What you give him currently is great!The only stipulations the American Academy of Pediatrics has in place are to avoid foods that are known family food allergens (if any) or those that may pose a choking hazard.This time of year, my kids liked having as much fresh fruit as possible. Our kids are now 2 and 4, but at a year, they were eating strawberries, blackberries, bananas, blueberries, cantoloupe, pears, apples, etc.Our kids also loved string cheese and American cheese slices from the deli (white American) as snacs, edamame, graham cracker sticks, animal crackers, applesauce, pretzel sticks, cereal, oyster crackers, Goldfish.They both currently love Danimals yogurt smoothies or dipping pretzels into yogurt (better than it sounds).In addition to fresh food options, I'd just keep an eye on the amount of sodium/sugar in the foods. At a year, they need the fat in their diets, but sodium/sugar can be an issue with a lot of canned and prepackaged foods.Here's what the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends on their parenting site. The really great thing about 1 year olds is they eat about anything! Keep what you have but mix it up! Try bagels or mini bagels, or even bagel chips or pita chips (baked, not fried). Dried fruit is great, I prefer the freeze dried kind (I find it at whole foods) but either one is great.

1. Best Crackers For Babies

You could even do veggies.keep cooking them at that age, but small carrots or even broccoli. Even if they're cooked, you could add some low fat ranch dressing too. At that age, my daughter loved hummus. You can put it on crackers or dip pretzels in it. You could also roll up some cheese and lunch meat together and just serve them like that.

My daughter also loved salami just out of the package. Seriously, most 1 year olds I know eat just about anything, so go crazy cuz it won't last forever!!!;). I think your choices are great. Healthy, nutritious and varied.My daughter usually gets a serving of fruit a the morning snack. The good thing with fruit is that is variety!

(bananas, apples, strawberries, blueberries, grapes, pears, mandarines, kiwi fruits, etc) She is now 14 months old and I just introduced strawberries and stopped cutting out blueberries. I still cut the grapes. She also gets raisins, prunes, dried mango and apricots.

She also gets canned fruits from time to time (in water or pear juice, not in heavy syrup).For the afternoon snack, I give her more grains. Bread, pita, bagels, crackers with or without spread (peanut butter just introduced, tzatziki, hummus, fruit preserves). She usually has yogurt as dessert, but sometimes she gets it for a snack, same for cheese.

It may be easy to reach for one of these foods when your child is hungry, but have you ever really thought about what’s inside those processed foods targeted at kids? Flip those colorful cartooned packages over and you’ll find almost as many artificial colors lurking in the ingredients. That list of ingredients is a long and confusing jumble of chemicals and carcinogens, like what you’ll find in. Let’s take a closer look at what effects these processed foods are having on your child’s health, along with alternative choices you can make to safeguard their future.Disclosure: Bookieboo LLC has an affiliate relationship with Thrive Market and works with a large number of brands in the organic and natural foods sector, including Stonyfield, Organic Valley, Nature’s Path, and Applegate.1. Pepperidge Farm’s GoldfishThese fishies are a pantry staple in many homes with kids. I admit, I grew up on them myself.

They appear healthy, with a label that totes whole grain, real cheddar, and no artificial preservatives. However, a look at the ingredient list shows just why these unnaturally orange snack crackers should stay off of your child’s plate.Enriched wheat flour might sound good, but it means so many natural nutrients were stripped away in the processed flour, that things have to be added back in.

As for the folic acid,Moving on to the cheddar cheese – it’s not organic. That means the cows were fed a diet of genetically modified grains and then produced milk for the cheese. We’ve already discussed the and the. Conventional dairy may also contain rbST, another Monsanto product. The cows are injected with this genetically engineered hormone to stimulate milk production.

It’s already. The use of rbST, in turn, causes other health problems, such as mastitis, that need further treatment with antibiotics. This These are all reasons enough to flush these fish, and this is only the third ingredient. That cheese also contains annatto as a coloring agent. Although it’s from a natural source, the seeds of the achiote bush,Finally, the vegetable oils.

Unlike olive or coconut oils that are extracted from pressing, vegetable oils are made in a very unnatural way. On top of that, they are also made from GMO crops like corn and soy. Better Alternative – Annie’s Organic Cheddar BunniesThese certified organic and Non-GMO project verified snacks are an easy swap out to the familiar fish. Do contain organic annatto extract. Annatto is actually found in most crackers, but you won’t find any of the other ingredients of concern mentioned above. Best Alternative – Mary’s Gone CrackersOne of my favorite crackers, these are free of all the ingredients of concern listed above.

