10 Childrens Snacks That Are Shockingly Unhealthy

A healthy diet is the subject of constant debate; what to eat, what to avoid, what to make yourself rather than purchase ready-made, and the list goes on. In many ways, it's pretty natural for food to be a topic of ongoing discussion, as our dietary choices affect us daily and in both the short- and long term.

Among these tricky foods are cereal and cereal bars, fruit snacks, and yogurts, which all contain, amongst other things, a lot of sugars, artificial dye, and artificial flavor. Graham crackers also contain the latter, and like veggie puffs and veggie straws, contain refined grains like flour. The peanut butter you buy might also be worth double-checking before purchasing; many brands will add many unnecessary and unhealthy components like sugar to this otherwise relatively healthy option.

Muffins and pre-packaged lunches are also choices to reconsider. Unless homemade, muffins are not likely to be different from other baked goods like doughnuts or cake. Pre-packaged lunches can be high in sodium, too much of which can become harmful. It's better to make these from scratch yourself, as they can be healthy options with the right ingredients.

Beverages, too, need to be chosen with careful consideration. For example, sports drinks and juices may sound like perfectly healthy drinks, but even these need to be had in the proper measures. Sports drinks are designed for periods of high activity and thus contain plenty of sugar and sodium. Consuming them regularly and without spending a lot of energy is ill-advised. Juices are also very sugary, and some might even rival sodas in the amount of it.

All these foods and drinks, and others like them, don't need to be entirely avoided; too much of anything can be harmful, and having a muffin or a fruit snack on occasion won't cause long-term problems. However, it's essential to keep in mind that a child's diet as they grow will set a precedent, so looking out for children's health when they are young can encourage them to do the same for themselves once they're older.

The main takeaway is that one can't assume a healthy food or drink just because it sounds like it should be. This makes working on a healthy diet all the more difficult, but getting into the habit of checking a food or drink's contents, familiarizing yourself with actual healthy alternatives, and making sure foods and beverages from scratch can all be practical steps along the way.

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