Here are some of the reports highlights:

• The average preschool child sees 642 cereal ads per year on television, and almost all of these are for cereals with the worst nutrition rankings.

• On the Internet, cereal companies make heavy use of marketing by sponsoring cereal websites and “advergames”.

• For example, millsberry.com, the website sponsored by General Mills, averages over three quarters of a million unique young visitors a month, who on average stay on the site for 24 minutes per visit.

• The most frequent in-store advertiser was Kellogg, averaging 33.3 promotions per store and 9.5 special displays of its child and family brands over the 4-week period covered by the study.

• General Mills markets to children more than any other cereal company and makes 6 of the 10 least healthy cereals advertised to children, including Reese’s Puffs, which is 41 per cent sugar and attracted the worst nutrition score.

• Cereals marketed directly to children have 85 per cent more sugar, 65 per cent less fiber, and 60 per cent more sodium than cereals marketed to adults for adult consumption.

• 42 per cent of cereals targeted at children contain artificial food dyes compared with 26 per cent of family cereals and 5 per cent of adult cereals.

• Only 8 per cent of the cereals targeted directly to children are inside the sugar limits that would allow them to qualify for inclusion in the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program.

• Not one of the cereals targeted directly to children in the US meets the nutrition standard required to advertise to children in the United Kingdom.

• All cereals marketed directly to children meet the industry’s own nutrition standard for “better-for-you” foods. These include: Cocoa Puffs (44 per cent sugar), Cap’n Crunch (44 per cent sugar), Froot Loops (41 per cent sugar), Lucky Charms (41 per cent sugar) and Cinnamon Toast Crunch (32 per cent sugar).

I know as a parent, cereal is the easy and quick way to get kids to eat breakfast. And yes, breakfast is so important. But there are healthier cereals out there, but will your child eat it?

According to this study, YES. “Research shows that children will eat the healthier cereals.”

So how do you find them? Yes, you may have guessed, read the labels and compare. It is a balance between taste and nutrition.

Here are some key things to look at when trying to find a healthy cereal for your child.

• Look for cereals that are lower in sugar. (8 or less grams of sugar)
• Look for cereals that say “no artificial dyes or artificial sugar”
• Look for cereals that have more fiber, 4 gms or more per serving
• Look for cereals that are lower in sodium

Super Nanny was right on target with her healthy tips!

Super Nanny noticed that the kids did not eat any fruits or vegetables.  They ate lots of fatty foods followed by doses of sugary sweets and soda!  When she confronted the parents about the children’s poor eating habits, they explained that the kids would not eat anything but frozen and packaged foods.  What was more surprising was the mom was a healthy eater, she just didn’t know how to get the kids to eat healthy!

Hopeless!  Not for Super Nanny!  She gave the parents very specific guidelines on how to get the kids to eat healthier foods!

1.  Parents plan a healthy menu for the week.

2.  Involve the kids in meal planning.  She had mom write down each healthy menu on a triangle and then pasted them onto a large circle with a spinner.  Each child was asked to spin the wheel and see what meal they would land on which was then assigned to a special day.  The kids loved the game and each wanted to spin the wheel.

3.  Get kids curious and interested in fruits and vegetables.  She took the family to the local farmer’s market where the kids could sample different fruits and vegetables.  Some they did not like, others they did.  She kept it all very positive and fun to experiment and try new foods.

4.  Snacks were stopped at least one hour before mealtime so the kids would be hungry.

5.  All soda and other sugary, fatty foods were removed from the house.

6.  At dinnertime, kids were given a choice of milk or water.

7.  There was a colorful variety of fruits and vegetables for the kids to choose from for dinner.

8,  Parents were patient but firm that this was the meal they all agreed upon for dinner.

9.  Parents explained to the kids why the other foods were not good for their bodies and that is why it was not a dinner option, instead it was a once in a while treat.

10.  They all had to sit down as a family for dinner, even if the kids were not going to eat.

What happened? (in case you didn’t see it)  Well, we may have missed out on some of the more difficult moments with film editing, but it was clear that with consistency, patience and keeping it positive and fun,  the kids began to eat healthy foods!

Change takes a little time, even for kids.  But it does happen if you stay the course.  So be patient and keep it positive.  Help kids learn that eating healthy is fun!

Resources:

Kids nutrition games

Parents’ nutrition tools

More tips and tricks on bringing nutrition to the home.

Printable family tips sheets

This is the first nationally representative study of vitamin D levels and children. Children’s Hospital in Boston analyzed government data (2001-2006) for children aged 11 years and younger.

Here is what they found:

• Approximately 6 million US children are not getting enough vitmain D. This is based on the American Academy of Pediatrics standards. This means about 1 out of every 5 kids!