They too are certified organic and Non-GMO project verified. Kellogg’s Pop-Tarts“Baked with real fruit” catches your eye on the front of the package, but turn it over and you’ll see a different story.

The filling is about 10% fruit. So what’s in the other 90%? More enriched flour, soybean and palm oil, GMO after GMO, artificial colors, and so much sugar!These processed pastries have dextrose, sugar, and both corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup.

All made with GMOs, like the Goldfish above. If you see “sugar” on the label, it comes from genetically modified sugar beets, not cane sugar like you may think.Even that “real fruit” is still a cause for concern. The dried apples, strawberries, and pear are sprayed with pesticides. In fact,.A common ingredient in processed foods marketed towards kids and teens is artificial dyes and colors. These vibrant and fun looking. This particular flavor of pop-tart contains Red 40, Yellow 6, and Blue 1. Yellow 6 might sound familiar, as it’s.

The toxins in these dyes, all common in processed foods, are known to cause cancer, hyperactivity in children, asthma, skin rashes, migraines and even. Most are already banned in other countries too., also made it into this breakfast food.Although this label doesn’t list monosodium glutamate, also know as MSG, it does list gelatin. This is used in the icing of the product. MSG is Better Alternative – Nature’s Path Frosted Maple Brown Sugar Toaster PastriesThese breakfast pastries won’t contain any GMOs or persistent pesticides.

Are certified organic and Non-GMO project verified as well. They are also trans fat free. Although you will find caramel color, it’s organic class I. Best Alternative – HomemadeThis may not be as quick of an option, but it’s the best option if you want to avoid artificial colors. Be sure to use only organic ingredients. You can make them ahead in a large batch and freeze for convenience. If that’s still more work than you want, opt for some organic toast and jam.

Nestle Nesquik Chocolate MilkSeemingly a healthier choice than soda and energy drinks, this is a deceptive beverage. It’s even a staple in school lunches. Aside from the aforementioned dangers of conventional dairy, this Nesquik is loaded with sugar. One bottle (listed as two servings) has a whopping 48 grams! Even if a child were to only consume half the bottle, that’s still double the. Research shows,.Natural and artificial flavors are towards the end of the ingredient list in this Nestle Nesquik Chocolate Milk. Don’t be fooled by the term “natural”, because it has little bearing on whether something is healthy.

As for artificial flavors, they can.Carrageenan is a thickening agent used in many types and brands of milk, and is especially common in processed foods. It has recently become controversial because.

If you see Better Alternative – Organic Valley Chocolate MilkNot only is this milk certified organic, it’s also fair trade. In the refrigerated version you’ll find no carrageenan or artificial colors and flavors. It is still a chocolate milk, so there is a high amount of sugar in this beverage.

It’s easier to limit serving size with because it isn’t in a single serving size container. You can also cut it with plain milk. Best Alternative – Homemade Organic Strawberry MilkOf course, plain organic milk is the best alternative, but if your child still wants a sweeter, more flavorful option, try this. Simply blend up a few organic strawberries into the milk for a sweet and subtle flavor addition. 4. SodaJust like the Nesquik chocolate milk above, soda is loaded with sugar, like most processed foods.

However, most kids will probably only have one Nesquik – they’ll probably have multiple sodas. Luckily, many schools and fast food chains have eliminated soda from the children’s menu. It’s one of the.The coloring of soda is toxic as well. Caramel color, like in the strawberry pop-tart, is a carcinogen.

Choosing an orange soda instead of a brown cola isn’t any better. You’ll see this Fanta has both Yellow 6 and Red 40 on it’s ingredient list. The vague “natural flavors” aren’t reassuring either. It’s more of the same offenders as the processed foods we’ve already revealed.

Better Alternative – Live Kombucha SodaThese sodas come in a variety of familiar flavors, but they are made with raw, organic kombucha. Not only do you avoid the nasty colors, flavors, and carcinogens in soda, this option aids in digestion. Kombucha is made from fermented tea, so it’s not recommended for children under 4, although say that their fermentation process does not allow the kombucha to become alcoholic. Best Alternative – Skip the SodaIt may seem obvious, but stick with water or milk for the healthiest options.

You can add fruit to water to infuse it with flavor if your child wants something different. 5. Fast Food Kids MealsThe majority of kid’s meals are made up of a. Burger King still offers soda with their kids meal, even though other chains have eliminated it. Have you seen the ingredient list in these meals?! That is not something you should be happy about.

