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Home › Articles › Nutrition News › Redefining Pantry Staples

Redefining Pantry Staples

The Benefits of a Well-stocked Kitchen

Part Two

By Donna Smith

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more harmful than natural high-fat foods such as butter. Feeding your child foods containing trans fats increases their risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes and exacerbates inflammatory conditions such as asthma and allergies. Because trans fats greatly increase the risk for heart disease, children who start eating a steady diet of processed foods loaded with these artificial processed fats can be expected to develop heart problems earlier than kids who eat a trans-fat-free diet." He says researchers have shown many children as young as 8, 9 or 10 years old already starting to develop cholesterol plaques that clog arteries.

Dr. Larson says as a parent you can take the following precautions to clear trans fats from your kids' plates:

  • Learn how to identify foods containing trans fat. Read the nutrition label and avoid products containing trans fats. Trans fat content is listed as a sub-category under the total fat content on the side of the package. You should also read the ingredient list of all the packaged foods you buy. Avoid foods containing "hydrogenated oil" or "partially hydrogenated oil" of any type.
  • Learn which categories of foods are most likely to contain trans fats; then look for more healthful alternatives. Foods that often contain trans fats include vegetable shortening; margarine; donuts and muffins; most cookies (including prepared cookies, boxed mixes and ready-made dough); many crackers; most boxed cakes and frostings; Pop-tarts and breakfast cereal bars; microwave popcorn; and most processed baked goods (such as biscuits).

Oils are another area in which parents can usually improve. "Stop buying overly processed, nutrient-poor vegetable oils including corn oil and 'pure' vegetable oil," Dr. Larson says. The goal is to eat oils that are either rich in anti-inflammatory omega-3 essential fat or rich in healthy monounsaturated fat. "Omega-3 fats are the best choice for no-heat recipes while monounsaturated fats are the bes choice for cooking. While oils safe for cooking can also be used in no-heat recipes such as in a salad dressing, oils that are not intended for heat will spoil and lose their health benefits when used for cooking."

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