Nutritional standards for schools have improved over the last few years, but there is still a long way to go. Further research studies into nutrition and learning show that many of the snacks parents are sending to school with their children are actually hindering their learning--here are some example of the high sugar junk.
Yoo-Hoo
(15.5 oz bottle)
230 calories
2 g fat (1 g saturated)
45 g sugars
230 calories
2 g fat (1 g saturated)
45 g sugars
I endorse chocolate milk at any age, whether it’s served as an after-school snack for kids or post-workout fuel for adults. The problem with Yoo-Hoo is that it’s not milk. It’s actually a bizarre blend of water, high fructose corn syrup, and whey—and a high-calorie one at that. If your child drank 16 ounces of chocolate milk, she would gain 16 grams of protein. Yoo-Hoo offers a paltry 3 grams.
Cheetos
(1 oz)
150 calories
10 g fat (1.5 g saturated)
250 mg sodium
150 calories
10 g fat (1.5 g saturated)
250 mg sodium
How unfortunate that Cheetos—the only chips represented by a kid-friendly cartoon character—are among the worst snacks in the store. They’re high in sodium, low in fiber, and are made with neurotoxic monosodium glutamate. Plus, when the iconic orange coating fuses with fingertip oil, it forms a putty-like crud that affixes to seemingly any surface. Finally, if you’ve ever seen a kid eat Cheetos, then you know that a lot of finger-licking goes into the process. Now think about all of the pathogens in a classroom—that’s a lot of sick days on the line.