To go line by line with every ingredient in a Happy Meal would take a long time, but you can review all of their ingredients on their website. What I found in my research was non-organic meat, dairy, fruits, and vegetables. All of these items contain harmful GMOs and pesticides. In a typical Happy Meal you will find 540 calories, 18 grams of fat, 0.5 gram of trans fat, 790 mg of sodium, and 32 grams of sugar.What about skipping the burger and fries and choosing chicken? It’s also filled with GMOs, pesticides, and enriched flour, like nearly all of the foods on our list so far. McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets also contain the same things, although they don’t just come right out and say MSG.

The natural flavors and seasoning are. Better Alternative – ChipotleThis fast food chain’s motto is “food with integrity” and they are working to stand by this. Although their.

Best Alternative – Skip the Fast FoodIt may seem obvious, but because over 80% of the commercial feed for animals is GMO, it’s difficult to eat out and avoid GMOs. Fast food is usually higher in fat, calories, and sodium than food prepared in our homes. You have complete control over what foods go into your home cooking, unlike what is prepared at a fast food chain.

Yoplait Go-GurtThese yogurt tubes may seem like a healthier snack option when it comes to processed foods. A look at the ingredients shows the typical culprit of conventional dairy. Along with the genetically modified dairy, you’ll find modified corn starch, which is also GMO. Go-Gurt also contains 2/3 of the daily recommended amount of sugar for children in just one tube.

The thickener, is also used.An ingredient common in processed foods which we haven’t yet discussed is potassium sorbate. The convenience of a squeezable yogurt isn’t really worth all of those risks.

Better Alternative – Stonyfield YoKids PouchesThese yogurt squeeze pouches are an organic alternative to the above version. Since the dairy cows are fed an all organic diet, you don’t have to worry about contamination from harmful pesticides and GMOs. Another thing or the preservative potassium sorbate.

Flavored yogurts do have higher levels of sugar than their plain counterparts though, so keep that in mind. Best Alternative – Stonyfield Greek Plain YogurtThis is yogurt at it’s purest and finest. It’s certified organic, high in protein, and low in sugar in relation to other yogurts. It might not be as exciting as squeezable flavored yogurt, but you can add excitement. Try blending it with fresh organic fruit to add sweetness and flavor. You can even freeze the blended mixture to create a healthy Greek yogurt popsicle. Kid CuisineYou’ve seen these frozen TV dinners at the grocery store.

They’re adorned with cartoon characters and bright colors to catch your kids’ eye. After looking at the long list of ingredients on the package, I found a number of concerning components to this meal.

Almost too many to name. Everything you see on the front of the package is GMO – all of it! It’s one of the worst processed foods marketed directly to kids.You’ll find.

The package isn’t the only place you’ll find colors either. This Kid Cuisine has Red 40, Yellow 6, Blue 1,and Blue 2 Lake, and annatto. There is also.It might save some time to make this microwave meal, but processed foods like this will cause more headaches than cooking – literally. In addition to headaches, it.

Best Alternative – HomemadeTV dinners just aren’t an easy thing to find when it comes to healthier eating. You can find organic components though. – pair those with a side of organic veggies and a fruit for dessert, you’ve got a meal to please.

Kellogg’s Froot Loops (and other cereals)You may have heard that. That’s because of the GMO sugar, corn and soy that are prevalent in this breakfast cereal and other processed foods.

The partially hydrogenated vegetable oil is GMO and contains and are linked to serious health risks.The unique spelling of “froot” is probably because you won’t find any real fruit in this cereal. What you will find is a vibrant array of colors. Froot Loops also has 6 artificial and natural colors on the ingredients list.

So by starting your child’s day with a bowl full of colored cereal, you’re setting them up for hyperactivity and increased ADD or ADHD symptoms for the day. Best Alternative – EnviroKidz CerealThese all-organic cereals come in a variety of flavors to keep your child and his or her taste buds happy. You won’t find GMOs or artificial colors in this option. 9. Hostess TwinkiesHopefully this is not a surprise to you on a list like this. The Twinkie has never really gotten a reputation as a health food. The ingredients include partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, shortening, and beef fat – all trans fats. It also has the usual offenders of enriched bleached white flour, high fructose corn syrup, dextrose, MSG, and artificial colors.

That means, and and colors. Better Alternative – Arrowhead Mills Organic Vanilla CakeIf you have a child with a sweet tooth and need a twinkie alternative,. I recommend swapping the eggs and oil for organic applesauce to get a moist cake with fewer calories and fat. Bake into cupcakes and top with fresh organic whipped cream for more of a twinkie flavor.

Best Alternative – Skip the CakesDessert doesn’t have to be part of every meal, but if your child wants something sweet, opt for organic fruit instead. It’s the ultimate convenience food, perfectly prepared by nature.

