Making food choices for our children can be a daunting task. There are a few foods that come to mind when I think about foods commonly over looked by parents because they seem kind of harmless, and also the “norm” among kids. I know we can all think of dozens of “junky” foods but there are hidden ingredients in practically ALL packaged foods and these examples are just scratching the surface.
1. Yogurt and Yogurt Based Smoothies
Let’s be honest here, if there is a cartoon character on the package, put it down! We all know these knockoff yogurt-like products are no good because they contain tons of sugar but that is just the beginning. Companies like Dannon, the makers of Danimals, love to promote the health benefits of their products and advertise they are no longer using high fructose corn syrup or artificial colorings. However, there are still a few ingredients lurking behind all of the tricky advertising that parents should be aware of, even if these products are considered “treats”. The ingredients in all of the Danimal varieties look similar. All of them contain modified food starch (a GMO ingredient), natural flavorings (an unknown ingredient), and potassium sorbate (a preservative). Also, as I mentioned before one of the main ingredients in these yogurt-like products is added refined sugars.
2. Yogurt Covered Raisins
They love to do it again and again, take something simple and ruin it. Sun maid is no exception with their yogurt covered raisins that contain a healthy dose of trans fats (partially hydrogenated palm kernel oil) and GMO ingredients (soy lecithin, corn syrup, maltodextrin).
3. Animal Crackers
I’m going to be brutally honest here, I HATE THESE! They are known as a snack for little ones and look innocent. But they are actually a concoction of harmful and toxic ingredients that no little body should ingest. My husband’s grandmother was even told by a doctor to give these to her husband as a snack because they had iron in them. Geez Louise! Here are the ingredients in the classic Stauffer’s Original Animal Crackers:
Ingredients: Enriched Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate [Vitamin B1], Riboflavin [Vitamin B2], Folic Acid), Sugar, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Salt, Sodium Bicarbonate (Leaving), Soy Lecithin (An Emulsifier), Natural Flavor, Spices (Nutmeg And Mace). Made In A Bakery That Uses Peanuts And Tree Nuts.
Sadly they contain refined flour, partially hydrogenated soybean oil (TRANS FAT), high fructose corn syrup, soy lecithin (GMO ingredient), and natural flavor (unknown ingredient).
4. Goldfish Crackers
Say it ain’t so! Yes, even these little smiling fish have a secret to hide! While they don’t contain bleached flour they do contain canola or soybean oil which are likely GMO. The other really disturbing ingredient they contain is autolyzed yeast, another way to say MSG. Yes, Pepperidge Farms is willing to stoop so low they are using a form of MSG in a food for toddlers and kids.
5. Fruit and Nut Trail Mixes
Fruit and Nuts, such a healthy combination! That is, until you add all the trans fats, highly refined oils, GMO ingredients, natural and artificial flavors (unknown ingredients), and fake sugars (mannitol). Here are the ingredients in Emerald’s Breakfast On The Go! Berry Nut Blend. The ingredients speak for themselves!
Roasted Peanuts (Peanuts, Peanut Oil And/Or Cottonseed Oil, Salt, Natural Flavoring), Granola Clusters (Rolled Oats, Brown Sugar, Rolled Wheat, Oat Flour, Canola Oil, Whey [Milk], Corn Syrup, Natural & Artificial Flavors, Rice Flour, Guar Gum, Sugar, Salt, Malted Barley Flour, Wheat Flour, Dextrose), Roasted Peanuts (Peanuts, Peanut Oil And/Or Cottonseed Oil, Salt, Natural Flavoring), Vanilla Yogurt Raisins (Confection Coating [Sugar, Partially Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil, Calcium Carbonate, Yogurt Powder (Cultured Whey Protein Concentrate, Cultured Skim Milk, Yogurt Culture), Titanium Dioxide (Artificial Color), Soya Lecithin (An Emulsifier), Vanilla], Raisins, Sunflower Oil, Corn Syrup, Tapioca Dextrin, Coconut Oil, Citric Acid, Sorbic Acid, Confectioner’s Glaze), Glazed Walnuts (Walnuts, Sugar, Corn Syrup, Sesame Seeds, Salt, Canola Oil, Soy Lecithin [An Emulsifier], Natural Flavors, Citric Acid), Dried Sweetened Blueberries (Blueberries, Sugar, Sunflower Oil), Dusted With: Maltodextrin, Mannitol, Methylcellulose.
