The most unhealthy foods that kids love
Fruit Gummies
Fruit gummy snacks sound like a quick and easy snack option because of the word "fruit." Unfortunately, there is very little nutritional value in these gummies and a whole bunch of sugar to make up for it. Made with artificial flavors and lots of sweeteners, fruit gummies don't even contain actual fruit: just fruit purees, at the most. According to , eating too much sugar can lead to a higher body mass index later in life, and another shows that it can also lead to nutrient deficiencies.
Avoiding fruit gummies is your best bet -- even the ones that say "made with real fruit" are still full of sugar. Opt for dried fruit with nothing added, or real fruit.
PHOTO: Douglas Sacha
Fruit Juice
Fruit juice is almost always marketed towards kids, and again, it seems healthy because it has the word "fruit" in it. But just like with fruit snacks, fruit juice is loaded with sugar. The recommends no fruit juice to kids under 1, because it contains zero nutritional benefits for this age group. Toddlers ages 1-3 should only have four ounces daily, for 4-6 only 4 to 6 ounces daily, and for ages 7-18, only 8 ounces daily. They also recommend not giving toddlers juice in sippy cups that allow them to have it throughout the day since it can lead to tooth decay.
Your best bet is avoiding fruit juice as much as possible and offering water, milk or water flavored with real fruit.
PHOTO: Catherine Falls Commercial
Sugary Cereals
Many cereals are also marketed towards kids, with fun cartoon characters on the box and unique shapes. But check the nutritional label for the sugar content before purchasing one. A 2011 study found that high-sugar cereals increase a child's total sugar consumption and reduces the overall nutritional quality of their breakfast.
That same study also found that kids will eat low-sugar options and sweeten their cereal with fruit when given the chance, meaning that's a great option. Try that instead next time.
PHOTO: JGI/Jamie Grill
Hot Dogs
Hot dogs and other processed meat are not the ideal option for kids. In 2009, a study by the found that hot dogs, ham, bacon, salami and other processed meats have no place in a healthy diet for children because of the sugar, fat and salt contents. They say these can increase cancer risks.
Hot dogs can be dangerous in other ways too. According to , research shows that hot dogs are the top cause of food-related choking in children under 3. This is because the BBQ favorite is the right size and consistency to block a child's airways.
PHOTO: kali9
Boxed Macaroni and Cheese
Boxed macaroni and cheese is easy and delicious, but it doesn't make a great meal on a regular basis. It's full of highly processed ingredients, sodium and preservatives. There's a long list of non-food ingredients and virtually no nutrients. In 2017, the reported that phthalates, potentially harmful chemicals that were banned from children's teething rings and toys a decade ago, may still be present in boxed mac and cheese.
Instead of the boxed stuff, make your own mac and cheese at home with real ingredients.
PHOTO: pamela_d_mcadams
Applesauce
Like most fruit-flavored pre-packaged items, applesauce is made with a lot of sugar and very little of the good stuff the real fruit provides. According to the , a 1/2 cup of applesauce only provides 1-4% of the Reference Daily Intake for the vitamins and minerals it contains. And applesauce isn't even very filling: a found that eating a regular apple is more filling and satisfying than eating applesauce.
When purchasing applesauce, pay attention to the sugar content and opt for brands that only list one ingredient: apples. You can also easily make your own.
PHOTO: Jamie Grill
Flavored Yogurt
Yogurt can be a healthy part of a balanced diet for kids, but that doesn't mean every type of yogurt is good for you. Flavored yogurts are loaded with sugar and artificial colors that have no health benefits. A found that food additives like these can possibly trigger hyperactivity and other types of adverse behavior in kids.
Opt for plain yogurt with very little sugar added, and sweeten on your own with honey (if the child is over 1) or real fruit if necessary.
PHOTO: Vladimir Godnik
Popcorn
Microwave popcorn is great for movie night, right? Not really. Although popcorn is typically considered a pretty good snack because it has a lot of fiber and is low in sugar, this doesn't extend to most microwave popcorn, which includes a lot of additives, chemicals and artificial ingredients. The bags used can release dangerous chemicals, like , which, when heated on high, can emit compounds that can be potentially harmful to a child's development and can be linked to cancer.
