Over a year ago I wrote a blog called Cartoon Characters and Crappy Food. I was every so slightly enraged by the efforts of the food industry to push potential poison on our kids. In a nutshell, despite our best efforts, the junk food industry does everything in their power to market trashy edibles to our children (and to us).
Quite recently while on vacation with my family one such company was handing out newbie “healthy juice” samples to children and their grown-ups at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. A young man handed my 8-year old a small bright green bottle touting the health benefits of a low sugar juice for kids. My husband stepped in (I was indisposed) and quickly read the ingredients and said to the gent, “I am not sure how healthy this juice drink can be when I noticed two artificial sweeteners in the ingredient list.” Despite, my husband reluctantly took the bottle with every intention of giving it to me for review prior to our son drinking it.
And here is what the ingredient label of this “healthy juice” read:
Water, Apple Juice from Concentrate. Contains 2% or less of each of the following: Malic Acid, Natural Flavor, Sodium Citrate, Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), Acesulfame K, Sucralose.
Folks, this isn’t healthy! Do you know that both Acesulfame K and Sucralose (aka Splenda) are artificial sweeteners and neither are “not-guilty”. The first can very well cause cancer; the second is questionable due to potential DNA damage and increased incidence of bowel disease. Not sure about you, but I wouldn’t want my kids touching either.
The reality—if you turn your head for one second, Big Food will be telling your kids what’s good for them. And they could be very well selling them and you a bill of goods. So consumer, please beware. Do you know that the food industry spends roughly $2 billion per year on marketing trashy treats to kids? A typical kid sees nearly 5,000 television ads for food and drink per year. And experts are hired by Big Food to exploit how our children think. To add insult to injury, many of these food companies put dollars into school curriculum.
In March of last year, I had the pleasure of hearing Anna Lappé, project director of Food Mythbusters, speak on marketing food to children. While food companies say that it’s a parent’s responsibility to raise healthy kids, what chance to we really have if Big Food is bullying our kids? As Lappé so poignantly states, “Leave parenting to us and don’t tell our children what to put in their bodies. My children, all of our children, are none of your business.” Folks, getting your kids to eat healthfully is an uphill battle. But if you educate and motivate, change is possible. A great start is this video—compliments of Food MythBusters.
When it comes to kids and beverages, stick to water, seltzer, tea, cocnut water and if juice is a must, aim for Honest Kids (it has half the sugar of most juice boxes). If soda is a must then try a better alternative pop or add a little juice to some seltzer.
Stefanie's Kid-Friendly Recipe of the Month
Watermelon Mint Slushy (seen above)
Makes 6 servings
INGREDIENTS:
4 cups frozen watermelon
3 lemons, juiced (about 1/2 cup)
1 cup water
1/2 cup mint leaves, packed
METHOD:
Combine all ingredients in a blender and purée until evenly blended
About Stefanie
Stefanie Sacks, MS, CNS, CDN is a Culinary Nutritionist, author, radio show host, educator, speaker and consultant. She works hands-on with individuals and groups in transition to a healthier way of eating. Sacks has been studying food and healing for 25 years, has her Masters of Science in nutrition from Columbia University, is a Certified Nutrition Specialist, Certified Dietitian Nutritionist and is a graduate of The Natural Gourmet Institute for Health and Culinary Arts. Stefanie's book, What the Fork Are You Eating? An Action Plan for Your Pantry and Plate (Tarcher/Penguin Random House) is set for release in December 2014. Stefanie stirs the pot weekly with her blog and local NPR radio show on WPPB 88.3FM. To stay updated and informed on everything food, nutrition and health and to learn about local (and not so local) workshops that Stefanie commands, sign up for her blog here and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
