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Low Cholesterol Diet for Children

Taking control of your child's diet can be difficult; after all, you simply cannot be with her 24 hours a day. But by purchasing low-cholesterol foods at the store and making lunches and dinners at home, you can lay the foundation for a healthy diet. The pediatrician will thank you for taking a vested interest in your child's health, the teacher will appreciate your child's ability to focus and excel in school, and eventually your child will thank you for creating a healthy routine that may carry into her adult life.

  1. Finger Foods

    • Despite the fact that they do not have jobs, kids always seem to be in a rush. Most snacks are eaten standing up, and they prefer mealtimes to be short and sweet. Healthy finger foods that can aid in lowering cholesterol include cut fruit and vegetables, roasted pumpkin and sunflower seeds, roasted peanuts in the shell, and rice cakes.

    Breakfast Foods

    • Television shows for kids often have commercials advertising breakfast cereals that have lots of sugar and high fructose corn syrup. What kids really need to help combat high cholesterol are whole grain cereals that are high in fiber. Consider substituting chocolate marshmallow puffs with cereals that contain at least 3 g of protein, 5 g of fiber, and less than 5 g of sugar per serving. Avoid hydrogenated oils at all costs because they can negate the health benefits of whole grains. Too much hydrogenated oil in the diet can cause your child's cholesterol level to skyrocket.

    Making Pizza, Fries, and Burgers Healthier

    • Kids gravitate toward foods like pizza, french fries, and hamburgers. Instead of cutting these high-cholesterol foods out of a child's diet, make them at home so that you can control the ingredients that go into the meal. For example, sweet potato fries baked in the oven and topped with a pinch of sea salt contain much less fat than anything you can get at a fast food joint. Turkey burgers made with lean ground turkey and garnished with lots of fresh tomatoes, lettuce, onions, and a slice of low-fat cheese are sure to be a crowd pleaser. As for pizza, start with a whole wheat crust and some low-fat cheese, then add lots of chopped vegetables like peppers, onions, artichokes, and mushrooms.

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