Does this make sense?

Sometimes it is helpful to step back and think, why do we do this?  Does it make sense, or are we doing it just because that is what is done? 

In medicine, we try to avoid high doses of radiation, like CT scans, in children more than adults.  Why?  We know that radiation exposure can cause mutations in our genes, and we know that these exposures add up over time, causing problems for some people in their distant future.  So, a 2-year-old who has a CT scan has decades of time for the radiation to have its effects and cause problems, but when a 70-year-old has a CT scan, they have a much shorter time for the radiation to affect them, and they will likely die of something else besides the effects of that radiation.  For this reason, doctors try to avoid radiation in kids whenever possible, which makes sense to most people.  But if that makes sense, why do we give our kids the worst versions of nutrition?  Doesn’t our diet affect our long-term health?  We know it does, poor food choices cause early diabetes, liver disease, premature aging, inflammation, osteoporosis, cognitive decline, the list can go on and on.  We know that the plaque buildup in the vessels around our heart starts in the toddler years.  These plaques eventually cause heart attacks.  So why do we give children, who have decades of living ahead, the worst possible foods?  Just because that is what has always been done?  

Look at the following nutritional statistics of two foods. One is traditionally a kid food, which I am sure I probably had when I was a kid, but haven’t had in years, and the other is an adult food. 

“Kid Food” “Adult Food”

4 pieces 3 ounces 

10 grams of protein 26 grams of protein

10 grams of carbohydrates (sugar) 0 grams of carbohydrates (sugar)

13 grams of fat 2.7 grams of fat

193 calories 128 calories

362 mg of sodium 44 mg of sodium

2.1 grams of saturated fat < 1 gram of saturated fat

The kid food is loaded with extra calories, 10 more grams of fat, 10 more grams of carbohydrates (sugar) which causes diabetes, less than ½ the amount of protein that promotes growth (which is a kid specialty) and muscle development, and 9 times the amount of salt.  It also has double the amount of saturated fats.  So why would we do this to a child?  Because it is tradition?  Is that a good enough reason?

The foods in question are a 4 piece chicken nuggets vs 3 ounces of grilled chicken breast.

Chicken breast is not exactly exotic; there is no reason kids cannot have a chicken breast cut up small enough to avoid choking.  You might say, but they want the chicken nuggets?  I would say, why does that matter - our jobs are to promote healthy habits and look out for our children until they are mature enough to look out for themselves.  Another point I would make is if you start early enough, them wanting it should not be an issue.  Have you ever craved a food you have never tasted?  There could be some amazing desert in another country I have never heard of, and I will never crave it, and never miss it.  That said, I crave Frosty Boy vanilla malts if I go a few days without one.  Just writing this article is making my mouth water.  But if I never would have had it, I would have no idea how magical they are.  That said, without experiencing those malts, my life would still be fulfilling.  At the end of the day, having that malt doesn’t make me go to bed any happier.  

I understand that kids don’t live in a bubble, and eventually they will experience chicken nuggets.  But if we start them eating only adult foods, once they get older and have some nuggets at a birthday party, we can explain to them that they are a treat, but not a healthy choice and kid's foods should be the same as ours - nutritious foods.  

Some of you will say, my kid is picky, they only eat chicken nuggets and mac and cheese.  They hold out for the nuggets and mac and cheese because they can!  They know at some point you will give it to them, but my suggestion is to make foods for the family, not the kids.  If you ask yourself, what would Johnny and Suzy want for dinner tonight, you are asking the wrong question (unless it is their birthday).  What you want to ask is, what is a good idea for the family tonight?  If the kids don’t want it, that is not your problem!  You did your job by supplying them nutritious food in a loving environment.  If they don’t want to eat, let them not eat.  That said, when they are whining because they can’t fall asleep because they are hungry, that is when you tell them they are welcome to have leftover meat loaf, green beans, and apple slices because that is what was available at dinner.  

One last tip, as you explore treating kids like adults nutritionally, beware of any marketing at the grocery store for kid versions of common foods.  Do kids really need gogurts and danimal yogurts?  Why can’t they just have greek yogurt like adults?  And why do they need to eat it from a tube - just to get it down faster?

64 grams of Go-Gurt 64 grams of plain greek yogurt

70- calories 65 calories

13 grams carbohydrate (sugar) 1.6 grams of carbohydrate (sugar)

2 grams of protein 3.8 grams of protein

Clearly the adult yogurt has six times less sugar, and twice as much protein.  This is just one example, but I am sure you get the idea.  This article may seem extreme, but the reality is it is not extreme to offer kids healthy adult foods.  They can still have treats, but that should be on special occasions, not because they are sitting in the grocery cart at Kroger.  The reason this article may sound extreme is because it is not how things are normally done - but is that a bad thing?

Until next time, good luck parenting, 

Dr. William J Fisher MD

Fisher Pediatrics