Patients often ask me what they should
feed their kids in order to prevent cavities and be healthy? The obvious is
what not to feed them such as candy, soda, and processed foods.
What about foods and snacks that are
labeled as
"organic" or "no sugar added"? Often parents
tell me that they give their kids fruit snacks or dried fruit because
they are
packaged conveniently and because their toddler will actually eat it. Or they
will give them fruit and vegetable pouches because it's the only way toddler
will eat fruits and vegetables.
Remember to check labels and read the
number of grams of sugar. Try to be less than 2 grams of sugar. And remember
what the serving size is! Just because food is organic doesn't mean there is no
sugar or hidden sugar. And that goes for juice as well. Four ounces of juice a
day is recommended by the Academy of Pediatrics. And please be sure to water it
down! You are what you eat!