• However, many experts argue that this standard is too low. Using a higher standard, the study found that 24 million children do not get enough vitamin D! That is about 2/3 of all children.

Rickets is a disease that children can get if their body does not get enough vitamin D causing an inability to absorb calcium. The disease is characterized by soft, weak and deformed bones.

Here are some ways to increase your child’s vitamin D (and calcium) intake. I say both because you really need foods rich in calcium and vitamin D to build strong bones and teeth and fight disease.

1. set some goals with your child. Make it fun to set a goal and then track it.

• Building Strong Bones and Teeth Agreement & Tracking Sheet

2. provide calcium and vitamin D rich foods at every meal

• Family Tips – Calcium Rich Foods for Each Meal

3. Be patient, it takes time to change eating habits.

More resources on vitamin D:

Foods high in vitamin D

Nutrition and building strong bones

Does my child really need milk?

This Monday keep your kids’ candy in the bag. Stay away from your kids’ Halloween treats in favor of sliced apples, unsalted nuts and antioxidant-rich, heart-healthy, organic dark chocolate.

Mondays are a great day to renew Family Health vows. Every Monday, you will find some healthy tip to help your family start the week off on a Healthy Note!

Thanks to Healthy Monday organization for sharing their Monday tips.

Hershey’s and Organic Valley want to spread the word about milk in single serve, shelf stable cartons, and encourage moms to hand these out as Halloween treats.  To help spread the work they have created a special campaign on  Facebook and Twitter .  On the Facebook and Twitter, you can choose whether your friends deserve to receive a treat or a trick – each and every one you send is a 10 cents donation to World Wildlife Fund. And on the Web, you can upload head shots of yourself and your friends, only to have them appear atop the dancing bodies of monsters, ready to trick or treat at your friends’ doors.

You can also get free coupons for chocolate milk (packed with calcium that kids need for bones and teeth)!

The World Wildlife Fund is a nonprofit organization that protects our wildlife.   Their mission is the conservation of nature.

For more than 45 years, WWF has been protecting the future of nature. The world’s leading conservation organization, WWF works in 100 countries and is supported by 1.2 million members in the United States and close to 5 million globally. WWF’s unique way of working combines global reach with a foundation in science, involves action at every level from local to global, and ensures the delivery of innovative solutions that meet the needs of both people and nature.

Just in time for Halloween comes some new scary facts, this time about everyday breakfast foods for kids, high sugar cereals, foods advertising to kids, and childhood obesity. We highlight some of the facts and give some solutions and tips for parents to take steps to combat ‘high sugar’ food advertising to kids (or see our resources section to read the full study.)

Food advertising to children and the nutrition of content of kids’ cereals takes center stage in a new study by Yale University’s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity.

The study gives alarming facts for parents; the average preschooler sees 642 cereal advertisement per year and “cereals marketed directly to children have 85% more sugar, 65% less fiber, and 60% more sodium than cereals marketed to adults for adult consumption.”

Also of concern to parents, is the fact that ,”if one looks at the rank order list of the worst nutrition cereals, it’s stunning how the worst cereals are marketed so aggressively to children” as stated by Kelly Brownell from Yale’s Rudd Center. Kelly Brownell, says Yale’s new research finds that kids will eat low-sugar cereals when offered. “There are ways to train kids to eat healthier food. It’s all about what they’re exposed to,” said Brownell.

As parents we can limit TV time to reduce exposure to marketing aimed at children, have children watch ad free media such as PBS, discuss advertising with our kids to help them to become aware of advertising tactics, and offer healthier breakfast food alternatives.

Cereal can be a fast and convenient breakfast food for busy parents. We can offer children a variety of healthy breakfast foods beyond cereal. But since cereal is ‘quick and easy’ it is important to find other breakfast foods that are quick to make or even good for eating on the go. Try a breakfast burrito, whole grain egg sandwich, or healthy smoothie which can all be the night before and refrigerated for a quick ‘on the go ‘breakfast.

Taking steps to introduce and expose children to healthier cereals is another great way for parents to take action for their children’s health. We can steps away from sugar cereals by introducing healthier cereal options, after some complaining children usually adjust to the healthier alternatives. For example, we can limit sugar cereals by offering more cereal from the Top Healthy 10 Cereals by Nutrition Score

As parents we also have to be careful with food labeling claims, we can’t trust the ‘good for you” food label claims on packaged foods. Reading food labels for nutrition information is a great way to get the facts. We have developed food label reader tool for parents and food labeling facts game for kids – for a fun, interactive and easy way to learn more about food labels!

What is your opinion about food advertising and this new study ? Parents please share your ideas and comments on how you encourage healthier breakfast foods or cereals at home.

