Parents who give their kids healthy meals at home aren't doing their children any favors by feeding them fatty restaurant fare.
The American Dietetic Association offers these dietary suggestions for kids at restaurants:
- Dine at places that offer balanced, healthy child-size meals and sides.
- Order milk for your child's drink, and fruit for dessert.
- Order dishes plain, and ask for sauces on the side.
- Choose apple slices, carrots or other healthy dishes in place of fries.
- Let your child choose between two or three healthy choices that you select.
- Make sure your child gets plenty of calcium by adding cheese to a sandwich, or ordering a side of yogurt.
Health Tip: Make Calorie-Sparing Substitutions
You don't have to make big changes to your diet to see noticeable results.
The American Dietetic Association suggests these small ways to trim those calories:
- Sweeten your favorite coffee with some fat-free milk and a splash of sugar-free syrup.
- Pull the skin off poultry, and trim away fat on beef, pork and chicken.
- Indulge in a small dish of ice cream, but select low-calorie, slow-churned varieties instead of higher-fat choices.
- Skip the chips; instead snack on raw veggies with salsa or fat-free ranch dressing.