Junk Food: A Healthy Snack for Kids!
Kids love ‘em! Teachers adore ‘em! Parents can’t live without ‘em! Even the dentist offers a lollipop at the end of a teeth cleaning session!
Ahhh, the wonders of junk food. How it keeps a young kid smiling. It works like magic. And it’s healthy, right? It’s what teachers and parents think.
Teachers use them as rewards in the classroom. Get an answer right, they get a bubble gum. Kids learn how to count with M&M’s or get familiar with the colors of the rainbow by grabbing a handful of Skittles.
Parents use them to show their love. The entire class gets cupcakes on the poor kid’s birthday. At least they are learning how to share, right? Oh, and let’s not forget the bunny marshmallows on Easter, the green colored shamrock-shaped cookies for St. Patrick’s Day, the foil wrapped eyeball looking chocolates and and assorted flavored dum dums for Halloween, and all those holiday munchies during Thanksgiving and Christmas! I don’t think the parents know that it is too late to avoid a cavity when they make “bring little Jake to the dentist” their 10th resolution for New Year’s.
As a matter of fact, I don’t think they know that junk food is linked to asthma. Nor are they aware it increases the risk of getting diabetes and heart disease later in life. I wonder if they know that one out of every three kids are at risk of being overweight? It’s no wonder schools are banning vending machines and soda pops. Did I forget to mention that, according to Forbes, the U.S. of America is the 9th fattest nation in the world?
But, heck! Who wants brussel sprouts over twinkies anyway? For the parent who thinks your kid deserves an apple as a snack, you are not alone. And if you’re reading this and still think junk food is healthy for your kids, here’s your doctor’s prescription: Coca-Cola. Perhaps you should follow the schools and ban junk food in your home. After all, kids learn by example.