PARENT'S GUIDE TO "CARTOON FOODS"

Fun foods for kids are all the rage. Kid foods are everywhere. Walk down a market aisle and notice all the food items designed to attract the kids. They range from rice krispies treat cereal to gargoyle spaghetti, from confetti cake mix to yogurt with gummi bear topping. Food makers have discovered what a gold mine these products can be, because children have a big impact on family food purchases. They influence what parents buy and what they eat.

TV and even computer commercials about foods for kids are on the increase. No longer do we see food marketing only during cartoons, we now see it on prime time.

Should we be concerned? The answer is yes. Most novelty food items for kids are:

low in essential nutrients
high in calories, particularly sugar calories and
expensive

Childhood obesity is increasing. Excess caloric intake is not good for any child. Parents need to be in charge of their children's diets. The goals are:

to provide enjoyable meals for all members of the family and
to ensure that your family has adequate nutrients to grow strong and stay healthy

Make your own "cartoon foods" using healthy ingredients. Try these ideas:

freeze juice or yogurt with fruit in small paper cups, and insert a Popsicle stick in the middle.
use cookie cutters to cut sandwiches into fun shapes
make fun designs with food like smiley faces or animals

There is no end to the possibilities. Make eating fun and nutritional for your children. Remember, eating habits learned in childhood carry over to adulthood. If you are short on ideas, check your local library or bookstore for fun cookbooks for kids. Another great resource for kids and parents is on the Internet at www.kidshealth.org.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

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