10 Worst Snacks for Kids

"Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie." Jim Davis, 'Garfield'

While waiting for DH to get his food handlers (I got mine too....100% on the test)certificate, I found an article on the 10 worst snacks for kids. I'm sharing it because I believe it is time to take a positive step towards healthy eating habits. Obviously there aren't any surprises on it and it doesn't just pertain to kids!

10 worst snacks for kids

written by Aubrey Merrel

1. Chips. At 150 calories and 10 grams of fat per serving, chips are one of the worst snack foods. The issues compound further when kids reach three to four servings deep into the bag.
2. Doughnuts. Yes, this includes doughnut holes, mini doughnuts and anything spelled "donut." Sugar will cause your child's insulin levels to fluctuate. Add to that deep-frying, 4 grams of trans fat and you have an equation for type II diabetes.
3. Cookies. Like doughnuts, kids love the sweetness and chewy texture of a chocolate chip or oatmeal raisin cookie. Store-bought varieties always pack more fat and chemicals to prolong their shelf life.
4. Chicken nuggets. For some reason, children seem to love deep-fried, processed chicken. A McDonald's Kid's Meal portion not only packs four "nuggets", but 169 calories and 10 grams of fate (including 1 gram of trans fat) ***GRAND KIDS TAKE NOTE******
5. Cheese product. The title alone should deter you. Cheese product refers to cheese in a can, American cheese, cheese dips, Mac 'n Cheese, etc. Infused with emulsifiers, chemical preservatives, color additives and extra sodium, manufacturers cannot legally label cheese product as "real cheese."
6. Fruit snacks & fruit roll-ups. With the antioxidant craze of late, candy companies have jumped on the band-wagon to claim high quantities of the antioxidant vitamin C. Be careful of food labels. Fruit snacks and other fruit candies have always contained vitamin C if they were made from real fruit juice. Just because it says "antioxidants" doesn't mean it is healthy.
7. Candy. Grocery stores devote an entire aisle to it, and some pantries resemble it all too well. Sugar, the essence of candy, is one of the leading causes of obesity and type II diabetes. With the number of blue and green mouths running around, it's not wonder why obesity and diabetes rates are epidemically high.
8. White bread. Wonder bread. It really is a wonder how that five-inch square of fluffy white goodness can roll into a tiny ball. White bread, unless fortified, packs no nutritional value, but it puts the body's insulin levels on a roller coaster ride.
9. Soda & Energy drinks. One of the most terrifying aspects of my two-year waitress career was 2-year-old asking for Diet Coke on their own accord. The words, "Diet Coke" should not exist in a two-year-old's limited vocabulary. Parents complain about their kids bouncing off the walls, yet still feed them concentrated sugar and caffeine. A great deal of the childhood obesity epidemic relates to the sugar consumed by sipping soda.
10. CHIPS! Yes, chips are so unhealthy they made the list twice!