New York: We all know fast food is unhealthy for us as well as our kids. The fact is, we cannot avoid eating junk for all our lives!
If you're a busy parent, chances are you've been in the company of hungry children, desperate to find the nearest place to eat and refuel. Although fast food can make for a quick and appealing pit stop, meals can be high in calories, sugars and sodium.
But that doesn't mean fast food can't have its place in a child's diet. "When we look at fast food, it's one meal in the course of a child's day or week. Families need to find that place in the middle where they can fit fast food in reasonable and healthful ways so their children can learn how to fit it into their own lives down the road," said Jill Castle, a registered dietitian and childhood nutrition expert.
Here are tips, tricks and strategies, as noted by CNN, for dining at fast food restaurants with your kids:
1. Never leave home without snacks. "If possible, stop at a grocery store or stock up on healthy snacks in advance, such as cut-up fruit, cheese sticks and yogurt, which will cost less than anything on a fast food menu and fill everyone up while they're waiting for their food to be served," said Victoria Stein Feltman, a registered dietitian and co-founder of Apple to Zucchini, a healthy eating resource for parents and families.
2. Choose age-appropriate sizes for meals. A kids meal is often a good choice, especially because portions are typically smaller. "Beyond opting out for any super-size options, the regular-sized portions at fast food restaurants tend to be large and too big for kids," said Nicole Silber, a New York-based registered dietitian and pediatric nutritionist.
3. Encourage fruit over fries. "Adding fruits, vegetables and dairy foods help to round out the meal and make it balanced," said Castle, who is also the author of "Fearless Feeding: How to Raise Healthy Eaters from High Chair to High School." Read more...
If you're a busy parent, chances are you've been in the company of hungry children, desperate to find the nearest place to eat and refuel. Although fast food can make for a quick and appealing pit stop, meals can be high in calories, sugars and sodium.
But that doesn't mean fast food can't have its place in a child's diet. "When we look at fast food, it's one meal in the course of a child's day or week. Families need to find that place in the middle where they can fit fast food in reasonable and healthful ways so their children can learn how to fit it into their own lives down the road," said Jill Castle, a registered dietitian and childhood nutrition expert.
Here are tips, tricks and strategies, as noted by CNN, for dining at fast food restaurants with your kids:
1. Never leave home without snacks. "If possible, stop at a grocery store or stock up on healthy snacks in advance, such as cut-up fruit, cheese sticks and yogurt, which will cost less than anything on a fast food menu and fill everyone up while they're waiting for their food to be served," said Victoria Stein Feltman, a registered dietitian and co-founder of Apple to Zucchini, a healthy eating resource for parents and families.
2. Choose age-appropriate sizes for meals. A kids meal is often a good choice, especially because portions are typically smaller. "Beyond opting out for any super-size options, the regular-sized portions at fast food restaurants tend to be large and too big for kids," said Nicole Silber, a New York-based registered dietitian and pediatric nutritionist.
3. Encourage fruit over fries. "Adding fruits, vegetables and dairy foods help to round out the meal and make it balanced," said Castle, who is also the author of "Fearless Feeding: How to Raise Healthy Eaters from High Chair to High School." Read more...