American kids poor food choices: Fewer than 15 percent eat recommended fruits and ...( cent among 2 to 5 year-olds over the la...),Health

cent among 2 to 5 year-olds over the last two decades and 37 percent among 6 to 9 year-olds, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Substituting a single serving of 100 percent fruit juice (6 ounces) for a 12-ounce soft drink increases vitamin C by 56 percent, potassium by 13 percent and beta-carotene by 8 percent.

Mealtime Mishaps

At mealtime, children are more likely to eat French fries than any other vegetable, according to USDA data. But by substituting raw broccoli and carrot sticks for high-fat fries, the NHANES III analysis showed that a child could lower daily fat intake by 14 percent and increase beta-carotene intake by a whopping 216 percent!

Encouraging kids to make healthy substitutions one small step at a time can help them develop sound eating habits, which can last a lifetime, said Amy Myrdal, MS, RD, Nutrition Communications Manager for Dole Food Company, Inc., which sponsored the NHANES III analysis. Parents, family members, school officials and other influential people in their lives, including their peers, are a great model for teaching healthy eating habits. They can learn ideally from example or from encouragement. Its as simple as suggesting kids try something new for a snack, like vegetables with dip, instead of reaching for what they always grab --such as chips and pretzels, or making sure that a meal always includes a serving of vegetables or fruit fresh, frozen, canned or dried.

Other facts from the NHANES III analysis of 5- to 10-year-olds include the following:

• Fifty percent of children get 34 percent of their energy from fat; 25 percent get close to 39 percent of their calories from fat; 10 percent eat more than 43 percent of their calories from fat

• Seventy-five percent do not meet the daily reference intake for potassium

• Top five sources of calories, in order, are whole and chocolate milk, pizza, soft drinks, low-fat milk and c
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Contact: Amy Myrdal
510-639-5550 ext. 14
Porter Novelli
16-May-2002


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