There are possibly a multitude of kids junk food items in your pantry and fridge and I want to share a few of them with you. Not for the purpose of making moms and dads feel bad, but to inform you of what I found out during my research.

In no way do I think you are a bad parent if you have any of these items currently. Maybe there’s one or two foods on this list you didn’t know about and that’s why I’m writing this post.

Take this list, go to your kitchen and set aside everything you own on the list. Don’t worry. You won’t have to trash it all today. I will tell you which items are the worst as far as weight gain and should be trashed immediately and which ones you can continue to eat until you’re finished.

It would be wise, though, not to buy any of these food items again if you can help it. Look at your food labels and become familiar with which foods have lots of sugar or artificial sweeteners and do everything you can to avoid those items.

If they are high up on the list of ingredients, they shouldn’t be bought again. Let’s get started.

Kids Junk Food In The Pantry

• Cookies
• Sugar cereals for kids
• Fruit roll-ups
• Pop-Tarts
• Donuts
• Muffins
• White bread
• White rice
• White potatoes
• Chips

Kids Junk Food In The Fridge

• Frozen dinners
• Frozen pizzas
• Cookie dough
• Non-organic salad dressings
• Bacon
• Hot dogs
• Pre-packaged deli meats

I know some of you may be shaking your heads at me but I bet there’s a few of you who already know some of these items are not healthy and hopefully this will motivate you this week.

I would personally trash donuts, candy, cookies and snacks with more than 15 grams of sugar per serving today and tackle the rest of the list when you can.

Replace Kids Junk Food With Healthier Snacks

I don’t want to sound like a broken record to you but I would be doing a disservice to you if I didn’t give you a list of healthier foods for your family.

My list above was a bad of the bad list. Of course I’m going to recommend fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and avocados because they are super healthy for the whole family.

I’m not a big processed food fan but here are a few alternatives to consider.

How about some organic peanut butter crackers? They are pretty low in fat and only have three grams of sugar per serving.

My kids are big fans of other snack foods like raw almonds, organic fruit bars and organic yogurt.

There are a lot of healthy alternatives we can use instead of the typical kids junk food items and as parents we have the power to make those buying decisions.

You’ll see a dramatic change in your child’s health once you toss the kids junk food and replace it with nutritious meals and snacks.

Unhealthy foods for kids consumed over time can cause quite a bit of toxic build up in their systems.

Detoxification – or detox for short – is defined as the physiological or medicinal removal of toxic substances from a living organism, including the human body and additionally can refer to the period of withdrawal during which an organism returns to homeostasis after long-term use of an addictive substance.

In order to break the addiction to food and remove toxins from your kids’ bodies, you have to eliminate the junk they’re eating on a regular basis.

This is the core for having a healthy child. Obviously, the primary cause of childhood obesity is the food children put in their mouths. What is not so obvious to many parents is what truly is bad and what isn’t.

That’s what this post is about, to help you identify junk. With a little common sense we all know eating fast food every day is not a good idea. And we know a lot of cookies, cupcakes, and such are bad for the body. But the list of bad foods is much longer and we need to cover it all.

Less Kids Junk Food Equals Less Sickness

Once your kids stop eating the unhealthy foods and consume beneficial foods, you will see a big difference. Not only will they start to lose weight if needed, they will become more active, more alert, and they’ll get sick less. They will have more confidence in their abilities and they will be in a good mood more often.

The nutrients from good foods affect kids physically, mentally, emotionally, and physiologically. Healthy eating is better for them all around, both in the present and the future.

The best way to help remove toxins from your child’s body is through their drinking. They must drink water, water, and more water. Each day allow them to drink milk, maybe one small glass of juice, and the rest should be water. Drinking a lot of water flushes toxins from the liver, bladder, kidneys, and colon.

Kids Junk Food Culprit #1 Is Drinks

The easiest way to lower calorie intake is through beverages. You may see your children lose weight just by eliminating sodas or sugary juices from their diets. And please, PLEASE don’t give your children diet drinks because they contain a terrible substance called aspartame that is incredibly harmful. We will talk more about aspartame later.

Drinks are the easiest items to eliminate. I’m not saying you should throw away all your sugary drinks immediately. But let your child know that once they are finished with what you have, you will not be buying those items for awhile.

In my next post I’ll talk about which kids junk food items I suggest you toss and even explain a little about the harmful ingredients found in certain foods

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Food addictions can be broken, but your child will need your help but before you know it your kids eating habits will improve.

Just as the brain is trained to love unhealthy foods, it must be trained to love healthy foods. This is a process and can’t be changed overnight.

