Feeding your children has become more challenging than ever before, and ensuring they eat healthy is an entirely different struggle.
As a parent, it can often feel like the odds are stacked against you, from convincing your picky toddler to eat their greens to navigating brands that claim to be “clean” but fall short of their promises.
You often hear the saying "fed is best" as your child eats their fifth slice of pizza this week, but you can't help but think, "I want to feed my child the best", because you know their growing body needs it.
The Importance of Proper Nutrition in Childhood
Children are similar to adults in the sense that both need vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, proteins, and fats for optimal health. Children especially need these macro and micronutrients because their bodies are growing and developing.
Proper nutrition during early years truly sets the foundation for good health in adulthood and impacts each “pillar” of the body; physical, mental, and emotional.
Introducing a healthy diet lays the foundation for good skin, eye, and teeth health as well as healthy weight management, brain development, immunity, and digestion [1]. Studies conducted have also shown that children who adhere to a healthy diet experience more positive behavioral and mental health outcomes [2].
Today more than half of children in the United States are consuming an ultra-processed diet - 67% to be exact [3].
The Role of Diet and Disease
As a nutritionist, I cannot stress enough the critical importance of a healthy diet for our children. Poor dietary habits in early childhood are not just a matter of concern—they can be downright dangerous.
The foods we choose to feed our young ones have long-term effects, influencing not just their immediate well-being but also their risk of developing some serious diseases. Some of those include:
Obesity - Childhood obesity is on the rise. About 1 in 5 children living in the United States are obese [4]. Sugary cereal, corn syrup, food dyes, and processed snacks are fueling the epidemic of childhood obesity in our country.
Our children are set up for diseases like Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and other metabolic disorders. And most concerning of all - Childhood obesity drastically increases the risk of obesity in adulthood along with the listed health complications.
Heart Disease - The common kids’ foods or candy are often marketed with a “child-friendly” character on the box. However, the ingredients are not so child-friendly when you do some digging.
Chips, candy bars, and other snacks contain ingredients like refined sugar, salt, hydrogenated oils, food dyes, artificial sweeteners, and corn syrup. These ingredients are directly linked to heart disease.
Weakened Immunity - A poor diet leaves a child susceptible to infections and illness. Essential nutrients like vitamins A, C, and E, and selenium are crucial for immune health. Processed foods like cereal, for example, are full of fortified versions of these vitamins, but not natural forms of it, which can actually be detrimental to immune and overall health.
When a child’s body is lacking these very essential nutrients their bodies become defenseless against disease, making infection and illness the norm.
Digestive Issues - If your child’s digestion is out of whack, it's very possible that they may not be getting the nutrients they need to thrive.
A diet high in processed foods can lead to constipation, bloating, and stomach pain. This is because these foods lack fiber and other vitamins and minerals that keep digestion healthy and bowel movements regular. These ultra-processed foods disrupt the balance of good bacteria in the gut, which can weaken immunity and cause nutritional deficiencies. These nutritional deficiencies can then impact growth, development, and behavior. It is very much a domino effect.
Behavioral Issues - Processed foods with artificial additives like food dyes and refined sugars can significantly affect children's behavior. Studies show these ingredients can cause hyperactivity, attention deficits, and mood swings. For example, research found that certain food colorings and preservatives increase hyperactivity in children [6]. Another study in Pediatrics linked high sugar intake to more aggression and difficulty focusing [7].
When kids eat these foods, their blood sugar levels spike and crash, leading to mood swings and energy highs and lows. Like adults, this can make them irritable, restless, and unable to concentrate. Over time, a diet high in processed foods can hinder cognitive development, making it harder for children to succeed in school and social settings.
It’s clear that nutrition is important in anyone’s health, but especially the health of your growing child.
What is a Healthy Diet for a Child?
Ideally, a healthy diet for children should consist of the following foods:
- Fresh fruits
- Vegetables of all kinds
- Healthy whole grains, like brown rice, oats, and quinoa
- Beans and legumes
- Healthy fats, like avocado, raw nuts, and seeds
- Lean protein, like eggs, chicken, and fish
From picky eating to fluctuating food preferences—like loving broccoli one day and hating it the next—I know how challenging it can be to encourage healthy eating habits while meeting your child's nutritional needs.
This is exactly why I created Sippers™. The Sippers™ line of fresh juice is the ultimate solution for parents striving to provide their children with essential nutrition. With 7 rainbow Sippers™ per pack your child will drink 1 bottle each day, for a total of 40 different raw fruits and vegetables in just 1 one week.
Sifting Through Faulty Marketing
As if picky eating wasn’t challenging enough, finding brands amidst the false claims can be even tougher. A prime example of this issue lies with products like apple squeezes and so-called “fruit” juices.
In today's market, processed apple sauces and pasteurized juices “from concentrate” are often touted as healthy options for kids, but the reality is quite different.
Many of these products are stripped of their natural nutrients through high-heat processing, and loaded with added sugars and preservatives. What’s actually left over is a sugary, nutrient-deficient snack that offers little-to-no benefit to their growing bodies.
Another “healthy snack” marketed to children is canned fruits or “fruit cups.” These fruit cups are not just fruit. Just take a look at the ingredients below from a very popular brand on the market:
“Water, sugar, peaches, pears, pineapple, carrageenan, cochineal extract, locust bean gum, malic acid, fumaric acid, natural and artificial flavors, sodium citrate, potassium citrate, caramel color, and ascorbic acid”
Do these ingredients sound healthy enough for a growing child? My opinion as a holistic nutritionist is absolutely NOT.
Nutrition that Makes a Difference
Parenting is hard. Feeding your children is harder. And finding brands with integrity is the hardest.
What sets Raw Generation Sippers™ apart is our commitment to purity: ZERO added sugars, ZERO artificial colors, and ZERO preservatives. These flavors have been fully tested and loved by kids ages 2-16, making it easier than ever to get children excited about healthy eating.
Unlike other brands that use heat-pasteurization or high-pressure processing, our juices are 100% raw, preserving all the natural vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants crucial for healthy growth, brain development, and immunity.
Don't settle for less when it comes to your child's health. Give them the real nutrition they deserve in flavors they’ll actually enjoy.
Nourishment for the Future
Feeding your kids healthy food can be tough, especially with so many processed options out there. Good nutrition is vital for their growth and long-term health, impacting everything from their weight to their mood and immunity.
Instead of processed snacks, focus on whole foods like fruits, veggies, whole grains, healthy fats, and lean proteins. To make it easier, Sippers™ offers a convenient and nutritious blend of 40 raw fruits and vegetables weekly.
Avoid the false health claims of processed snacks and choose real nutrition to support your child's growth and well-being. Plus, there’s no denying that the rainbow sippers deliver on color AND taste– minus the icky ingredients.
Sources:
- Benefits of Healthy Eating for Children
- How Nutrition Effects Your Child’s Mental Health
- Trends in Consumption of Ultra-processed Foods Among US Youths Aged 2-19 Years, 1999-2018
- Childhood Obesity Facts
- Predicting Obesity in Young Adulthood from Childhood and Parental Obesity
- Artificial Food Colors and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Symptoms: Conclusions to Dye for
- Could Excessive Sugar Intake Contribute to Aggressive Behaviors, ADHD, Bipolar Disorders
