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Here's a pop quiz:

If you have young children at home, which of the following is likely to eat up the larger percentage of your household income?

A. Books and other educational materials

B. DVDs, CDs, music downloads and trips to the movies

C. Video games

D. Fast food

You're probably not surprised to discover that the right answer is D. But you might be surprised to discover that, if you're a parent, you will most likely spend more on fast food this year than on A, B, and C combined.

Restaurants are no more kind to our children's health and well-being than they are to our own: The typical burger, soda and fries that you and I ate as kids contain an average of 214 more calories today than that same meal did in the 1970s—enough to add at least 3 pounds of weight a year to your child's body, even if he or she ate that fast-food meal just once a week.

Indeed, some of the nutritional stats in the foods restaurants are selling as "kids' meals" are terrifying. A grilled cheese with as much fat as 25 strips of bacon? A child-size dessert with more than half a day's worth of calories? And the supermarket aisles offer little salvation.

As a result, childhood obesity rates in America have tripled since 1980—today, 16 percent of children between the ages of 6 and 19 are overweight or obese. An additional 15 percent of kids are "at risk of becoming overweight or obese."

Seventy percent of overweight adolescents end up overweight or obese in adulthood. And since obesity increases your odds of heart attack, stroke and early death, consider the impact of an entire generation of overweight children on our country's health-care system—and families. It's a chilling thought, especially if one of those children is your own. That's why we've created this list, to help your family make smarter choices today for a healthier tomorrow.

Tip: Before eating out, check out our list of America's best and worst restaurants for kids.

Worst sweetened cereal

20. Cap'n Crunch (1 cup)

  • 146 calories
  • 2 g fat (1 g saturated)
  • 16 g sugars
  • 1 g fiber

The Cap'n's cereal is the archetypal hypersweetened breakfast. It didn't make our list by its abundance of fat or calories; it made the list by being among the dominant sources of empty calories in a child's diet. Aside from the small amount of added vitamins, which are mandated by the government, this cereal is a food scientist's concoction of worthless food-like particles and chemicals. Corn flour makes up the bulk of each crunch, and sugar, brown sugar, and coconut oil hold it together. This cereal is also coated with loads of the food colorings yellow 6 and 5, which have been linked to irritability and poor behavior in children.

Eat This Instead!

Cascadian Farm Clifford Crunch (1 cup)

  • 100 calories
  • 1 g fat (0 g saturated)
  • 25 g carbohydrates
  • 6 g sugars

Tip: Always avoid the worst breakfast foods in America.

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#1
Monday, December 14, 2009 1:01:43 PM
I think a list like this could be helpful just from the standpoint of knowing about how many calories are in certain entrees.  That way as an adult you can then try to balance these higher calorie meals for yourself and your child with other better choices - i.e. - maybe not have item x on the above list and donuts for breakfast.  It's all about proportion.
Friday, December 04, 2009 6:34:01 PM
Thank you for the Inspirational Sayings link.  Plus I like your idea of making some traditions, really...can't we get back to some basics just like making a big pot of beef stew and biscuits on Friday or Saturday night and go to church....maybe just one day a week to get started??  
Friday, December 04, 2009 6:27:00 PM

I really like the concept of using a crock pot as Crock Pot Queen has mentioned.  I've been using one for years, (only because I am scared to death of a pressure cooker.) I think that it is a great way to get the main dish portion of a home-made meal on the table.  I have found that I can get away with a cheaper cut of meat when using a crock pot.  I will complain about trying to cook veggies in it though.  Does anyone have any suggestions as far as getting a better texture? 

Tuesday, November 17, 2009 5:57:51 AM
Thats good food, I will add a health desert to it...

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Saturday, November 07, 2009 10:08:44 PM

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Saturday, November 07, 2009 6:48:41 PM
whoatherenelly.........what school did you work at? because you seem to have such a "hate" or something against the way this school was ran; but yet you "worked there for many many many years." you didnt say anything? or ever complain? why? because you had a job(that paid you with tax payers money) that provided for you, your family....are you a hypocrite? or are you a selfish republican who just has a comment on everything?  i think its funny how your telling america to get real, but your just as fake as everyone else your complaining about....YOU are the reason why america is stupid and america falls apart a little more everyday....its also funny how you will sit there and bash on this school for being so "unhealthy" yet you never took it upon yourself to fix it because it didnt effect you or your family...rediculous, just rediculous
Saturday, November 07, 2009 6:47:04 PM
it does have a trinity...chicken nuggets, mozzarella sticks, and french fries.  All quite yummy, none of which are good for your.  How sad
Saturday, November 07, 2009 6:34:36 PM

Smile

Saturday, November 07, 2009 6:10:13 PM
Instead of fast food, build some family traditions - cook up some stew and homemade biscuits

Inspirational Sayings

Saturday, November 07, 2009 5:49:28 PM
*clears throat* and might I add how much the increase in sales of crockpots has risen?  There are many working -families- that are turning to these wonderful inventions.  I may also add that my mother, circa 1970-1980, used a crockpot as she herself was a working mother.  It is not just "women's lib" that has turned America obese, it is every person that is too lazy to just sit and think how easy it is put together a good home-cooked meal in as little as 10-15 minutes and have it be extremely nutritious.  And if a crockpot is used then it's put together in the morning in a small amount of time, and left to cook while at work! *steps off of soapbox*
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