The best part is, it only has one ingredient. Kraft Oscar Meyer LunchablesThere is a wide array of Lunchables products at the grocery store. These processed foods are made to save time when packing a lunch for your child. A closer look at the ingredients and you’ll see a long list of reasons to steer clear of this processed lunch pack. It’s counter productive to your kids’ school day to send them off with this in their bag.It’s so processed that even “.

You’ll find GMOs, trans fat, and even nitrites. Best Alternative-HomemadeThere isn’t an all organic alternative to Lunchables yet. I’ve easily cut squares of organic lunch meat and cheese and packed them up in a food container with a some organic crackers. It might take 5 minutes more, but it will save you the trouble of those nasty side-effects from the Lunchables ingredients.Next time you’re off to the grocery store, be sure to cross these processed foods off the list for good. Opt for homemade foods, organic options, and foods without the colors, additives, and chemicals mentioned above. You can find more. The flu is caused by influenza viruses, but many distinct viruses can cause a cold.

Seasonal flu activity typically occurs between October and May, although flu viruses are around all year. Since colds and flu are caused by viruses, rather than bacteria, antibiotics are not an effective treatment option. There is no cure for a cold, though over-the-counter medications may ease symptoms.

Types of flu: Influenza A, Influenza B, Influenza C & Influenza D. You can also refer to this article which states all the necessary details about flu.

It should be mentioned in this article that Genetically Modified Organisms, otherwise known as GMOs are not inherently unsafe to eat. Yes, the companies that produce them are not all good and create crops that are more tolerant to unhealthy chemicals, but there are other Genetically Modified crops that are completely safe.

The reason they are banned in many countries is due to fear mongering that goes on without real evidence to support it. GMOs are often more similar genetically than hybridized plant counterparts. We have been genetically modifying organisms for thousands of years with selective breeding. The intention of some modifications, like those in corn is to produce plants that can grow with less water which is actually healthier for the environment and less costly for the farmers. Not all GMOs are good, but they are not all evil either and people need to do the proper research without just believing they are unhealthy for you for no reason. In places like Europe, mandatory GMO labeling was enforced, without proper education on what GMOs really are, and as a result people became afraid of them due to the misinformation and belief that because they are forced to be labeled then the label must be warning them against something harmful.

People stopped buying these products that were cheaper and at times healthier for the environment, and they were eventually banned, which leaves their prices for food higher than places that use GMOs. I can’t say that GMOs used for the purposes of pesticides and herbicides are good, because those chemicals are detrimental to the environment, but make sure to research these things and don’t overgeneralize.NOT. RARE TO SEE A GMO SHILL. YOU ARE SOOO OBJECTIVE WHILE YOUR CHILDREN GET POISONED BY THE DOZENS OF INGREDIENT MISLABELED AS “SPICES”.GOOD LORD.DELIVER ME FROM THE BOBS WHO THINK THEY INDICATE GREAT HUMANITARIANISM B THEIR APPARENT WISDOM AND SHILLINGGMOS RUIN CHILDRENS VULNERABLE BRAINS JUST AS ASPARTAME (.NUTRA.SWEET!!! Most of these comments are just people fighting and getting defensive over an article on bad foods. Why must you do this? This author wrote an article that she thought would be useful and helpful.

If you have a problem with it that’s fine, but you don’t need to comment. All you’re doing is wasting your time writing about something that you know will upset you; what is the point? I’m only 15 and I can see that most of you are taking time out of your day that you could be using for more productive stuff and wasting it fighting in the comments section on an article. If you do not have a helpful tip please do not comment anything, as it is taking me longer to find the information that could be useful to me. I just read a bunch of comments from adults acting like immature children, when instead I could’ve been reading about healthier options for myself. So I will again ask you to refrain from commenting if you do not have anything useful to say.

You really need to take a step back and think about your headers on your blogs. I was born in 1985 and have consumed the products for almost 30 years with no adverse side effects. Just because you have a personal preference and do a little research and homework here and there does not give you the right to go around scaring consumers by telling them to stay away from these products. Instead you should tell them that they can consume them however they need to moderate the amount that they consume. You really need to take a step back and think about your headers on your blogs. I was born in 1985 and have consumed the products for almost 30 years with no adverse side effects. Just because you have a personal preference and do a little research and homework here and there does not give you the right to go around scaring consumers by telling them to stay away from these products.

Instead you should tell them that they can consume them however they need to moderate the amount that they consume. I grow my own food in the summer. I have chickens and bees; fruit trees and a couple nut treesstrawberries/ blueberries.a lot of work but I enjoy it.

I can taste a huge difference in what I grow vs. The stuff from the store. I plan to put a pond (with a mosquito trap) on my property toowhy? Because I can. I wont argue the GMO thing. I avoid buying stuff I know is grown mutated.I appreciate the people that are researching the harm that can come from foods not grown organically.