Kids Eating Habits Can Dramatically Improve

If you know your child is addicted to food, you will have to gradually change their diet. Start by cutting off one large temptation, such as lunches at fast food restaurants. Continue to give them some of the foods they love while incorporating healthy foods into their diets.

I will touch on this more, but you don’t need to feel like a marine corp officer and completely change their eating habits by this evening’s dinner. It is a process and no addict can be expected to change instantly. Remember that a food addiction can be as serious as a drug or tobacco addiction.

I once heard someone say about smoking, “I know it can kill me, but I don’t care. I love it too much.”

Many people feel the same way about food. The addiction must be broken. Willpower and a few rules must be instated to do so. You have to realize that the food your child loves so well is killing them.

Would you rather your child live a long life or die early just so they can eat bacon and biscuits every day? You must admit that a long life is the desired choice, both for you and your kids.

Here are more tips for how to help your kids overcome their addiction. As I listed above, slowly incorporate healthy foods into their diet. Tell them what you are doing beforehand.

If they are old enough to understand, sit down with them and talk to them about the difference between nutritional and bad food. Explain how a healthy balance of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and proteins will give their body all it needs to grow strong and feel good.

On the contrary, bad foods cause them to feel sluggish, sick and will not give their body the fuel it needs to function properly.

It may help to keep a journal with or for them and record all the foods they like or don’t like. Begin a rule in your house that they must take at least one bite of everything you offer them.

It’s a common belief that if you continue to try a food, after seven times you’ll start to like it.

Improved Kids Eating Habits – Stay Strong

Your child will likely whine, throw a fit, stomp their feet, refuse to eat, or act out in another negative way. It is easy to want to give in to their wishes. But, please, for their sake, do not. They need you to stay strong and do what is right for them.

A proverb says, “Foolishness is bound up in the heart of the child.” Children do not know what is best for them, they only know what they want. You, on the other hand, know what’s best for them.

Show them love by not just giving them what they want, but what they need. They will appreciate it as they grow up.

If you remain strong and help with your kids eating habits, you will see their addiction broken. What a victory that will be! You can then be proud as a parent and know that you did the best thing you could for your child. You showed them true love and care.

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My wife and I were talking about childhood obesity causes and before we started our initial research she told me this story and it has to do with food addiction. This story is in her words.

At a group dinner once, one of my friends with a weight problem called to say she would be late and asked us to order for her. In addition to her steak, I took the liberty of ordering fat free ranch for her side salad. I thought she’d never notice the difference.

She arrived at the table just as the food was delivered. When the waitress announced the words “fat free” with her meal she looked appalled and demanded it be returned for regular ranch. Unfortunately, she could not live without the extra 16 grams of fat with her already high-fat, high-calorie meal.

This is one example of how food can control our lives. Food is now considered as addicting as drugs because it affects the brain the same way cocaine or heroin does. If you eat a lot of bad food your body starts to feel “high” because the pleasure areas in the brain are stimulated.

With continuous bad eating habits the pleasure areas collapse and your body tells you to eat more to have the same good feeling. After awhile, you can’t even feel normal again unless you eat the bad foods.

Unhealthy, fatty foods don’t just affect you physically. They also have negative affects mentally and physiologically. Your brain changes as you eat worse and worse, developing a tolerance for the foods you’re ingesting. To continue to feel “high” your brain tells you to eat more.

Food addiction is more common than drug addiction. It’s also a lot cheaper and more socially acceptable.

Whether or not your children are overweight, they could easily have an addiction to food. This is dangerous and must be stopped.

Any addiction is bad because it causes you to lose control over your life. You no longer make intelligent decisions because the addiction is in charge. Wouldn’t you rather teach your children how to take control of their lives instead of being controlled by food?

One sign of food addiction is sneaking food or eating in secret. This is done because the addict feels ashamed or knows the eating is wrong and they don’t want others to know what they’re doing. This could cause social withdrawal and shame.

Being addicted to food can also cause your child to feel guilty and may even lead to eating disorders like bulimia. Instead, they should feel good about the choices they make and feel confident that they are in control of their lives instead of food controlling them.

There are different reasons children may be addicted to food. The first thing to do as a parent is to pinpoint those reasons. Here are some possibilities:

• They simply like the taste of bad foods and have not learned to love healthy
  foods.
• There is no defined parental authority in the home to prevent them from doing and eating what they want.
• They are not offered healthy foods because the parents do not buy them.
• They feel like a social outcast and food has become their friend.
• They have experienced a family problem (death, divorce, trouble with siblings, etc.) and don’t know how to deal with the issues.

