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Home › Articles › Toddler Nutrition › Food Fight

Food Fight

5 Common Nutritional Mistakes Parents Make

By Lisa B. Samalonis

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If you think "full" is a power play for dessert, remind the child that "full" means he has no more room for anything, including dessert, Dr. Salerno says.

4. Hitting the Drive-through
Many on-the-go parents hit the drive-through in between activities. However, what is saved in time is lost in nutritional value.

"Most fast foods are high in salt and calories," Dr. Salerno says. "It's best to put a strict limit on fast foods." Though many parents know of the ills of fast food, they still indulge and bring their kids along. If you're going to go to a fast food restaurant, Dr. Salerno suggests parents make sure children eat from the kids' menu and also choose healthy alternatives to high-fat burgers and fries. Also, families should limit their fast food trips to once or twice a month.

In addition, try planning meals by the week before going grocery shopping. Plan to cook double of a given meal such as chili and freeze the second half to be eaten later. Sandwiches and salads with colorful vegetables and chicken or ground turkey (for protein) can make quick meals and an alternative to fast food fare.

And look out for quick, frozen meals, which might be fast but not necessarily healthy. "Keep in mind that many microwaveable dinners are high in sodium," Dr. Salerno says. "Check the nutritional content for high calories, fat and sodium before buying them."

5. Too Much Junk Food in the House
Stocking up on sweet and salty treats and placing them in your pantry increases the temptation to eat junk food. "If it's there, it's a temptation," Dr. Salerno says. "If it's not there, they can eat other healthy foods."

Consider buying fresh fruits and vegetables once a week, clean and cut up, and keep them ready for snacking. Dr. Salerno says one family she knows buys fresh vegetable party trays at warehouse stores and keeps them in the refrigerator for easy, anytime snacking.


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