It's also worth noting that the says that popcorn is a choking hazard and recommends against giving it to children under the age of 4.
PHOTO: Aja Koska
French Fries
In 2018, a found that more than 27% of young children do not consume a single serving of vegetables on any given day. That same study found that French fries are the number one vegetable consumed. French fries contain a lot of sodium and aren't considered the healthiest vegetable out there. They're fine to have sometimes, but shouldn't be eaten every day.
You can also make them healthier by oven-baking fries on your own and controlling the amount of salt in them.
PHOTO: William Voon / EyeEm
Pizza
Pizza is a fan-favorite for both kids and adults, but no one really considers it healthy. So it's probably not that shocking that a found that it's not the best food for kids to consume. The study noted the amount of calories in pizza, and found that on the day kids eat pizza, they end up eating more saturated fat, salt and calories overall. This is similar to what happens when kids eat fast food.
To keep pizza as part of their diet, make your own instead of ordering out. You can also add veggies to the pizza, limit the cheese and oil, and serve it with a side of vegetables.
PHOTO: Mitch Diamond
Lollipops or Hard Candies
Lollipops and hard candies are both considered pretty significant for children, which right off the bat makes them something you'll want to avoid. But, of course, they're also candy, so they're loaded with sugar. These kinds of candy can also stick to the teeth and result in things like .
PHOTO: Weekend Images Inc.
Granola Bars
Granola bars seem like a healthy, satisfying option for kids, and they can be. But most brands make them with very little protein and fiber, and a lot of sugar and artificial ingredients, making them more like a candy bar than anything else.
Still, the right ones can be a good option for your kids. Just be sure to look at the ingredients and the nutritional value, and opt for bars that have real ingredients listed with low amounts of sugar. You can also make your own.
PHOTO: Juanmonino
Fast Food Kids Meals
It's obvious, but it's worth stating: fast food isn't ideal for children. That doesn't stop many from eating it. A 2020 report from the found that children and adolescents got 13.8% of their daily calories from fast food in 2015 to 2018, which was a 12.4% increase from 2011 to 2012.
Fast food is full of calories, sodium, sugar and artificial ingredients, and it really doesn't have any nutritional benefit. have found that kids who eat a lot of fast food are more likely to be obese, and other has found that fast food consumption can lead to emotional problem, and poor academic performance.
PHOTO: Peter Cade
Fruit Gummies
Fruit gummy snacks sound like a quick and easy snack option because of the word "fruit." Unfortunately, there is very little nutritional value in these gummies and a whole bunch of sugar to make up for it. Made with artificial flavors and lots of sweeteners, fruit gummies don't even contain actual fruit: just fruit purees, at the most. According to , eating too much sugar can lead to a higher body mass index later in life, and another shows that it can also lead to nutrient deficiencies.
Avoiding fruit gummies is your best bet -- even the ones that say "made with real fruit" are still full of sugar. Opt for dried fruit with nothing added, or real fruit.
PHOTO: Douglas Sacha
Fruit Juice
Fruit juice is almost always marketed towards kids, and again, it seems healthy because it has the word "fruit" in it. But just like with fruit snacks, fruit juice is loaded with sugar. The recommends no fruit juice to kids under 1, because it contains zero nutritional benefits for this age group. Toddlers ages 1-3 should only have four ounces daily, for 4-6 only 4 to 6 ounces daily, and for ages 7-18, only 8 ounces daily. They also recommend not giving toddlers juice in sippy cups that allow them to have it throughout the day since it can lead to tooth decay.
Your best bet is avoiding fruit juice as much as possible and offering water, milk or water flavored with real fruit.
PHOTO: Catherine Falls Commercial
Sugary Cereals
Many cereals are also marketed towards kids, with fun cartoon characters on the box and unique shapes. But check the nutritional label for the sugar content before purchasing one. A 2011 study found that high-sugar cereals increase a child's total sugar consumption and reduces the overall nutritional quality of their breakfast.