6. Quaker Granola Bars
I can sum this up a few words: partially hydrogenated oils (TRANS FAT), cottonseed oil, TBHQ, soy lecithin (GMO ingredient), high fructose corn syrup, sorbitol (fake sugar), MORE TRANS FATS, MORE GMO’s, natural and artificial flavorings (unknown ingredients), and BHT (preservative known to damage DNA!). So if you really want to pack every ingredient to avoid into one product you’ve got it here. And to think these people are giving advice about “healthy living” on their website! LOL
7. Welch’s “Real Fruit” Snacks
Before I start with the ingredients I have to say, putting the words “fat free” or “only 80 calories per pouch” on the front of your packaging is sending the wrong message to children! Shame on Welch’s for even going that route!
I don’t care if Welch’s is using real fruit juice because they are also adding corn syrup (GMO ingredient), artificial colors, as well as natural and artificial flavorings (unknown ingredients). Don’t be fooled by Welch’s, just because they aren’t using High Fructose Corn Syrup doesn’t mean they have a quality product that isn’t filled with empty calories and sugar!
8. Ritz Crackers
These crackers seem simple enough. They have light buttery taste but you’d never guess they are hiding a ton of dangerous ingredients including partially hydrogenated oil (TRANS FAT), soybean oil and soy lecithin (GMO ingredients), High Fructose Corn Syrup, and natural flavor (unknown ingredient). If you are seeing a trend with the crackers mentioned, I am too!
9. Honey Maid Graham Crackers
Next time you are thinking about s’mores you might want to rethink your graham crackers! These also include partially hydrogenated oils (TRANS FATS), High Fructose Corn Syrup, artificial flavors (unknown ingredients), and a few GMO ingredients. Not the type of S’mores I had in mind!
10. Saltines
Yep, those crackers you ate when you had the stomach flu and couldn’t keep anything else down.. they include 2 forms of trans fats, high fructose corn syrup (they aren’t even sweet!), refined flours, and GMO ingredients.
11. Quaker Fruit and Cream Instant Oatmeal
Stawberries & Cream: Whole Grain Rolled Oats (With Oat Bran), Sugar, Creaming Agent (Maltodextrin, Partially Hydrogenated, Soybean Oil**, Whey, Sodium Caseinate), Flavored Fruit Pieces (Dehydrated Apples [Treated With Sodium Sulfite To Promote Color Retention], Artificial Strawberry Flavor, Citric Acid, Red 40), Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Guar Gum, Oat Flour, Artificial Flavors, Citric Acid, Niacinamide*, Vitamin A Palmitate, Reduced Iron, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride*, Riboflavin*, Thiamin Mononitrate*, Folic Acid*. Contains Milk Ingredients
This oatmeal is hiding a lot more then artificial flavors! One packet of this and you’re getting a dose of partially hydrogenated oil (TRANS FAT), soybean oil (highly refined GMO ingredient), and apples that are treated with sulfites and dyed to look like strawberries. Not to mention a whopping 12 grams of refined sugar per packet! Definitely not a good way to start any day.
12. PediaSure
For one reason or another if you think your child needs extra nutrients I would not recommend going the PediaSure route. This ingredient list looks more like that chemistry test I failed a few years ago then any drink for toddlers! Here are the ingredients:
Water, Sugar, Milk Protein Concentrate, Soy Oil, Cocoa Powder (Processed With Alkali), Short-Chain Fructooligosaccharides, Soy Protein Isolate; Less Than 0.5% of: Cellulose Gel, Whey Protein Concentrate, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Phosphate, Natural And Artificial Flavor, Potassium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Citrate, Cellulose Gum, Salt, Choline Chloride, Ascorbic Acid, Carrageenan, Soy Lecithin, Monoglycerides, Potassium Hydroxide, M-Inositol, Taurine, Ferrous Sulfate, Sucralose, Dl-Alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate, L-Carnitine, Zinc Sulfate, Calcium Pantothenate, Niacinamide, Manganese Sulfate, Thiamine Chloride Hydrochloride, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, FD&C Red #3, Riboflavin, Cupric Sulfate, Vitamin A Palmitate, Folic Acid, Chromium Chloride, Biotin, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenate, Sodium Molybdate, Phyolloquinone, Vitamin D3, And Cyanocobalamin. Contains Milk And Soy Ingredients.
Along with the nutrients you are also giving your child tons of refined sugar, highly refined and GMO soybean oil, natural and artificial flavors (unknown ingredients), carrageenan (potentially cancer causing), monoglycerides (hidden trans fats), artificial colorings, and sucralose (fake sugars). NOTHING about these drinks add up to me!!
