Helping kids Eat Better

Chicago Tribune (MCT) - Seventeen percent of U.S. kids are overweight. One-third of those born in 2000 will develop diabetes in their lives. The prospect is grim.

Most of the problem lies with what children eat, despite a general drop-off in exercise, according to authors David Zinczenko and Matt Goulding, respectively editor in chief and food and nutrition editor for Men's Health magazine.

It's the type of food and how much children eat that has changed from a generation ago. Portions are larger and supermarket shelves are crowded with processed foods with long lists of confusing ingredients.

"It seems more than ever that parents need help in navigating the nutritional pitfalls to help kids stay healthy," said Goulding.

Hence "Eat This, Not That: For Kids" (Rodale, $19.95), which comes off the success of Goulding and Zinczenko's book last year, "Eat This, Not That," itself an expansion of the magazine's popular column.

The new guide is packed with advice, but the most helpful comes in the form of nutritional comparisons of restaurant entrees and supermarket products.

"A lot of the options are saying, 'we know you love pizza, just make sure you're eating the healthiest versions by making one small choice,'" Goulding explained. "Thin crust instead of thick, for example."

Why not just tell parents to feed their children more whole foods?

"We absolutely do want parents and kids to eat more whole foods. ... Unfortunately it's the kind of time we live in. Parents are incredibly busy. The truth is, we don't need another book to tell parents to get their kids to eat more broccoli instead of burgers." Instead, parents need help in the supermarket aisles, with restaurant menus and packing a school lunch, Goulding said.

Fast food can be a nutrition nightmare; that's pretty well accepted. But the authors point out the problem lurking elsewhere: "Few of us realize that sit-down restaurants are just as culpable in the supersizing of American children."

So they analyzed the menus of more than 40 national restaurant chains, including Uno Chicago Grill, finding that the average entree at the chains had 345 more calories than a fast-food entree.

In the book, good and bad entrees (or in some cases, bad vs. not-so-bad) go head to head. Colorful photographs show the food; the words quickly break down the calories, fat and sodium.

Example: Olive Garden's macaroni and cheese packs 510 calories, 18 grams of fat and 940 milligrams of sodium; the alternative Kid's Spaghetti and Tomato Sauce: 310 calories, 6 grams of fat and 770 milligrams of sodium.

Each comparison includes two or three other options, plus tips, such as "Smart Sides" (at Outback Steakhouse, choose sauteed mushrooms for their selenium, an important antioxidant).

Light your Free Virtual Prayer Candle for Christmas

Worst kid's meal: Chili's Pepper Pal's Country-Fried Chicken Crispers (with ranch dressing and homestyle fries) _ 1,100 calories, 82 grams fat (15 saturated), 1,980 milligrams sodium_gets the dubious distinction as the worst restaurant chain meal, according to the book. As a comparison, an 8-year-old boy should eat about 1,600 calories a day. But Chili's also has more healthful choices for kids, such as the Pepper Pals Grilled Chicken Platter with Cinnamon Apples, 350 calories, 11 grams fat, 3 grams saturated, 870 milligrams sodium.

Supermarket products are compared much the same way as the restaurant meals, but listed in 34 categories, such as bread, hot and cold cereal, yogurt, peanut butter (and jelly). Including such categories as "crunchy snacks" (chips) and cookies at least can help steer a shopper away from Keebler Sandies (170 calories per serving) and toward Nabisco Ginger Snaps (120 calories per serving).

"Kids should be allowed to indulge from time to time," Goulding maintains. "But make smart choices."

The sheer volume of products evaluated (a dozen or more per categories) makes this section perhaps the most valuable to harried parents. And the compact size of the book (6 ˝-inches square) means it's perfect for tucking into a purse or grocery tote.

___

Strategies:

Tips, rules and guidelines are listed throughout "Eat This, Not That: For Kids." Here are some of the best:

_Snack with a purpose. Choose foods that give kids nutrients they need or may be missing: popcorn (but without lots of salt and butter), vegetables, fruit, unsalted nuts, even dark chocolate (for its antioxidants).

_Drink responsibly. Sweetened beverages contribute more than 300 calories a day in some kids' diets. Keep cold water in the fridge with lemon, lime or orange wedges (we would add cucumber or apple slices to that).

_Look for whole grains. "Made with whole grain" doesn't mean it's a whole-grain food. Check that the word "whole" is next to every flour listed on the label.

___

© 2008, Chicago Tribune.