What Should You Be EatingAnd What You Should Be Avoiding... Amy's Blog
To Pop Tart or Not to Pop Tart
05/26/09 08:08 Filed in:
Kids Nutrition“THAT is the question...”
My “poor kids”, including my “big kid husband”, who all love pop tarts. (By the way - That would be the main “pro” of pop-tarts.) Along with me not being too controlling by acting like the “food police”.
Pro’s
- Kids like ‘em
- Quick Snack/breakfast
- Fortified with vitamins
Con’s
- Trans Fat
- Processed Food/Low Fiber
- High in Sugar
Yes, I am a dietitian, but I do not consider myself one of those dietitians, you know the type, the perfect ones who eat perfectly well and only feed their families healthy foods, but I admit I do try. I want my kids to have healthy food every day, but realize it may not be every meal and that’s ok. Though It’s hard when they choose salami and hotdogs as their favorites. I do believe in having “fun food” and hope I do not overdo the control issue. Though I have some evidence of this with soda. We limit it to when we eat out or special occasional and the kids can’t get enough of it. Hmm, if logic follows then maybe I am creating “Pop Tart Yo Go” - deprived children whose college cupboards will be full of once forbidden treats.
Nevertheless, I am clearly frustrated with mass marketed kids food with little to no nutritional value like fruit snacks and drinks with little or no real fruit in them. It’s a fine line between limiting foods you know have no nutritional merit and allowing fun foods in moderation. I worry about having too many treats and having more trouble getting my kids to eat healthier foods. (How can broccoli compete with foods with cartoon characters on the box and commercials making them look scrumptious?) Of course they taste good, especially to the young palate. Being overly processed, sugar laden and devoid of nutrients are only part of my concern. I especially watch for trans fat - which health experts advise to avoid and research is mounting on the negative health effects. Why do food companies think even a trace of it is ok?
Kids are small people and trace amounts eaten regularly become more than traces! It is outlawed in Denmark, not allowed in New York restaurants, but still is found in most “kid foods” - like graham crackers, Yo Go’s, cheese crackers, granola bars, little Debbies, Twinkies, cupcakes etc. many new kid products… Why introduce new foods with trans fat? Don’t we have enough?
So back to the issue at hand. To Pop Tart or not to Pop Tart? After writing this I can see that I need to allow them occasionally. I just wish they had something in them that were nourishing. I guess using the term figuratively; they do nourish the fun factor. Kelloggs, are you out there? Make something healthy that also tastes good. And leave the trans fat out of it, would ya?