What Happens When Your Kid Eats Healthy
Did you know that India has the second highest number of obese children in the world? According to the results of a study published in The Indian Express, 14.4 million kids in India have are overweight. With this alarming number, India is second only to China, where 15.3 million children are obese. With the franchises of McDonalds, Pizza Hut and Domino's opening at every nook and corner of the country, children today are increasingly resorting to processed foods that contain high levels of fat and sugar.
Multinational companies making processed foods are using powerful marketing strategies with identifiable characters and logos to sell their products. Kids are more likely to identify the logos of such food and beverage brand and often prefer them to traditional home-cooked meals.
Another study by Cancer Research UK, published in The Economic Times, revealed that the advertisements on television are also a major reason why kids are driven to snack more on unhealthy food.
Eating Junk food occasionally is fine. However, if your child gets into the habit of consuming fast food and sugary drinks, instead of home cooked healthy food and milk, it can take a toll on their health and well-being. The Food Pyramid created by Parks Academy for kids clearly recommends not giving children under 5 years any food or drinks that are high in sugar or salt.
Why Children Should Eat Healthy
Due to the spread of the fast-food culture, which is heavily marketed all across the world, children are facing several diseases and shortening lifespans. It is very odd to see that obesity is soaring in young children. The culprit of such unusual weight gain in kids is junk food, which is mostly loaded with empty calories and no nutritional value.
Millions of kids across the world are developing health conditions like high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, which were previously faced only by adults. These are often the consequence of unusual weight gain. What's worse is that eating junk food on a regular basis can impact brain functioning and severely impact memory.
Eating healthy and nutritious food helps prevent many such chronic diseases in kids. It is really important for children to be given the right nutrients in the right quantities in their daily diet. Studies have shown that habits that are developed in early childhood are highly likely to last in adulthood too. So, start teaching your child good food habits.
Healthy diet for a child should be rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains and low-fat dairy. This helps maintain blood pressure and cholesterol levels, while reducing the chances of heart disease. Consult the food pyramid chart for kids to see how many servings of each type of food should be given each day.
Brain Benefits of Healthy Eating
Kids who do not get adequate amounts of iron and iodine may experience delays in motor and cognitive development. Eating healthy food that is rich in vital nutrients has a direct impact on a child's brain health too.
Kids require the essential fatty acid, DHA, for the proper brain development. However, DHA is present in limited number of food items. It is therefore recommended to include a fortified milk powder like Enfagrow A+ in your child’s daily diet. This will foster timely and optimal brain and overall development.