We live in a world of fake, fast, and junk foods, which are easy, convenient, and cheap. But now we’re paying a price for consuming such foodstuffs— and so are our kids.
How Did We Get Here?
Simply put, children have become removed from the source of their food. Do apples, carrots, and ground beef magically appear on supermarket shelves? Where does the food we eat come from, and is it really food? When your child eats something, does he understand that it originally came out of the ground from a seed, or that it was recently a living, breathing animal? Processed food in a wrapper or bag that has been highly altered and processed for taste is not healthy food!
When we eat processed, alternative foods comprised of sugars, salts, and fats, we crave more. That’s how the fast food industry and junk food manufacturers get rich and our kids get sick. By consuming cheap fare that is highly addictive and genetically modified, our bodies begin to deteriorate. Even worse, our kids now expect food to be incredibly salty (think pre-packaged lunches) or incredibly sweet. So when you try to give them an apple or carrot, they think it tastes “blah.” Some children don’t even know what real food tastes like anymore.
Chemicals and Additives in Food
When it comes to guiding children along a path of healthy eating, American parents face a remarkable challenge. From genetically modified foods and artificial sugars to toxic additives like MSG, food coloring, and cheap substitutes like high fructose corn syrup, harmful ingredients may be present at practically every meal. Most parents don’t realize the effects of toxic eating until their kids are sick, build allergies, or are malnourished. Fake foods have become the new normal, and I like to put them in three categories.
- Tricksters: aspartame, MSG, and parabens. Such substitutes or chemicals trick the body into wanting more food.
- Fakers: artificial food dyes, BHT, and nitrates. These make you think that the food you are eating is something it’s not. Manufacturers make them look pretty and they last longer on the shelf, but at a serious price to your child’s health.
- Swindlers: high fructose corn syrup and partially hydrogenated oils. These cheap substitutes are used by big food companies to save money. They can cause weight gain by tricking your body into consuming more.
The brain is the most food-sensitive organ in the body. Consuming toxins on a daily basis dramatically impacts children’s health, IQ, and performance in both the classroom and on the playing field. We must educate our children with the powerful knowledge of keeping a healthy, nutritious diet in order to maintain a well-balanced life.
With obesity rates on the rise, our children are at a greater risk than ever before. Putting an end to the standard American diet of highly processed foods and sugary drinks can prevent disastrous health concerns, such as high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, and heart conditions.
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