Kids love their cartoon shows but also get captivated by the commercials. Nowadays, ads are cleverly designed with catchy phrases like, “Ask your mom to get one for you today” or “Better than fruits” or “Healthier than whole wheat.” Both kids and parents can be easily misled by these claims.
With the rise in health issues today, this should be a wake-up call for parents. Packaged juices, instant noodles, and chocolate biscuits aren’t as healthy as they seem. Whether these products even have the beneficial ingredients they boast about is questionable! Here are some foods often advertised as healthy but aren’t:
1. Healthy Sandwiches
That veggie sandwich you ordered, thinking it was a healthy choice, might not contain as many vegetables as you’d expect. Besides, the veggies used may not be fresh, and they often come with unhealthy dressings.
2. Fried Vegetables
Frying strips vegetables of most nutrients. Fried veggies are often loaded with salt and deep-fried.
3. Tomato Ketchup / Soy Sauce
Sauces contain high levels of sugar, salt, and sodium.
4. Margarine
Margarine, often marketed as healthy, is actually a synthetic mix of chemicals and sugars with a small amount of dairy.
5. Instant Meals
Many instant meals targeted at kids, like instant oats or noodles, are far from healthy. They’re packed with sugar, salt, and preservatives.
6. Green Pastas
Green pastas often have minimal amounts of vegetables.
7. Trail Mix
Store-bought trail mixes often contain excessive salt, sugar, and sodium.
8. Chips
Chips, even those made from bananas or vegetables, aren’t as nutritious as the fresh versions due to the frying process.
9. Baked Beans
Baked beans often contain added sugar, salt, and syrups, increasing calorie intake.
10. Multi-Grain Bakery Foods
Multi-grain products might still contain refined flours.
11. Packaged Juices
Packaged juices often have high sugar content and lack the fiber found in whole fruits.
12. Fruit-Based Products
Pre-made fruit yogurts and puddings may have less fruit content than advertised and are often high in sugar.
13. Sports Drinks
Unless you’re engaging in intense physical activities, sports drinks, high in sugar and added nutrients, are unnecessary.
14. Low Fat Dairy
Low-fat dairy products often contain added unhealthy ingredients to make up for the flavor lost when fat is removed.
15. Diet Sodas
Diet sodas contain artificial sweeteners that can lead to health issues like obesity.
16. Artificial Sweeteners
Artificial sweeteners can even increase sugar cravings.
17. Soy Protein
Not all soy products are healthy. Soy protein isolate often hinders mineral absorption due to phytic acid.
18. Nutrition Bars
Many so-called nutrition bars are high in sugar and calories.
19. Flavored Soy Milk
Flavored soy milk is often loaded with added sugars and unnecessary calories.
20. Phytosterols
Although phytosterols in edible oils are said to reduce blood cholesterol, they may lead to cardiovascular problems.
The key message here is not to be swayed by ads, especially when it comes to health and nutrition. Fresh, homemade food is always the best option. Teach your kids to read labels before consuming packaged foods.
