kids & junk food?

Question

how do we get kids off junk food ?

Answer 1

This is tough I'm sure, but a good thing to try. Just don't expect it to be easy.

Kids like the taste of the sugar and salt in junk food. When switching to regular food, it might be wise to not jump right away to super health food, but try less processed foods with similarly salty and sugary flavours.

Over time, as their taste buds begin to appreciate other flavours, you can wean them off the salt and sugar and onto a more nutritious diet.

Answer 2

Thats the best question of them all. What I would say is dont buy the junk food so they cant eat the junk food. I am still sorry today that my parents bought us kids all that junk food...because if they hadnt I probably wouldnt have even known it exsisted...and i would probably not have as many pounds as I do now =] ...if they insist on eating it i guess they will just go hungry if there is none in the house??? also... buy healthy colorful fruits that you yourself can add sugar to such as strawberries. They are much healthier and by you putting the sugar on it, the strawberries will not have all the fat, preservetives and empty calories as if you bought frosted cookies...but they will still taste as sweet!!!!
Good Luck!

Answer 3

Schools have to take a stand! You should see what schools are feeding kids these days: fries, pizza, Twinkies, soda! They are influencing our kids into an unhealthy future. And the lack of physical education and recess, and the state tests aren't helping either. We need to stop these junk food commercials, and put on some healthy food commercials for eating right. THIS JUNK FOOD FRENZY MUST STOP!

Answer 4

It's difficult. i remember as a child I preferred to go to McDonald's, KFC or Burger king than eat the healthy and tasty food my mom had prepared.
Try to make your home cooking interesting; experiment with the food presentation, use colorful dinnerware, try new recipes, try to involve them when you are cooking, try new ways to cook the foods you usually eat.
last but not least show them the movie Super size me. You can rent it at Blockbuster, My son saw it at school, and he swore off junk food.
One of the preoccupations I have now is that today there are so many obese kids.

Answer 5

Easy, just tell them NO! And as the parent you have the obligation to keep up with that.

I don't think junk food once in a while is bad, but the amount of crap I see kids eating today is ridiculous.

Answer 6

As adults we have to stop giving it to them. It's not like they can go out and buy it for themselves. We need to make sure when we do grocery shopping we don't buy any of it, or as little as we possibly can. Make sure there is GOOD stuff in the fridge. It may take a little more effort on our part, but healthier kids will be the reward.
Its probably going to be impossible to get them off it completely, because they will be able to get some of it at other places like friends houses, etc. But if we can "train" them earlier to like good food, that habit will stay with them.

Answer 7

I don't know because I am an adult and I still have to have my junk food :) If there is no junk food in the house then I think I'm starving. lol

P.S. and I'm not over weight

Answer 8

My 18 month old daughter eats sweets and junkfood maybe once a week. Start young like this and you'll never have a problem. Most 18 month olds eat McDonalds 2 time a week! Thats just asking for a fat lazy kid. I give my daughter 1 Fry as a treat once a month and she is happy with that!

Answer 9

Offer your kids fruit and vegetables for snacks. Also read lables and keep more healthy food in the house. However, do NOT deny it totally and make it taboo, or once they are out or with friends they could start to binge or sneak food and that's worse. As with anything moderation is the key. By keeping healhful items in the house, and offering them first, you are helping the kids make wise eating decisions.

Answer 10

Just don't make it available. If kids get hungry, they'll eat the healthier food, or they just won't eat. Either way, it will be better for them than snacking on junk between meals.