That same study also found that kids will eat low-sugar options and sweeten their cereal with fruit when given the chance, meaning that's a great option. Try that instead next time.
PHOTO: JGI/Jamie Grill
Hot Dogs
Hot dogs and other processed meat are not the ideal option for kids. In 2009, a study by the found that hot dogs, ham, bacon, salami and other processed meats have no place in a healthy diet for children because of the sugar, fat and salt contents. They say these can increase cancer risks.
Hot dogs can be dangerous in other ways too. According to , research shows that hot dogs are the top cause of food-related choking in children under 3. This is because the BBQ favorite is the right size and consistency to block a child's airways.
PHOTO: kali9
Boxed Macaroni and Cheese
Boxed macaroni and cheese is easy and delicious, but it doesn't make a great meal on a regular basis. It's full of highly processed ingredients, sodium and preservatives. There's a long list of non-food ingredients and virtually no nutrients. In 2017, the reported that phthalates, potentially harmful chemicals that were banned from children's teething rings and toys a decade ago, may still be present in boxed mac and cheese.
Instead of the boxed stuff, make your own mac and cheese at home with real ingredients.
PHOTO: pamela_d_mcadams
Applesauce
Like most fruit-flavored pre-packaged items, applesauce is made with a lot of sugar and very little of the good stuff the real fruit provides. According to the , a 1/2 cup of applesauce only provides 1-4% of the Reference Daily Intake for the vitamins and minerals it contains. And applesauce isn't even very filling: a found that eating a regular apple is more filling and satisfying than eating applesauce.
When purchasing applesauce, pay attention to the sugar content and opt for brands that only list one ingredient: apples. You can also easily make your own.
PHOTO: Jamie Grill
Flavored Yogurt
Yogurt can be a healthy part of a balanced diet for kids, but that doesn't mean every type of yogurt is good for you. Flavored yogurts are loaded with sugar and artificial colors that have no health benefits. A found that food additives like these can possibly trigger hyperactivity and other types of adverse behavior in kids.
Opt for plain yogurt with very little sugar added, and sweeten on your own with honey (if the child is over 1) or real fruit if necessary.
PHOTO: Vladimir Godnik
Popcorn
Microwave popcorn is great for movie night, right? Not really. Although popcorn is typically considered a pretty good snack because it has a lot of fiber and is low in sugar, this doesn't extend to most microwave popcorn, which includes a lot of additives, chemicals and artificial ingredients. The bags used can release dangerous chemicals, like , which, when heated on high, can emit compounds that can be potentially harmful to a child's development and can be linked to cancer.
It's also worth noting that the says that popcorn is a choking hazard and recommends against giving it to children under the age of 4.
PHOTO: Aja Koska
French Fries
In 2018, a found that more than 27% of young children do not consume a single serving of vegetables on any given day. That same study found that French fries are the number one vegetable consumed. French fries contain a lot of sodium and aren't considered the healthiest vegetable out there. They're fine to have sometimes, but shouldn't be eaten every day.
You can also make them healthier by oven-baking fries on your own and controlling the amount of salt in them.
PHOTO: William Voon / EyeEm
Pizza
Pizza is a fan-favorite for both kids and adults, but no one really considers it healthy. So it's probably not that shocking that a found that it's not the best food for kids to consume. The study noted the amount of calories in pizza, and found that on the day kids eat pizza, they end up eating more saturated fat, salt and calories overall. This is similar to what happens when kids eat fast food.
To keep pizza as part of their diet, make your own instead of ordering out. You can also add veggies to the pizza, limit the cheese and oil, and serve it with a side of vegetables.
PHOTO: Mitch Diamond
Lollipops or Hard Candies
Lollipops and hard candies are both considered pretty significant for children, which right off the bat makes them something you'll want to avoid. But, of course, they're also candy, so they're loaded with sugar. These kinds of candy can also stick to the teeth and result in things like .
PHOTO: Weekend Images Inc.
Granola Bars
Granola bars seem like a healthy, satisfying option for kids, and they can be. But most brands make them with very little protein and fiber, and a lot of sugar and artificial ingredients, making them more like a candy bar than anything else.