I am not a sheeple and do not blindly follow anyone. I know what degree of health and happy my family has from my efforts,enough evidence for me. I understand what you’re trying to do by posting this, which by all means, I’m behind itbut I’m not the mom that can afford the grass-fed, organic things that everyone preaches about.

I work for a small non-profit (which I love) and my husband is a teacher, and our budgeting typically doesn’t discriminate against how an animal is fed and/or if a food is GMO free. We buy plenty of fresh fruits and veggies but the snacks that are readily available in our pantry are the Goldfish and the Pop-Tarts. You have to accept that not all families are equipped with an income that allows for the healthiest of diets.

We try our best, but we’re not perfect. Although I agree with some of this my main comment is actually about the Stonyfield yougert. Although Stonyfield is “organic” it does not mean is a better alternative. I know for a fact the company has had multiple health code issues and have not passed their health inspections. There are lots of great yogurts like Siggs that are much better than Stonyfield. I have worked in the food service industry for years and will admit I don’t always eat perfectly, but I will not buy Stonyfield. Also as a side note just because something says organic or free range it’s not always a better quality.

It’s just more $$. As parents it is our job to do what is best for our children. It is our job/responsibility to make sure we are teaching them and preparing them for a healthy future. The food an individual consumes plays an extremely important roll in their health.

You, as their parent, provide the building blocks to either health or illness. Food and the nutrients it provides is vital for lifelong health. Our ancestors did not consume many of the ingredients we now so commonly find in processed food. Modern children are the product of the “rushed” generation. Parent/s are so pressed for time they do not have time or make it a priority to insure their children as well as themselves consume healthy foods. Look around you; American children suffer from: obesity, childhood diabetes, ADHD, cancer, etc.

It doesn’t take much to know that we, parents, need to insure we are teaching our children to make healthy food choices. It is our responsibility.

No child has ever chosen his/her parents. If you choose to become a parent- make them and their lifelong health a priority. The best choices for snacks for kids are fresh fruit or veggies and water. If you don’t want to do fruits or veggies, keep some whole grain breads/rolls/crackers on hand. I prefer to make a double batch of rolls myself once a week and then we have them to eat throughout the week. But seriously, you can’t beat an apple and a glass of water for a nutritious snack.I also don’t believe that eating any of the above items every once in a while is all that damaging. My kids have a Happy Meal maybe twice a year when we are traveling on the road and we are tired of eating the snacks I have packed or sandwiches I make.

Best Crackers For Babies

For us, it’s just a rare thing and I don’t think that will harm them. Same with all the other foods listed. However, I hardly ever buy any of the things listed because they cost way too much money. I’d rather buy raw ingredients and bake and cook up my own food. If we were all the same in every way then what would there be to complain about or compare to?

Not everyone has the same taste, the same end results from eating what some consider good vs. Bad foods, or the same income to purchase what some say is better foods for one than others. All foods can have issues for anyone and everyone.depending on the person, their metabolism, their environment, their financial status, even their race. When I went abroad outside of the U.S., mainly in Europe, I noticed in most countries EVERYONE drank wine, coffee with cream and Coca Cola over bottled water with each meal. They also ate beef, pork, goat – known as ‘Spanish Ham’ – ate tortillas – which meant eggs surprisingly enough, prepared in a variety of ways – and drenched foods in olive oil, whether meat or vegetable, processed and natural cereals with whole milk, while also eating a variety of breads and crackers with real butter, jellies along with fruit spreads and meat spreads PLUS rich creamy desserts and pastries. I found their eating habits unhealthy and high in fat and sugar however I didn’t see many overweight Europeans to my surprise and saw many healthy elderly folks.

When I asked any of the elders about the European diet the majority said you must constantly be moving to burn the fats and sugars. Everything in moderation.from eating and drinking to exercising. A good balance of both.

It definitely works for them. It works for my family too. While this may be “great” information to some.let the record and studies show cancer is in your genes.

If your parents or grandparents had a certain type of cancer, you have a higher risk of developing that form of cancer. Our parents and grandparents didn’t grow up on all these foods and many are dying from cancer by the thousands each day. I lost every family member to cancer and all of them died pretty young (mid 60s) and all led healthy lifestyle so I say EAT WHAT YOU WANT!! Every day is a gift! You can get hit by a bus tomorrow or get cancer.eat some goldfish or a happy meal and enjoy your life!! OMG all these “ORGANIC” people drive me crazy! Let’s see how long you all live.

