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Fat Facts for Kids

Discussing concepts to kids, especially in the areas of nutrition and health, can sometimes be difficult. Kids may not grasp the idea of what is healthy and what is not, and, often, they choose what they eat based on what they like. Help kids understand the concept of health with some fat facts.

  1. The Good and the Bad Fats

    • Let kids know that there is good fats and bad fats. Kids are so used to the idea of what is good and bad through stories and movies that making them understand the concept can be a breeze. Good fats are the ones that help our body become stronger, while bad fats are the ones that make us gain a lot of weight and contribute in acquiring diseases, such as heart issues. The team of good fats includes monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats, while the bad ones include saturated fats and trans fats.

    Eating

    • In order for the good fats to win, children have to eat healthy foods that contain good fat. Good fats are contained in nuts, such as almonds and walnuts, olive oil and canola oil and seafood. Bad fats are contained in packaged and fast foods, and eating a lot of them allows the bad fats to win the battle.

    Fat and Exercise

    • In order to beat the bad fats, kids should engage in daily active play. For example, playing a physical sport --- like basketball --- is a good way to sweat out those fats and keep healthy. Electronic gadgets and game consoles do not fight bad fats. They can actually support the bad fats because it limits children's exercise.

    "Scary" Facts

    • Eating bad fats can lead to obesity and other diseases, which can be difficult to treat. In the U.S., obesity is present in about 16 to 33 percent of kids and adults, depending on your location. Obesity is easy to spot in children, as it will physically manifest on their weight and physique. The common reasons for obesity include poor eating habits and lack of exercise. Obesity often leads to diabetes and heart problems, so, not only can eating healthy and exercising provide greater energy, but it can extend lives, as well.

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