It is the responsibility of the parent or guardian to solve the issues your children have that make them addicted to food. Training your child to eat and love healthy foods is a doable process. It just takes commitment and a little education.

If you think your child might be addicted to food because of one of the last two reasons, or for another reason not listed, you have a more serious issue on your hands. Communication is huge. Sit down alone with your child and let them know how much you love them and how concerned you are. Here are some conversation starters you can use.

“I know you love to eat. So do I. But I’ve noticed that you eat more than a healthy amount. Do you know why you like to eat so much?”

“How often do you think about food? In what situations do you think about food?”

“How have you been feeling about (family situation – you fill in the blank)? It makes me feel sad and I just wanted to know how it’s affecting you.”

“I love you very much and family is important to me. Anything that bothers you bothers me. I am here for you and will listen to anything you want to talk about.”

By communicating with your child, you will hopefully pinpoint the underlying issue and then be able to take the next step. Perhaps they need to see a school or church counselor or perhaps they just need more attention from family.

This is just one of the childhood obesity causes you need to be aware of and I encourage you to leave a comment if you’ve ever had an experience related to this subject.

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I do have some positive kids health news to share with you and it has to do with overcoming false advertising towards our kids which is something we need to be aware of.

Advertisers also like to make kids think they’re part of the “in” crowd if they eat certain foods. They want kids to believe that everyone eats fast food, so they should too. They subconsciously tell viewers there’s something wrong with them if they don’t like to eat unhealthy. But, you are too smart for this.

If you don’t give into the temptation you will feel a great sense of accomplishment, while regret and remorse is sure to follow if you continue to eat what they’re selling. You must, Must, MUST become aware of how these ads can influence you and your kids.

Analyze your family’s eating habits and determine how much you are affected by such ads. Now that you see the truth, it will be easier for you to reject the luring images and teach your kids to do the same. Remind them that the most food they see on television is harmful and will not keep their bodies healthy.

To make matters worse, conflicting messages are shouted at us constantly from the media. We are encouraged to eat unhealthy, fattening foods, but we are also expected to remain thin and beautiful. The actors in fast food commercials don’t look like the
people you see regularly at McDonald’s.

“Be skinny but first enjoy a triple patty bacon cheeseburger with a side of fries.” That is the message we’re getting. And it leaves many of us, and our children, unhappy.

If you and your kids are aware of your surroundings and understand what’s going on, you will not be unhappy. Awareness and knowledge is the first step to changing your children’s lives. You cannot make them healthier if you don’t see how they are influenced by their surroundings.

So here’s what you need to do. First, try to eliminate their time in front of the television. It’s recommended that children spend no more than two hours watching TV a day.

Next, filter what they’re watching. Only allow them to view commercial-free shows, with PBS,
a DVR where you can fast forward through commercials, or iN DEMAND services.

Obviously, you can’t prevent children from ever seeing images you don’t want them to see. So, take time to sit down with them during commercials and explain why those foods aren’t good for them. Don’t wait until they ask for it in the store. Initiate the conversation immediately and then later you can remind them why you won’t buy those foods. Explain to them that you love them and are responsible for their health and well-being.

When they do view food-related ads, you will have the knowledge to explain to them why those foods are harmful and why your family will not be eating them. Depending on their age, you can explain how they are being marketed to.

Don’t just give your children fish, so to speak. Teach them to fish. Teach them to be discerning with the foods they choose to eat. You don’t want your child to grow up, feel they were deprived as a child, and not understand why. They’re only then likely to make poor food choices as an adult.

If you put forth the effort to talk to your kids about food, they will be educated on healthy and unhealthy food choices. The results for a healthier adulthood will be far greater. And even if they make unwise decisions as adults it won’t be because of lack of education.

You see! We all can have victory over false and unhealthy food advertising! I hope this post has been the most positive kids health news you’ll read all week!

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I’ve been wanting to share some scary kids health news for some time but I’ve been putting it off. In reality, I like to share positive news with you a lot more than negative but there are some things you need to know.

As I’ve mentioned before, you are a parent who loves your child and you would do anything for them. I’m not the only one who believes that. Advertisers and marketers also know that information and they want to use it for their benefit. They know that the average child sees 55 commercials a day, or 20,000 a year, giving them a great amount of influence.

If you haven’t already, sit down with your child the next time they watch cartoons. Pay attention to the ads during commercial breaks. Every single ad is trying to sell either a toy or food. Most of the foods claim to be healthy, but they are merely processed, MSG filled boxes of poison.