Everything in moderation. While I appreciate the effort gone through to put this list up for parents and recognize that it is not meant to shame anyone, I can’t help but feel a little annoyed and yes ashamed. I mother a family of milk and snack lovers.

We easily go through a gallon of milk in 4 days and a gallon of “conventional” milk is not cheap these days. I am on assistance to feed my family, and often I am only able to buy specific brands of food or only get a certain alottment I buy all the food I need in a month. This means a) I don’t have financial assistance to buy organic everything and b) I can’t afford to do it on my own. Nor can I afford an organic half gallon of milk every two days.This article was meant to inform parents and help then make better decisions about what to feed their family, but it sure hurts to know that I am unable to keep my kid from consuming 10 different kinds of carcinogens a day. If I had time to make the snacks myself I would, but not everyone gets that luxury.I am not hating on your article, Elizabeth. It was very well written and VERY informative.

But I think it would be nice to include options or methods that people with no time and less money can implement as well 🙂. My kids have had every food on this list. I quit buying most of these products for them a while back when we decided to start eating healthier and stop having so many processed foods. This was all before this list ever came out. I don’t feel guilty but it’s great to know that I wasn’t too far off the mark in eliminating these.

I can’t criticize those who use them and understand that often it comes down to cost and convenience. I’ve been researching recipes for alternatives I can make at home so that we can still enjoy some of the same taste and convenience without so much of the cost and worry about what’s in it. Thanks for sharing this article. It was quite educational and informative. Did you know that many of the ingredients in junk food and US packaged foods are outlawed in Europe? Did you know that there is such a thing as organic junk food? Even organic lunch meat is going to be too high in sodium; organic pop tarts too high in sugar as well as organic chocolate milk.

It makes me laugh (secretly) when I see well-intentioned moms buy all this organic processed food thinking they are doing the right thing, when in fact they are harming their kids’ health just the same. Let’s be honest here: an apple will always be better than Annies bunnies, plain macaroni with grated cheese will always be better than store bought mac and cheese (even if it’s organic), ANY plain yogurt with fresh fruit on top will be better than ALL other fruit yogurts. Let’s not pretend that because we can afford to buy organic processed food, our children will be better off than those who buy regular processed food. That’s hypocrisy. Hi!There are some articles that are linking higher infertility rates in cattle that are eating the GMO’s, particularly the Round up Ready ones. Other things that have been noticed is how cattle won’t eat the cornstalks from the GMO corn anymore.

When I was a kid, you could watch them after being bedded down and they’d be happily chewing away on them. Now they won’t eat them. Why?I raise pastured/produce fed pork. My dad is an agronomist trying to develop a brown mid rib corn for grazing for grass fed beef. When he is done selecting the ears of corn he wants from his trials, he brings the rest over for my pigs. When given the choice between the GMO hybrids or the non GMO corn that my dad brings over, they animals always chose the non GMO stuff.

Animals aren’t dumb, they can tell what is good for them. Yes, animals will eat the GMO stuff when that is all there is to eat. If there is a choice, they will eat the non GMO stuff first.

Why?Big oil companies and big ag chemical companies have a lot of money that can be made on products that aren’t always the best for people or the world overall. Money is a huge motivator to many people. NEVER is a very strong word. We ate these foods occasionally. Not every day, not every week.

Except Go-Gurt, I think that was in the lunch box every day for a year, or two, LOL. I like to think I eat mostly fresh and raw, and occasionally eat processed, and I am just fine.

I HIGHLY recommend you keep a food journal of your family meals. You know what is good for you, but sometimes seeing it on paper is the best way to accountability. BTW do you remember when eggs were really good for you, then they were really bad for you and now they are really good for you again? Bloggers, be careful how and what you write and don’t be too judge-y. Problem is, unlike actual medical journal articles, these are not pier reviewed. If they were, I am sure many would never go public.

Very informative. But I think that unless you’re feeding your kids these foods everyday and only foods like these with nothing else in the menu, I don’t think there’s anything to be concerned about im not afraid of my daughter eating a handful of goldfish everyone and then it having a pop tart once a week if she’s been good.

Heck even if she has a happy meal once in a blue moon I don’t think it’s such a big deal. I do agree though that you shouldn’t be feeding your kids these foods on a daily basis.

If you’re a person you lets your kid eat twinkles everyday you’re probably not someone who would bother reading this article. Bottom line, everyone’s entitled to a treat now and then Like someone else already commented, all in moderation. I agree with almost everything you said there! Most of her suggestions I can back.

