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Adolescent and Child Psychologist Edmonton
Adolescent and Child Psychologist Edmonton
ABC Psychological Services
ABC Psychological Services
Blog
Healthy Food Choices for Your Child
Posted on May 8, 2015 at 3:06 PM |
You are what you eat. Truer words have probably never been
spoken. It may be hard to believe, but
our diet and our preferences of certain food are all developed in our
childhood. With obesity rates at an
all-time high and ADHD and other behaviours all linked to diet, it is never too
early to introduce healthy food choices into your child’s diet. Here are some tips to help get you started. Limit
Sugar Sugar is being linked to more
and more health risks for children and has even been linked to learning
disabilities. In Edmonton and other
major city centers, sugar is quite readily available and is hidden in many foods. If you begin to read the labels on any child
snack, you may be shocked to see how much sugar is packed into your child’s
favourite snack. So how do you limit your child’s
sugar intake? Become more aware of the
ingredients in the items you are purchasing from the grocery store. Read the ingredient list and look for words
such as high fructose corn syrup or golden syrup. These are both other names
for sugar. Begin cutting back on any type of processed foods and try replacing these
with more of a whole food alternative.
For instance, try replacing cookies with perhaps an apple or any other
type of fruit. One of the quickest ways to
reduce your child’s sugar intake is to replace sugary drinks, including juice,
with more water, or by diluting the juice with water. Juices and other common drinks
are full of sugar, and one glass can have three times the daily recommended amount
for children. Remember, moderation is key.
Do allow sweets, but limit their amount and frequency. Limit
Salt Just like sugar, there are guidelines
around limiting salt. Salt can lead to a
plethora of health problems and is something that needs to be controlled. To help regulate your child’s sodium intake,
try cutting out or limiting processed and packaged foods. Canned soups and frozen dinners such as pizza
can be loaded with sodium. Fast food is also
high in salt and should be limited as well.
To replace these dietary
choices, opt instead for fresh or frozen vegetables rather than canned or cook
at home instead of eating out. Finally,
cut back on salty snacks such as chips, pretzels and nuts. These tips should help get your child into
the recommended guidelines for sodium intake for their age. By reducing both salt and sugar
in your child’s diet, you can help your child make healthier food choices. These healthy food choices can lead to more
energy in your child, sharper minds and less moodiness. A reduction of sugar and salt can allow your
child to enjoy a lifelong relationship with healthy food choices and an
opportunity to grow and develop into a healthy adolescents and adults. If you
are seeing developmental or psychological issues in your child, be
sure to contact us today. |
Categories: child psychologist
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