Even the most responsible parents sometimes make mistakes, because of which unwanted products end up in a child’s menu. And sometimes a simple desire to pamper children and buy them something very tasty, but not very healthy, intervenes. We decided once and for all to close the question of what, after all, can not be fed to children. You’d be surprised, but the list will be quite healthy foods that are simply not suitable for children.
10.Fast Food
This is one of the most painful items, because a rare child will refuse a burger, crispy fries, or a slice of hot pizza. But the problem is that fast food lacks essential nutrients, but has huge amounts of sugar, salt and saturated fats. A study that was published in Archives of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine found that eating fast food gives a child an average of 300 more calories when compared to meals cooked at home. If this happens all the time, the consequences can be weight gain and diabetes.
In addition, it was recently found that there is a link between frequent fast food snacking and the development of asthma and eczema in children.
9.Sugary sodas
Another product that kids have a great craving for, all because sodas contain a lot of sugar, which leads, again, to diabetes and tooth decay.
Then perhaps diet sodas can be an alternative to sugary carbonated drinks? It’s not so simple with them either: the fact is that they contain sweeteners, which, according to some studies, make our brains addicted to sweets and constantly crave sweets. In the case of children, this craving is even greater.
8.Fish, raw fish and shellfish
Not all foods that are basically good for adults can be safe for children. For example, raw fish and shellfish can cause food allergies or even poisoning. And cooked fish contains mercury, which is extremely harmful to the brain.
7.Cow’s milk
Cow’s milk has 80% casein. This protein forms large, coarse flakes when evaporated, is hard for children to digest, and can cause digestive problems. Important! Consumption of whole cow’s milk can cause microbleeding in the intestines and, as a consequence, anemia in the child. Lactose (sugar that is contained in milk) in some cases can be an irritant to the child’s stomach and cause bloating, pain and discomfort.
6.Chocolate
The fatty acids and oils in chocolate can cause pancreatic disorders. The enzymes it produces are not yet able to fully break down all the components of sweets. Like other sweets, chocolate can be addictive on a psychological and physical level — receiving a portion of endorphins, the brain will tend to do it again and again. And if adults can control themselves and monitor the amount of sweets in the diet, the children’s mom and dad should do it for them.
There have been many studies on the effects of sweets on children. For example, the American Academy of Pediatrics has found a connection between the early introduction of sweets into a child’s diet and the formation of unhealthy eating habits. The uncontrolled ingestion of sugary foods at an early age significantly increases the risk of obesity and even diabetes years later.
5. Unpasteurized Dairy Products
Unpasteurized or raw milk and products made from it can be contaminated with several different bacteria that can cause food poisoning in people, including salmonella, listeria, and Campylobacter. These bacteria can cause vomiting and diarrhea, but can also cause more serious illness.
4. Nuts and nut butter
Nuts can be dangerous for young children because they are easy to choke on, so it is best not to give nuts to children until they are at least 5 years old. In addition, nuts, like nut butters, are a strong allergen. If you do decide to give your child a taste of peanut butter, then do the test. Put a small amount of oil on your child’s lips and make sure there is no allergic reaction. This is especially important if someone in the family has a nut allergy.
3. Chewing Gum
Chewing gum causes tooth decay because of its high sugar content, besides, a child can choke on it while playing an active game. Another option is that a child swallows gum, and this at best leads to constipation, and at worst to bowel obstruction.
2.Raw Meat
Dishes made with raw meat — such as tartare — can be quite dangerous for a child. Certain bacteria, including salmonella and E. coli, can enter the body with raw meat. These pathogens can lead to a severe worsening of the child’s condition, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and, consequently, dehydration.
1. Breakfast cereals
A product that looks healthy at first glance, can actually cause a lot of problems. First, sweet cereal provokes tooth decay, and second, if you constantly give your child cereal for breakfast, it can provoke obesity. It is better to start the morning with a plate of whole-grain cereal or make whole-grain bread sandwiches.
Now you know what foods it’s best not to give to children!