Parents striving to provide their children with nutritious snacks may be unknowingly feeding them sugar-laden treats disguised as 'healthy' options, warns a top nutrition expert.
Many popular snacks marketed towards kids contain shockingly high levels of sugar, artificial additives, and refined carbohydrates, despite their wholesome packaging claims.
The Worst Offenders
Here are some of the most misleading 'healthy' snacks parents should be wary of:
- Fruit-flavoured yoghurts: Often contain more sugar than a chocolate bar.
- Breakfast cereal bars: Packed with syrups and hidden sugars.
- Flavoured rice cakes: Frequently contain artificial flavourings and sweeteners.
- Packaged smoothies: Can have as much sugar as fizzy drinks.
- Veggie crisps: Often just as high in fat and salt as regular crisps.
What Parents Can Do
The nutrition expert recommends these healthier alternatives:
- Fresh fruit with plain yoghurt
- Homemade oat bars with minimal honey
- Unsalted nuts (for older children)
- Vegetable sticks with hummus
- Plain popcorn (lightly salted)
'Always check the labels,' advises the expert. 'If sugar appears in the top three ingredients, it's probably not as healthy as it claims to be.'
The Sugar Trap
Many parents don't realise that frequent consumption of these supposedly healthy snacks can lead to:
- Energy crashes
- Weight gain
- Tooth decay
- Poor concentration
- Increased risk of diabetes
The expert concludes: 'The best snacks are whole, unprocessed foods. Don't be fooled by clever marketing – real food doesn't need health claims on the packaging.'
