We’re going to go ahead and guess that feeding your family is one of the most time-consuming, boring, and taxing parenting tasks on your plate every day (ahem). Making sure those little bellies are nourished takes a lot of time and effort, not to mention how expensive food is these days. So when you’re stocking up your pantry or heading to the grocery store, it makes sense that you want to stock up on meals and snacks that your kids will love—and a little nutritional value doesn’t hurt.
With that in mind, we asked three gastrointestinal doctors about the foods they avoid serving their families, and warn there will be no “almond mom” nonsense here. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), nearly 54 million Americans lack access to healthy foods due to income level and/or relative distance from fresh food supermarkets. This means that more than 17% of the population does not have access to nutritious food, and also takes into account that many parents simply do not have the time or resources to cook for their families. In other words, friends, there will be no food shaming here.
Okay, now we’re getting off our soapbox, so if you’re curious about our doctor-approved, kid-friendly picks, read on and you’ll be added to the track as soon as possible.
All food is suitable – even the drive-in.
All three doctors wanted to reiterate that variety is truly the spice of life when it comes to meeting the needs of little ones. “In general, I encourage my family to eat a variety of foods,” says Dr. Carolyn Soyka, a board-certified gastroenterologist at Gastrointestinal Health Center in Jupiter, Florida. “It’s important to eat a variety of foods, especially those that grow naturally in the ground, as they help create and maintain a diverse gut microbiome. This doesn’t necessarily mean organic, but I try to minimize The use of additives and preservatives is possible.
She continued, “I always wash and cut fresh fruits and vegetables because they are easy to take out of the refrigerator. We first try to “eat with our eyes,” looking for brightly colored fruits and vegetables. I call this “Eat the rainbow.” When it comes to snacking, I like small packets of nuts, grass-fed meat sticks, and cheese sticks because they contain protein and healthy fats,” both of which keep kids feeling full and satisfied. “We drink lots of water, avoid chemicals, and add sugar in our drinks. But we are a busy family and sometimes we just need something quick and easy. So while we eat as healthy as possible, you We are occasionally seen at McDonald’s.
Yes, folks, it’s a fact — even GI doctors take their kids to the drive-in from time to time.
Where’s the beef?
That said, two of our experts did point out the importance of limiting processed meats as much as possible.
“I believe in a preventive lifestyle to avoid chronic medical problems and am very passionate about this for my patients,” explains Dr. Supriya Rao, a gastroenterologist and managing partner at Integrated Gastroenterology Consultants. I have been a vegetarian since I was 7 years old and have been raising my children the same way as I get older.
California gastroenterologist Dr. Wendi LeBrett added, “While I still enjoy the occasional bacon in my breakfast burrito, I try to limit my consumption of processed meats (bacon, hot dogs, deli meats) at home because of research Linking high consumption of processed meat to colorectal cancer The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified processed meat as a Group 1 carcinogen in the same category as smoking.
Okay, but what if you had a real “meat and potatoes” kid who actually asked you to put things on their plate?
“Some of my favorite at-home snacks include yogurt (a buffet selection of fruits, nuts and granola for DIY mix-ins), cheese and nuts, and hard-boiled eggs,” LeBrett says. “I also love recreating my favorite foods in healthy ways, like sweet potato brownies, cheesy banana bread, and Greek yogurt pancakes.”
She praised Rachel Mansfield and Jean Choi, calling them “two food content creators with kid-friendly recipe ideas,” adding, “I get a lot of inspiration from them for cooking for my own family.”
Rao says, “I often make veggie falafel for the kids—it’s the perfect snack to keep kids focused and energized during a long day of school. Chickpeas are an amazing source of iron, protein, and fiber. source.
She also loves making “Watermelon Pizza Slices,” a refreshing treat the whole family will love. “Slice the watermelon like pizza and add coconut yogurt for a boost of probiotic properties, some dark chocolate for a boost of prebiotic properties, and add mint,” she says. (Um!)
Overall, Rao enjoys a holistic approach to nourishing her family. “I focus on nutrient-dense foods to help cultivate good gut bacteria,” she says. “A poor balance of gut bacteria in childhood increases the risk of gut-related problems later in life. So, not only do I feed the good bacteria in their gut with fiber-rich foods, I also make sure my kids Spend quality time outdoors, have an active lifestyle, and support them in a calm environment.
She elaborates: “I like to eat whole grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables, which are all good sources of dietary fiber. Fermented foods like kimchi, yogurt, kombucha, sauerkraut, miso and tempeh are all great prebiotics. Bacteria foods, which can support you in building a strong gut microbiome and maintaining a healthy gut, are eaten regularly in our family.
There is one big no-no, though.
Even if you’ve seen social media posts touting raw milk’s purported health benefits, Lebret doesn’t recommend it.
“The raw milk trend has been popular recently, but I think the lack of any evidence of health benefits over pasteurized milk is enough to outweigh the significant health risks associated with consumption,” she said. “The pasteurization process It kills harmful bacteria in milk, and without pasteurization, the risk of foodborne illness caused by bacteria such as salmonella, listeria, and E. coli is high, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports 200. Multiple pasteurization-related outbreaks.
Basically, as long as you’re skipping potentially unsafe diet trends, all of our experts believe in keeping things as comprehensive as possible, which isn’t always easy when you’re on a tight budget or even a tight schedule. You have enough to worry about, and you do a great job. We guarantee it!