Kids Health News – TV Advertising

Kids are a major target in this country because they spend a lot of time in front of the TV, they are vulnerable, and they lack self control. They see something they want and don’t have the will power to refuse it. They lack reason and education and just want something because it tastes good.

Marketers know a child will see something and the next time they are in the store they will ask for it. And loving parents will comply. After all, you may not be able to afford the latest popular toy, but you can afford a candy bar. Advertisers know this.

When you or your child “falls” for a food advertisement and then purchases that item, you are losing power and control of your will. Slogans like to remind you that you deserve whatever product they’re selling. They like you to think you’re in control, but really you’re just subject to their mind control.

Kids Health News – Who’s In Control?

On the contrary, if you are able to use self-discipline and refuse to give into tempting commercials, you are the one in control. You have to remember that the food they’re selling is more than likely harmful to your health and the short gratification of eating it is not worth it in the long run.

I do have some practical solutions for you and I’ll share those with you in another post. I first want this information to really sink in.

Think about this kids health news and use it for motivation.

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I talk a lot on my blog about kids health issues and provide real solutions such as increased fun exercise and eating healthier foods. I basically promote families living a healthy lifestyle.

One of the issues out there is child obesity. We can all agree based on the numbers and personal experience that obesity is on the rise.

The subject of sugar comes up a lot. There are tons and tons of sugar in everyday products and, let’s face it…we eat too much of it.

It’s a choice we freely make. We either eat bad foods and give them to our kids or we eat healthy foods and give them to our kids. Let me say it again. It’s a choice.

Kids Health Issues And UCSF Scientists

UC San Francisco scientists led by Dr. Robert Lustig have released a paper that suggests sugar, according to the San Francisco Chronical, “should be highly regulated with taxes, laws on where and to whom it can be advertised, and even age-restricted sales.”

You read that right! They believe sugar is a toxic poison in a sense which is a leading cause of chronic disease and premature deaths.

They believe the government needs to get involved in yet another area of our lives and tax us plus restrict the purchasing of sugar.

I don’t really buy this solution at all! I still believe in parents. Like I said, it’s a choice. Parents can make the right choice without being regulated and taxed.

Especially in regards to kids health issues, I don’t advocate an over-consumption of sugar or anything else. However, is banning or regulating sugar the answer to child obesity?

Kids Health Issues And The Silence On Aspartame

The solution by many of these scientists and government food agencies is that instead of using sugar we should all consume the deadly excitotoxin aspartame which is heralded as a “sugar substitute.”

It’s literally found in many foods and drinks. Did you know that the Department of Health and Human Services said in 1994, according to this article, aspartame accounts for over 75 percent of the adverse reactions to food additives reported to the FDA?

There are 90 different documented symptoms listed in the report as being caused by aspartame, including seizures and death.

In an interview with Dr. Russell Blaylock, who is an expert on excitotoxins like MSG and Aspartame, said “one of the things we’re hearing a lot about is childhood obesity. One early observation with exitotoxicity is it makes animals (in studies) grossly obese.”

Dr. Blaylock goes on to say if MSG, Aspartame and all the other sugar substitutes were banned tomorrow there would be a significant decrease in obesity and certain cancers.

My question is…why are we focusing so much on sugar when it appears we should be paying more attention to MSG and Aspartame? I really don’t have an answer for you at this time.

In the end, we as parents need to continue making wise choices for our families in the area of eating. We can make the choice today to eat less sugar and avoid MSG and aspartame at all costs.

I believe parents are “game-changers” when it comes to kids health issues so let’s decide today to do something positive.

Learn these four fitness activities for kids and even print them off because they are so effective your family will want to play them over and over again.

They are age specific but I have some for everyone so you are sure to find one which is perfect for your children and your situation.

It’s best to make fitness time for our kids a natural part of their daily lives. It shouldn’t be viewed as a chore or something that needs to be done.

I believe a way to move from feeling powerless in regards to kids health is to incorporate these types of fun activities. Mom and dad can participate too!

Fitness Activities For Kids – All In Under 10 Minutes

Actions – Designed For Children Ages two to four
This activity requires no props and can be done at any time. You simply give the child some fun and easy instructions for an action. It’s your chance to be creative.

If you notice her struggling with any of the actions, be sure to encourage and help her practice before proceeding with the activity.

Here are some suggestions for action statements:

• Jump three times
• Hop on one foot four times
• Tiptoe quietly around the room
• Stomp your feet five times
• Clap your hands six times

Do the exercise as long as they are interested. Make sure they stop to rest occasionally. This
exercise will also improve listening skills as well as keep them active.

Balloon Bouncing – Designed For Children Ages five to seven
This exercise requires one or two blown up balloons, and that’s it.
Tell the child that the object of the game is to keep the balloon from touching the floor.

