Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
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Statistics show that when money is tight, children are less likely to get healthy meals. In part two of our series, "The child first and always," Maria Shilaos reports the economy is a factor in our food choices.
Pauline Williams, the clinical nutrition manager at Primary Children's Medical Center (PCMC), said "We're in an economic recession, but are we in a nutrition recession? Are people getting the nutrients they need in their diets in this day with the economy."
Williams says, "If your food budget is tight, you want to spend that money on foods that are going to give your kids appropriate growth."
She says families can stretch their food dollars by choosing a head of lettuce or other loose vegetables instead of buying the more expensive bagged varieties. She also encourages families to think about the foods they are selecting instead of counting calories.
"Thinking about foods is going to be easier for people than thinking about numbers. So if you just kind of think, ‘Did I get brightly colored fruits and vegetables? Did I get dairy products? Did I get some grains? Did I get some proteins and meats?' That is the way to make sure you're eating healthy."
"The kind of thing that sticks out in my mind is kind of low fat, not very store bought, homemade mostly." That's what a 13-year-old who lost 10 pounds after he and his parents took healthy living classes at PCMC told us.
He added, "They're good, but it takes time to make ‘em. It takes effort."
"A tip I give parents is look at your plate. Anything you are making for dinner, fill half the plate with vegetables and then take the other half and split it in half. So you have a plate with three pieces, if you can visualize that. And on one quarter of it put a little protein and on the other side put a starch or a grain. And if you do that you will have a healthy meal," Williams said.
She says parents should avoid pop and energy drinks that are expensive and have no nutritional value. She also encourages kids to find a form of exercise they love. For the teen we spoke with, it's ice skating.
"I've gotten into the jumps and spins, that kind of thing," he said.
His mom told us, "He's become passionate about a form of exercise, which he was never passionate about exercise before."
While her son is a lot happier with his slimmer body, he admits it's not easy to make healthy choices. "It's difficult because you think that would be so good and I could splurge this meal and I won't splurge next meal. And then it just keeps going, and then you're like whoa, I gained 10 pounds," he said.
Part 3 of our series, we'll take a look at the economy's impact on the emergency room. Also, listen to the KSL Primary Children's Radiothon Wednesday and Thursday on KSL Newsradio 102.7FM/1160 AM.