We buy Envirokids cereal and love it, and the Nature’s Path breakfast pastries are good. We don’t give our son juice, fast food, etc.But you recommended a plain Greek yogurt as the “best” alternative to processed yogurt, and I’d have to disagree with that The process for making Greek yogurt is extremely wasteful. It takes four pounds of milk to make one pound of Greek yogurt, and the rest is wasted as whey. Instead of Greek yogurt, a more environmentally sound option would be sheep’s milk yogurt (I love Bellwether Farms’ organic versions with blackberry and blueberry for Elliot) or Icelandic skyr-style yogurt by Siggi’s. Just my two cents! Otherwise, a strong bit of advice! I agree with almost everything you said there!

Most of her suggestions I can back. We buy Envirokids cereal and love it, and the Nature’s Path breakfast pastries are good. We don’t give our son juice, fast food, etc.But you recommended a plain Greek yogurt as the “best” alternative to processed yogurt, and I’d have to disagree with that The process for making Greek yogurt is extremely wasteful. It takes four pounds of milk to make one pound of Greek yogurt, and the rest is wasted as whey.

Instead of Greek yogurt, a more environmentally sound option would be sheep’s milk yogurt (I love Bellwether Farms’ organic versions with blackberry and blueberry for Elliot) or Icelandic skyr-style yogurt by Siggi’s. Just my two cents! Otherwise, a strong bit of advice! Unfortunately most of your alternatives are usually substantially more expensive than the original product. When a parent is struggling to pay for the necessities of life, i.

Water, electricity, rent, etc. There’s often NO choice involved. Sure, we’d all like to provide fresh, home cooked, organic, non-GMO, unadulterated food for our children but for a large portion of society it’s financially unfeasible. When you, and others like you, can convince food producers that they should lower their prices to meet the non-organic standard (since there is less processing involved production costs should be substantially lower), then I’m sure you’ll see a big uptick in parents who are ABLE to follow your advice. Sysprep computer name serial number free. You always have a choice. If you have a small budget for food, avoid convenience foods like these. Instead of a poptart, give toast and jam.

Certainly don’t waste any if your limited money on Twinkies (ew) that have no nutritional value. Choose foods that provide your kids with nutrients. Who cares if organic yogurt pouches are more expensive than gogurt, or Chipotle is more expensive than McDonald’s.

If you don’t have much money, don’t waste it on that stuff, organic or not. Buy the least expensive, real food products that you can. Cut back on meat in general since it is pricey to buy organic or grassfed. These foods are more expensive because they aren’t cushioned with chemicals and enhancers and because of the process of being certified as organic, as mentioned. So I highly doubt prices will be coming down anytime soon.

I understand that there are many, many people out there living on strict budgets, but I get really bothered by that excuse. It’s about priorities. Don’t eat crap just because organic chocolate milk is too expensive.

Just skip the chocolate milk. Thank you for providing this list. Most of the foods on the list are what I would consider convenience foods. It is obvious that there are times when time is short and these types of snacks are reached for. However snack foods are often substituted for regualr meals. It is not always convenient to make your own healthier alternatives to the above list. However it is a choice many of us make.

For me it is relaxing and enjoyable to make snacks and meal choices that are the healthiest I can afford. In many cases I find I save money it is only a matter of finding the time. There are many blogs which address how to provide healthier foods for your famillies on a budget. It is a question of what you can afford, and how much time you can devote to making the alternatives. I love the prudent homemaker she offers alot of excellent advice and is a very helpful woman.

Food choices are personal to each family however I believe we all want what is best for our families. Thank you for your time spent on providing us with this information. Thank you for taking the time to research and provide it for others. Many of this information is true regarding the need to cut out the GMOs, artifical flavors, artifical preservatives and food dyes. 30 years ago we didn’t need to worry about many of these things because they weren’t in our foods.

As a child grows and matures into an adult it’s important that they are aware of this, especially as the rate of diabetes, heart disease, obesity, cancer and immune diseases rise and that they make good lifestyle choices. However, I did want to make sure that I clarified a couple of things for you. The diseases I listed above are adult diseases all caused by poor lifestyle choices. But this is what I wanted to clarify. Pediatric cancer is NOT caused by lifestyle food choices. There is still no known cause for childhood cancer.

It happens to any child regardless of their nutrition choices, financial status, race, or environment. It does not discriminate. You can take a child who was breast fed until they were 2 years, fed organic homemade foods, normal weight, never been sick a day in their life, extremely physically fit and they still get cancer like my daughter.

I did not know anything about this until my daughter was diagnosed at the age of 15 years old. I have worked in the field of exercise physiology and nutrition as a clinical exercise physiologist my whole life and I still did not understand until it happened to us. It’s important that when you do list information like this that you do have correct information about childhood diseases. 46 children get diagnosed with cancer every day in the US and 7 die every day. The cause is still unknown and it drives parents crazy that they don’t know what has caused their child to get this horrible life threatening disease. And it’s the hardest most horrific thing for a parent to watch their child suffer. Believe me from a mom who knows.