Still, the right ones can be a good option for your kids. Just be sure to look at the ingredients and the nutritional value, and opt for bars that have real ingredients listed with low amounts of sugar. You can also make your own.
PHOTO: Juanmonino
Fast Food Kids Meals
It's obvious, but it's worth stating: fast food isn't ideal for children. That doesn't stop many from eating it. A 2020 report from the found that children and adolescents got 13.8% of their daily calories from fast food in 2015 to 2018, which was a 12.4% increase from 2011 to 2012.
Fast food is full of calories, sodium, sugar and artificial ingredients, and it really doesn't have any nutritional benefit. have found that kids who eat a lot of fast food are more likely to be obese, and other has found that fast food consumption can lead to emotional problem, and poor academic performance.
PHOTO: Peter Cade
Fruit Gummies
Fruit gummy snacks sound like a quick and easy snack option because of the word "fruit." Unfortunately, there is very little nutritional value in these gummies and a whole bunch of sugar to make up for it. Made with artificial flavors and lots of sweeteners, fruit gummies don't even contain actual fruit: just fruit purees, at the most. According to , eating too much sugar can lead to a higher body mass index later in life, and another shows that it can also lead to nutrient deficiencies.
Avoiding fruit gummies is your best bet -- even the ones that say "made with real fruit" are still full of sugar. Opt for dried fruit with nothing added, or real fruit.
PHOTO: Douglas Sacha
Fruit Juice
Fruit juice is almost always marketed towards kids, and again, it seems healthy because it has the word "fruit" in it. But just like with fruit snacks, fruit juice is loaded with sugar. The recommends no fruit juice to kids under 1, because it contains zero nutritional benefits for this age group. Toddlers ages 1-3 should only have four ounces daily, for 4-6 only 4 to 6 ounces daily, and for ages 7-18, only 8 ounces daily. They also recommend not giving toddlers juice in sippy cups that allow them to have it throughout the day since it can lead to tooth decay.
Your best bet is avoiding fruit juice as much as possible and offering water, milk or water flavored with real fruit.
PHOTO: Catherine Falls Commercial
Sugary Cereals
Many cereals are also marketed towards kids, with fun cartoon characters on the box and unique shapes. But check the nutritional label for the sugar content before purchasing one. A 2011 study found that high-sugar cereals increase a child's total sugar consumption and reduces the overall nutritional quality of their breakfast.
That same study also found that kids will eat low-sugar options and sweeten their cereal with fruit when given the chance, meaning that's a great option. Try that instead next time.
PHOTO: JGI/Jamie Grill
Hot Dogs
Hot dogs and other processed meat are not the ideal option for kids. In 2009, a study by the found that hot dogs, ham, bacon, salami and other processed meats have no place in a healthy diet for children because of the sugar, fat and salt contents. They say these can increase cancer risks.
Hot dogs can be dangerous in other ways too. According to , research shows that hot dogs are the top cause of food-related choking in children under 3. This is because the BBQ favorite is the right size and consistency to block a child's airways.
PHOTO: kali9
Boxed Macaroni and Cheese
Boxed macaroni and cheese is easy and delicious, but it doesn't make a great meal on a regular basis. It's full of highly processed ingredients, sodium and preservatives. There's a long list of non-food ingredients and virtually no nutrients. In 2017, the reported that phthalates, potentially harmful chemicals that were banned from children's teething rings and toys a decade ago, may still be present in boxed mac and cheese.
Instead of the boxed stuff, make your own mac and cheese at home with real ingredients.
PHOTO: pamela_d_mcadams
Applesauce
Like most fruit-flavored pre-packaged items, applesauce is made with a lot of sugar and very little of the good stuff the real fruit provides. According to the , a 1/2 cup of applesauce only provides 1-4% of the Reference Daily Intake for the vitamins and minerals it contains. And applesauce isn't even very filling: a found that eating a regular apple is more filling and satisfying than eating applesauce.