Resources:

Cereal Ads Fuel Childhood Obesity

Cereal Facts

Yale press release Cereal Advertising Study

PBS Kids TV Schedule- Find your local shows- quality ad-free children’s TV programs

From our family nutrition website Nourish Interactive- The Fun Way to Learn About Nutrition! Winner of 2009 Parents Choice Award

Printable Chart: food label claims and nutrition facts

Interactive nutrition tools for parents

Family nutrition articles and tips

“Every positive change, no matter how small, is a step to creating a healthier child. Together we can give children the knowledge, facts and skills to develop healthy habits for a lifetime!” Maggie LaBarbera RN Founder of Nourish Interactive

Healthy Halloween Tips For Parents -Fun Coloring Pages for Kids

‘Sweets and treats’ often take center stage for the Halloween holiday, which is a concern for parents as we try to limit kids junk and high sugar foods. For a new twist, we have suggestions on using Halloween as an opportunity to teach kids to use moderation, encourage healthy choices and to talk about seasonal vegetables and balanced nutrition.

This month we share new ideas and ways to celebrate Halloween, manage and limit your kids candy, and even find fun ways to use Halloween and the Autumn season to teach children about healthy nutrition!

Orange seasonal vegetables are abundant in Autumn and are good sources of beta carotene, vitamin A, vitamin C, folate, potassium and fiber. Pumpkins take center stage and the season offer many high nutrition choices of orange colored vegetables, it can be fun to together to grocery produce isle or a local farmers market and find all the orange vegetables with your child. Then pick a few to take home and cook a fresh seasonal veggie, from squashes to carrots it is a great way to show kids there is more to the season than candy!

October’s Nourish Kids Health E-Article focuses on easy nutrition tips for parents and fun alternatives to a sugary Halloween. Kids can enjoy healthy foods that are not candy based. Halloween can also offer an excellent opportunity to teach your child about healthy eating and once-in-a-while treats.

Manage and limit Halloween loot to a small amount with portion control tips to limit high sugar foods and encourage healthy choice. Although a seemingly unlikely ‘healthy holiday’ there are fun Halloween learning opportunities that can help your child to establish healthy eating habits.
Halloween Nutrition Tips Article

Kids have their own nutrition based story for October, as Chef Solus and the Explorer characters celebrate Halloween and learn about making healthy choices and the importance of making sweets a ‘once in while’ treat.
Fun Halloween Nutrition Story

Halloween Printables- new printables for parents including; Chef Solus’ top low and no sugar treat list, healthy holiday themed party foods and recipes, and fun Holiday themed lunch notes to print out for your children’s lunch boxes.

Chef Solus’ Top Low Sugar Halloween Treats Over 70 ideas!
Healthy Halloween Party Foods and Recipes
Printable Lunch Box Notes

Last but not least, our most popular seasonal addition is Fun Halloween Coloring Pages for Kids. Coloring activities such as seasonal orange vegetables, Jack O Lantern, Halloween Bookmarks and more!

We hope you have a fun, safe and healthy Halloween!

Healthy Seasonal Veggies -Halloween Coloring Page

Halloween Bookmarks - Print Full Color or B&W to Color

This Monday keep the hands clean. Washing hands is one of the best ways to teach your family to stay healthy as cold and flu season approaches. Try a hand-sanitizer if you’re away from water.

Mondays are a great day to renew Family Health vows. Every Monday, you will find some healthy tip to help your family start the week off on a Healthy Note!

Thanks to Healthy Monday organization for sharing their Monday tips.

Did you know that the average child will eat three cups of sugar from Halloween candy? Yes, you read correctly. THREE CUPS OF SUGAR!

Here is an easy way to promote healthy eating during this high sugar eating season. Our goal is to keep it fun and keep it positive.

Just print these fun Halloween holiday Lunch notes and place them in your child’s lunchbox. What a fun way to gently remind kids that it is fun to eat foods from all the food groups!

For more fun visit our Halloween printables for kids- coloring pages, pumpkins, Seasonal veggies, Halloween themed bookmarks and more!

Healthy Halloween blogs posts and resources from Nourish Interactive:

Managing your child’s sweet tooth!

Nutrition Tips: Healthy Halloween Tips- Top 10 tips to avoid the Halloween Sugar Overload

Halloween Treats boo Nutrition

Some scarry facts about Halloween, kids and candy

Happy Healthy Halloween Trick or Treating

Free Halloween Printables for kids

I am really happy to see that now families will be allocated WIC coupons to buy fresh fruits and vegetables for the first time ever!

The list will include more whole grains and WIC families will be able to get soy-based beverages and tofu. Families can also buy canned tuna and salmon.

The new MyPyramid guidelines came out in 2005 and it is good news that our nutrition programs for families will begin to align with healthier eating.