I recommend contacting a children’s oncology department and speak with an oncologists to find out more accurate information. Yes her 2 year old eats plain Greek yogurt flavored with fruit and cinnamon to taste better. I do the same for my 3 year old. Your defensiveness at reading an informative article is absurd! If you aren’t interested in healthy alternatives to feeding your children, that is certainly your right.

However, life is too short and wonderful for you to take the time to knock such useful information. There are other useful articles on the “world wide web” regarding matters such as sedatives that could ease your unwarranted opinions or you can continue to be a negative whip.

My kids eat plain yogurt! In fact, if I throw plain yogurt in the blender with a banana, organic frozen blueberries (which cost the same at my grocery store), flax seed oil, a little fish oil, and some powdered probioticsyou would think I just gave them an ice cream cone! They love it!

But yes they do eat plain yogurt. They also eat plain oatmeal with only cinnamon. I am not perfect in feeding my kids healthy but I have learned that they can eat foods that are good for them and enjoy it. All 5 of my kids love fruits and veggies.

That makes it easier. I will say tho, if they don’t like something we make them try it every time we serve it and eventually their tastes change. Even my 6 year old who used to hate fish requested fish for her last birthday dinner! Everything in moderation. Not everyone can afford to buy the alternatives you listed. Some of the things are at least twice as much if not three times as much in cost.

And you can try and tell me the health costs I’ll be saving by buying these things, but I don’t really believe that at all. My kids are healthy and happy, rarely sick. I have fed my kids just about everything on this list. Don’t freak people out about top 10 things you should never feed your kids. You just cause guilt and shame to parents who are already stressed about a million other things. The organic craze is a bunch of hype.

Or to quote the lego movie “a bunch of hippie, dippy Bologna” I don’t judge people who choose to eat organic, sugar free, gluten free or vegetarian. But, what I can say is that working with food most of my life as a chef, there really is no such thing as “organic” it is a marketing campaign used to sell you virtually the same product (sometimes infereior in quality) for a greater cost. Lets think about it people.Crops grow outside One farm uses pesticides (which are airborne) another is certified organic and doesn’t.

Do you think those pesticides do not reach the organic farm because of its certification? Or in the store in the produce section, The organic is right next to the non organic and oftentimes touching one another.see where I am going here? Listen up The main facts you need to know are that nobody is immortal. We are all going to die. If eating sugar makes you happy, do it. If abstaining from gluten makes you happy, go for it. It is less related to health than it is personal preference.

I know some will argue that you have the cost of long term health to think ofto take care of youir heart disease or diabetes or cancer. When I am eating my five guys burger and fries I do not care aout heart disease at the moment.

I am in true bliss. DO I try and make up for it at the gym the next week? My point is do what makes you happy.

And a little bit of most things in moderation is just fine on a health basis. If you feel that a site (which was not forced upon you by the way) is “shaming” you into making better choices for children in general then maybe that is because you actually do feel shameful for being lazy and not doing more research into what your children are eating. And, just because some of the organic yoghurt options are quite expensive that doesn’t mean that a simple piece of fruit isn’t a good (and inexpensive) alternative for a snack.You need to understand that these people are only writing these articles because the majority of consumers have NO idea that what is on the shelf is in fact really NOT good for them and their families.If you just want to stick your head in the sand, then go do so, and stop trying to make these people feel bad for educating the public. Assuming that all moms who feel ashamed after reading this are lazy is downright rude.

Yes, you’re right. This article was forced on no one. We can exercise the right to not read it. But we did read it. And we exercised our right to mention that it can make people feel bad. Calling women lazy for not having time to research every ingredient in a package of goldfish is ridiculous. Especially since the purpose of this article was to save even you from having to do that in the first place.

There is no need for assumptions or name calling. ESPECIALLY if it is to purposefully hurt other hard working and loving moms.

While I agree that the ingredients listed in these processed foods are bad for you I must make one point. If your children have earn these foods don’t stress. This does not mean they will get cancer or a horrible disease of the gut. By all means do your best to avoid processed foods and GMO’s. However if you learned your child has eaten one of these or you have fed your child any of these items, don’t worry or feel guilty. Most parents have and will continue to do so and some will grow perfectly healthy children. I dislike the scare tactics that shame parents.

A few months back I discovered my son was eating goldfish crackers at preschool. Should I have been more on top of this? Am I going to hang my head in shame and fear everyday he is going to develop cancer from this pinpointed moment? I really hope not.