According to the Prevention Institute, an investigation into the actual nutritional content of food products marketed to children and described as “healthy” by the makers revealed little connection between the adjective and the actual content of the food.
Important nutrients like fiber were conspicuously lacking in the so-called “healthy” products tested, with more than half having “low” levels according to National Academies of Sciences guidelines. Similarly, the majority of the foods in the study did not contain any fruits or vegetables, which experts believe should be the foundations of a healthy diet.
In contrast, less-healthy ingredients were consistently found in nutritional content, with 57 percent of the products having “high” levels of sugar, again according to NAS nutritional standards. In addition, almost every food examined in the study had added sugar.
With diabetes and obesity rates among American children on the rise, it’s more important than ever for parents to exercise caution when deciding what goes on the family dinner table. Healthy foods should be preferred for a variety of reasons, including future health insurance and life insurance rates.
Life Quotes, Inc. first published this article.