He is to throw it above his head and hit it into the air each time it comes down. With him, count how many times he hits it before it touches the floor.

Make it challenging by telling him not to use his hands to keep the balloon afloat. Instead, he must use other body parts, such as his elbows, knees, head or feet. Congratulate his efforts.

An even more challenging step would be to use two balloons together to do the mentioned activities. Or have him lie on the floor and try to keep the balloons afloat with his feet. Get creative in suggesting how he can keep the balloon in the air.

Beanbag Throw – Designed For Children Ages seven to ten
For this kids exercise you will need beanbags, a large box or basket and masking tape.

There are several types of games you could play with these objects. Tape two lines of masking tape on the floor, about six feet apart. Have the child stand at one piece of tape and throw the beanbags to the other piece of tape.

They should try to throw the beanbags as close to the tape without going over the line.

You can also place the box next to the second line and ask them to throw as many beanbags into the box as possible. This is a great way to help her aim, especially if she has a desire to play sports.

These games can also be played with a group of kids.

Frisbee Golf – Designed For Children Ages Ten to Twelve
Also known as disc golf, this game has become very popular for those who are golf fans and those who aren’t. There are a lot of parks that have disc golf baskets so all you have to do is bring a few Frisbees.

Frisbee golf can also be played in your backyard. Just put a bucket on the ground and aim for it from different angles. You can even find instructions on the Internet for how to make your own basket.

The best way for your child to get exercise, though, is to play this game in a park. She’ll do a lot of walking to the Frisbees and throwing the discs will also work her muscles.

If Frisbee golf is a little too challenging for her, just start by throwing the Frisbee back and forth.

Fitness Activities For Kids Should Be Ongoing

Getting kids to exercise should be an ongoing process and these four fun activities will make it much easier for you.

Try and stay positive even if there is resistance at first because they will come around. Most of us want healthier families and don’t want to wait until it’s too late.

Get started today, try these fitness activities for kids and have some fun!

Here’s a quick video for you about my Kids Health Club…

Links mentioned in the video:

Kids Health Club – Learn more

There is no doubt that when we think of kids health food we pause for a moment and say…for real? We automatically think of things like tofu, meatless burgers, sprouts and something else that stinks or has the potential to taste really gross.

If I saw a raise of hands of all the kids who like that type of food I’d probably see one out of a million.

Forget about the items I listed above and let’s focus on another food that helps make healthy kids.

Kids Health Food – The Following Are Not What Children Should Consume

I’ve got to let you in on a secret and I’m not trying to be sarcastic or funny. Just because something says “fortified”, “natural”, or 100% of fill-in-the-blank doesn’t mean it’s even remotely healthy for you or your kids.

There are many foods marketed towards your kids that say natural and it’s not even close to being as advertised. You must get in the habit of reading labels and understanding what some of those words mean.

Most natural foods are processed to the core and actually contain terrible ingredients such as MSG, aspartame and several other scientific looking words.

If you don’t understand what the word means, like most of us, don’t eat it.

Juice boxes or pouches that say it contains real fruit juice is a joke most of the time.

You end up finding out it contains five or 10 percent fruit juice while the remaining mixture is high fructose corn syrup, unfiltered water and a host of other chemicals not suited for a healthy child.

These are just a few examples of what to look out for.

Kids Health Food – The Real Deal

The real deal when it comes to kids health food are what you used to hear about all the time but don’t much anymore. At least you don’t hear it suggested to you with conviction nowadays.

Many of these foods I’m about to tell you about are very tasty and very powerful when it comes to the health of the family.

These particular foods are chalk full of vitamins and minerals, taste good, have profound effects on children’s health, affordable, and will lay a lifetime foundation for your young ones.

• Vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, celery, salad and basically anything green and leafy.
• Fruits like grapefruit, blueberries, papaya and apples are just a few I could list.
• Water. Pure, clean and healthy water. Not from the tap. Must be properly filtered.
• Grass fed beef, free-range chicken and wild fish. Don’t eat it if it has hormones, antibiotics or is fed GMO corn.

It’s always better to eat organic because it is free from chemicals such as herbicides and pesticides but do the best you can until you can afford organic.

Fruits and vegetables have a high content of antioxidants and even fight against the common cold and influenza. They help with your memory and reduce the risks of diseases.

If you want to make sure childhood obesity isn’t an issue in your home, then fruits, vegetables and healthy meats are the way to go.

Again, kids health food doesn’t have to be gross and associated with other weird foods because fruits and vegetables are actually quite tasty.