Nancy Dell Viewer Mail

 

1. With all the controversy about kids cereals making health claims, please tell me how to find a truly healthful cereal for my kids?
Evan in West Springfield.

The added vitamins and minerals in a cereal is not what makes it healthy. You should be getting the vitamin C from the fruit in your breakfast, not the cereal.

To find a healthy cereal look at the ingredients to see if the first ingredient is a whole grain. Then look at the nutrition label for the fiber and sugar content. Right now, your healthiest kid-friendly cereals on the shelf will have 3 grams or more of fiber and 6 grams or less of sugar. If the cereal has some fruit added like raisins or dried berries, you can allow up to 8 grams of sugar.

Some good kids cereals include Kashi Honey Sunshine, Honey Kix, Wheaties, and Original Cheerios as well as the multi-grain Cheerios.

 

2. My twins are almost one year old and my family is starting to give them sweets. Shouldn't they avoid them.
Jen via the Internet.

Researcher from Penn State University have found that when kids are restricted from eating sweets like cookies or other so called "junk" food, they want them more.

Plus they eat more when they have unrestricted access to them at places like a friend's house or birthday parties.

Researcher suggest that you limit but not eliminate sweets and snack. It's OK to allow kids a fun food snack with their lunch and some type of dessert after dinner. To keep it in control, follow these 4 guidelines.

1. Set a good example. If children see you eat just one portion of cake or cookie, they are more likely to learn to eat just one.
2. Limit the variety of treats available. Stock the kitchen with just one sweet and one snack food at a time.
3. Read labels and choose healthy ingredients. Try to avoid saturated fat and hydrogenated oils.
4. Sneak in a little nutrition with the sugar. Have low fat puddings and low fat ice creams that provide some calcium. You can top them with berries for some fiber and vitamin C.

Follow the 90/10 rule. If you eat healthfully 90% of the time, it allows room for less health treats 10 percent of the time.