Eating Out & Health Problems

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  Eating
Out & Health Problems		 Marc Straus | CWK Network Producer
 
 
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“They can’t feel that their
body is starting to go through some unhealthy changes, but things are
happening at a cellular, blood-vessel level already at very young ages.”

– Page Love, Registered Dietitia
  Related Information What Parents Need To Know Resources

Your teenager looks healthy and
acts healthy… so what’s wrong with a treat here and
there, a few fast food meals a week? A lot, it turns out.

Just ask kids how often they eat out these days, and you’ll
likely hear answer like these:

“I’d say maybe about three or four times a week,” says
Corey, who’s 18.

“Most of my friends probably go out every day, or a couple
of times a day, to eat,” says 16-year-old Sabrina.

Shelly, who’s 15, eats out, “Almost every day, as
weird as that sounds.”

It’s not weird at all. In fact, American Heart Association
research found one in five American kids dine out at least four
times a week.

“They’re going to get exposure to refined processed
foods which might mean sugar, more white flour products, definitely
more hidden fats, more saturated fats,” explains Page Love,
a registered dietitian.

That puts them at risk for higher cholesterol and blood pressure,
which can lead to heart problems.

And a surprising finding: normal-size kids face the same
risk as obese kids…

“I see a number of kids already that have high cholesterol,
high triglycerides in the early pre-teen ages,” says Love. “They
can’t feel the change… they can’t feel that
their body is starting to go through some unhealthy changes, but
things are happening at a cellular, blood-vessel level already
at very young ages.”

So what can parents do? First, set a good example…

“If the parents are ordering fried chicken and french fries,
or a cheeseburger and french fries, the child most often will model
and follow what the parent does,” explains Love.

And she says you can make the family dinner a priority, “And
having the kids participate in the cooking process… and
having them have a little bit more ownership and interest in the
actual food choices that are served.”

But, she says, it may take some time — to change your child’s
unhealthy habits…

Shelly is a good example. “I believe it all,” she
says, “but at the same time I just don’t really care
that much, cause it’s just… it tastes really good.
I mean it can’t do that much harm, I guess?”

The study also reveals that kids who eat out more often are significantly
less active than their peers, spending close to an average of an
hour more per day in sedentary activities such as playing video games
and watching television.

 
By Larry Eldridge
CWK Network, Inc.

Obesity among children has doubled over the past decade and eating out
may be a contributing factor, according to a study published in the Journal
of the American Dietetic Association. The study of more than 800 children
and adolescents aged 7 to 17 found that while accounting for only 6 percent
of all meals eaten, restaurant meals contained about 55 percent more calories
than meals eaten at home. The findings show that children and teens take in
more calories and fats when they eat out.

Obesity in children and adolescents is not just a cosmetic problem.
According to the American Heart Association, studies show that overweight
children tend to become overweight adults, laying the groundwork for
a myriad of obesity-related disorders such as heart disease, some
cancers, stroke and non-insulin-dependent diabetes.
 
By Larry Eldridge
CWK Network, Inc.

Due to busy schedules, some families find the convenience of fast food
too hard to pass up. Experts at the American Dietetic Association (ADA)
suggest that parents need to educate their children on nutrition and encourage
them to make healthy food choices at home and when eating out. Encourage
them to choose a variety of foods from each of these groups:

  • Vegetables
  • Fruits
  • Breads, cereals, rice and pasta
  • Milk, yogurt and cheese
  • Meat, poultry, fish, dried beans and peas, eggs, and nuts

When it comes to eating fast food and restaurant foods, encourage
children to choose lower fat entrees. Suggestions for healthier
fast food choices include:

  • A single slice of veggie pizza
  • Grilled – not fried – sandwiches, such as a grilled
    chicken breast sandwich
  • A small hamburger garnished with lettuce, vegetables and mustard
    instead of sauces, mayonnaise, cheese or bacon
  • Bean burrito
  • Tacos and chili (but skip the sour cream and cheese)
  • Baked potato
  • Side salad with dressing served on the side
  • Frozen yogurt, sherbet or fruit for dessert rather than cookies,
    cakes, etc.
  • Skim milk
  • Baked chips instead of regular chips

Experts at the ADA say to resist the temptation to “super-size” a
meal. This can add up to 25 percent more fat and calories. They also
recommend that when you have a craving for something high in calories,
try splitting it with a friend.

 

American
Dietetic Association
American Heart Association
Children’s Nutrition Research Center
at Baylor College of Medicine