Hidden Dangers in Kids Meals

Lurking in microwavable, frozen and fast food meals are the perfect ingredients for building dangerous illnesses, risking poor nutrition and developing severe allergies. Chemical additives, processed meats and trans-fat create sick kids and bad food. Marketers prey on young audiences, using costly, sugar-filled, unhealthy meals disguised as convenient bite-sized lunches and dinners. Keep kids healthy with homemade meals.

Trans-fat and Processed Sugars

• Trans-fat and saturated fat-filled baked goods, fast food and microwavable meals add flavor in the same way that fat enhances barbecued meat. Children's developing palates, however, learn to crave these foods and empty calories. Trans-fat increases bad cholesterol levels, decreases healthy cholesterol and provides little nutritional value. Fried, fast foods offer large portions of similarly saturated and trans-fat-laden options. When dining out, kids want sugary soda or chocolate milk, which provides additional sugars. They want alternative desserts are soaked in heavy corn syrup and sugar additives. Children can consume hundreds of grams of sugar, starch, trans-fat and saturated fat between breakfast and bedtime. Saturated fats may cause excessive gain weight, and processed sugars can destroy tooth enamel.

Food Additives and Fillers

• Fried and processed foods are filled with corn gluten, food coloring and chemical extracts.

  Chemical food dyes can enhance the visual appearance of foods. Food dyes can cause children to develop allergies resulting from long-term use. Flavored extracts and chemically modified flavor enhancers can lead to gastrointestinal problems, hyperactivity and food cravings. A variety of microwavable and frozen meals that are targeted to young audiences are made with processed meat byproducts and fillers. Manufacturers use otherwise unappealing animal byproducts such as pig snouts, pig ears and fatty fillers to add bulk to meats. The key ingredient in fast food and pre-packaged meals is often processed rice or wheat hulls, starches, corn gluten, and chemical preservatives that increase product shelf-life.

Diabetes and Obesity

• Obesity is a concern for parents trying to strike a balance between foods their kids like and the nutrition children need. Parents can find it difficult to compete with advertisers who market pizza lunches, chicken nuggets, ice cream and bubble gum-flavored treats. Sugary cereal at breakfast, processed lunches and junk-food snacks can lead to imbalances in children's blood sugar levels. This constant imbalance may weaken the body's ability to produce insulin and regulate glucose absorption. Excess weight combined with blood sugar level spikes is a recipe for early onset diabetes. When the amount of calories in these foods, snacks and drinks out-weigh a child' s activity level, weight gain can get out of control.

Nutritional Deficiencies

• Variety, presentation, consistence and parent participation are keys to healthy eating.

  Children lacking protein, calcium, B vitamins, minerals and vitamins C, A and E, may develop impaired and weakened immune systems. As a result, obese children can suffer from malnutrition despite access to healthy foods. Vitamin supplements do not meet the body's need for fiber. Vegetables, fruits, grains, wheat and oats are necessary for healthy digestion. Supplements rarely provide sufficient protein for growing bodies and minds. Calcium, magnesium and potassium deficiencies can lead to bone loss, tooth decay and poor muscle development. Frequent illness, skin disorders, mood swings, fatigue, depression, inability to concentrate, memory impairment and sleep disorders are just some of the adverse effects of long-term vitamin and mineral deficiencies.