When purchasing applesauce, pay attention to the sugar content and opt for brands that only list one ingredient: apples. You can also easily make your own.
PHOTO: Jamie Grill
Flavored Yogurt
Yogurt can be a healthy part of a balanced diet for kids, but that doesn't mean every type of yogurt is good for you. Flavored yogurts are loaded with sugar and artificial colors that have no health benefits. A found that food additives like these can possibly trigger hyperactivity and other types of adverse behavior in kids.
Opt for plain yogurt with very little sugar added, and sweeten on your own with honey (if the child is over 1) or real fruit if necessary.
PHOTO: Vladimir Godnik
Popcorn
Microwave popcorn is great for movie night, right? Not really. Although popcorn is typically considered a pretty good snack because it has a lot of fiber and is low in sugar, this doesn't extend to most microwave popcorn, which includes a lot of additives, chemicals and artificial ingredients. The bags used can release dangerous chemicals, like , which, when heated on high, can emit compounds that can be potentially harmful to a child's development and can be linked to cancer.
It's also worth noting that the says that popcorn is a choking hazard and recommends against giving it to children under the age of 4.
PHOTO: Aja Koska
French Fries
In 2018, a found that more than 27% of young children do not consume a single serving of vegetables on any given day. That same study found that French fries are the number one vegetable consumed. French fries contain a lot of sodium and aren't considered the healthiest vegetable out there. They're fine to have sometimes, but shouldn't be eaten every day.
You can also make them healthier by oven-baking fries on your own and controlling the amount of salt in them.
PHOTO: William Voon / EyeEm
Pizza
Pizza is a fan-favorite for both kids and adults, but no one really considers it healthy. So it's probably not that shocking that a found that it's not the best food for kids to consume. The study noted the amount of calories in pizza, and found that on the day kids eat pizza, they end up eating more saturated fat, salt and calories overall. This is similar to what happens when kids eat fast food.
To keep pizza as part of their diet, make your own instead of ordering out. You can also add veggies to the pizza, limit the cheese and oil, and serve it with a side of vegetables.
PHOTO: Mitch Diamond
Lollipops or Hard Candies
Lollipops and hard candies are both considered pretty significant for children, which right off the bat makes them something you'll want to avoid. But, of course, they're also candy, so they're loaded with sugar. These kinds of candy can also stick to the teeth and result in things like .
PHOTO: Weekend Images Inc.
Granola Bars
Granola bars seem like a healthy, satisfying option for kids, and they can be. But most brands make them with very little protein and fiber, and a lot of sugar and artificial ingredients, making them more like a candy bar than anything else.
Still, the right ones can be a good option for your kids. Just be sure to look at the ingredients and the nutritional value, and opt for bars that have real ingredients listed with low amounts of sugar. You can also make your own.
PHOTO: Juanmonino
Fast Food Kids Meals
It's obvious, but it's worth stating: fast food isn't ideal for children. That doesn't stop many from eating it. A 2020 report from the found that children and adolescents got 13.8% of their daily calories from fast food in 2015 to 2018, which was a 12.4% increase from 2011 to 2012.
Fast food is full of calories, sodium, sugar and artificial ingredients, and it really doesn't have any nutritional benefit. have found that kids who eat a lot of fast food are more likely to be obese, and other has found that fast food consumption can lead to emotional problem, and poor academic performance.
PHOTO: Peter Cade
Any parent can tell you that feeding kids, especially toddlers, is not an easy task. Kids have a reputation for being picky: one day, a certain meal might be their favorite food ever, and the next day, it's the most disgusting thing they've ever seen. Finding options they consistently love can be a big struggle, so it's no surprise why many parents turn to classic kid foods.
Unfortunately, most of those classic kids foods aren't actually good for your children. Many of these items, especially when they're prepackaged or frozen, contain much more sugar, sodium and fats than your little one should have in a day. Of course, this doesn't mean your kids have to avoid these things all together. You aren't a bad parent if they eat them once in a while. But it is a good idea to try to offer your kids other healthier options, particularly homemade meals, whenever it's a possibility. Here are the most unhealthy kids foods you may want to stay away from.