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Kids Can Be Taught to Eat Healthy Foods, Study Finds

Source: The Nemours Foundation

June 3, 2005

When it comes to making their own choices for meals and snacks, kids will choose hot dogs, chips, candy, and soda every time, right? Not necessarily. A recent study by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) suggests that simply educating kids about good nutrition can help them develop smart eating habits.

According to the NHLBI (part of the National Institutes of Health), providing kids with the knowledge and education to make healthier dietary choices is key. Of course, educating kids about healthy eating and helping them apply that knowledge can be difficult. That's why the institute classified food into three groups:

• The Go group, which includes heart-healthy foods that should be eaten every day because they are low in saturated fat and cholesterol (such as low-fat milk and whole-grain cereals)
• the Slow group, which includes foods that should only be eaten a few times a week (for example, waffles and pancakes)
• the Whoa group, which includes foods that should be eaten only once in a while because they are high in saturated fat and cholesterol (for example, French fries and doughnuts)

Given the choice between potato chips or asparagus, a kid probably will find the chips the tastier option. So, although the Whoa group is packed full of foods that are the least healthy and most likely to cause weight problems, the trick is to teach kids balance in selecting their diet. That means the Whoa group isn't completely off limits but should be recognized as foods that aren't too healthy and should be eaten only occasionally.

The Facts

It's well documented that kids and adults in the United States are struggling with overweight and obesity. Consider these facts:

• The government estimates that there are 9 million 6- to 16-year-olds in the country who are overweight.
• Research shows that snacks, desserts, and pizza make up one-third of American kids' diets.
• Overweight kids who have trouble kicking the bad nutrition/minimal exercise habit often grow into adults at risk for heart disease, diabetes, asthma, and many other health conditions. In fact, studies show that atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), the leading cause of heart disease, starts in childhood.

The Study

Over 3 years, researchers at the NHLBI used the Go, Slow, and Whoa approach and tracked the eating habits of 595 8- to 10-year -olds, all of whom had high blood cholesterol levels at the start of the study. Half of the kids, along with their parents, received special nutrition education and were shown how to keep their diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol.

After 3 years, the study showed that those kids and parents who had received nutrition education had developed healthy eating habits and were making healthier choices than their peers. Specifically, the study showed that these kids chose more Go foods and fewer Whoa foods (except for pizza). And on average, they ate fewer snacks and desserts. However, kids in both groups still didn't eat a lot of fruits and vegetables.

Researchers concluded that the fact there were more selections made from the Go group indicates that, with the proper education and guidance, kids can and will make nutritious choices when it comes to eating and snacking.

The Influence of Parents

So where can kids get good information about healthy eating? There's no better place than home. Like other important lessons in life, it's vital to teach kids how to stay healthy and fit and to guide them away from the food choices that might be harmful to their bodies in the long run.

Provide a good example by following the Go, Slow, and Whoa approach. Be sure to give your child choices, and be sure to stock plenty of Go group foods he or she likes. And remember, the Whoa group isn't entirely off limits - make sure your child knows that foods from this group are occasional treats.