 to 4 servings of beans, fish, meat, and eggs, 2 cups of dairy products, 3 plates of vegetables, 2 servings of fruit, and 4 to 5 servings of oils and nuts and seeds every day.