We hear so much about McDonalds and other such fast food not being healthy, but more of a health hazard. We hear so much about pop and how it’s loaded with sugar and not good for consumption. Most such messages are intended for general audience, which I believe comprise of adults.
If there are regular warnings for adults to abstain from such food and drinks, wouldn’t it be more severe for the kids? By kids I’m referring to the age group of at 5 and under or even 10 and under.
I even recall reading an article once on how pop has bad effects on children. It also talked about how it could hurt their growth. Since I read it so long ago, I can’t remember the validity of the article.
While taking the subway, I’ve noticed quite a lot of little kids having McDonalds, or fries, and other such food.
For some reason I can’t help, but feel bad for the children.
Should little kids be served fast-food or should they be prevented till they’re a little more grown up? Or is it all about eating in moderation?
Re: Should little kids be given McDonalds and other fastfood?
I think it's all about moderation, but there is next to nothing in a happy meal that is good for children. In my opinion, it shouldn't even be played up as a 'special treat' because there is nothing special about food that clogs your arteries.
Pop is awful for anyone, especially children. I've seen children with their baby teeth literally rotting out of their mouths from drinking too much pop. I remember studying something in science class about coke dissolving proteins. What must this do to a young body.
Re: Should little kids be given McDonalds and other fastfood?
so very true!! ^
paki food isnt much healthier than fast food. In fact we use a lot of oil in our foods and we fry our foods as well …come to think of it… you cant cook any paki salans w/o frying. Also paki foods (especially the veggies) are so overly cooked that you end up losing most (if not all)l the nutrients in it. So the end result is basically some good tasting food …but without nutrients. :S
when i cook desi dishes for the home…i put less oil in it and try to keep from over frying/cooking…it may not taste as good but you can still enjoy it. For guests i make it the way its suppose to be cooked (the unhealthy way )
I cant imagine feeding my children something unhealthy on a regular basis. I am very health conscious and i totally believe in the saying…“you are what u eat”. If you dont introduce those foods to your kids early on… they wont have the desire for it.
Re: Should little kids be given McDonalds and other fastfood?
^well i love eating paki food but only when i've have had a long run and burnt a lot of calories...if i eat paki food on days when i am non-active i can tell right away that i am gaining weight and feeling unhealthy...especially if its someonthing cooked in ghee or butter.corn oil and olive are not that bad,but a lot of paki foods are cooked in butter or ghee which is very high in cholestrol and bad for the heart.
Re: Should little kids be given McDonalds and other fastfood?
^^ Wait till you see Food channel how much BUTTER gora loag use in every single
dish. I was shocked to see it few days ago. Half cup butter was no problem for the cook who was preparing the dish for single person.
Rather than criticizing Pakistani food all out, just use oil spray or a tspn of olive oil in Pakistani food and you can still get the tasty Pakistani food with very low fat. Now it may not taste 100% as the original food but then, do you think microwave fries (GORA dish) tastes the same as deep fried fries?
Re: Should little kids be given McDonalds and other fastfood?
Rather than criticizing Pakistani food all out, just use oil spray or a tspn of olive oil in Pakistani food and you can still get the tasty Pakistani food with very low fat. Now it may not taste 100% as the original food but then, do you think microwave fries (GORA dish) tastes the same as deep fried fries?
yea thats how i cook desi food.
but the food ur talking about on the food channel isnt food that people cook everyday.
Re: Should little kids be given McDonalds and other fastfood?
Let me tell you, those store bought packaged fries...should not be fried at home...they are already laced with grease. Actually baking them in the toaster they turn out just as good, and you do not get the greasy taste.
Now I agree with whoever said that just try not to introduce your kids to Mcdonalds and other junk food...so they won't crave it as much. Even if they do, set some limits on how often they can have this sort of food. I dunno how hard it will be to do, but hopefully I don't want to introduce coke/pepsi to my baby at a young age. How do people give little babies who can't even walk pepsi in their feeders, that's sillY!!!! Give them juice! Give them chocolate milk if anything, but it should be somewhat good for them at least...jeez
Re: Should little kids be given McDonalds and other fastfood?
It’s getting harder and harder to keep kids away from McDonald’s. There’s a McDs on almost every other block, you see their advertisements all teh time, and they are constantly trying to advertise to children with “Happy Meals” and toys. As a kid, we didnt eat that much McDonald’s or anything, but whatever my mom made, it was certainly not healthy. In teh last few years, my mom’s changed, she uses olive oil in cooking, whole wheat flour, and uses little oil. In pakistan, I remember my khala was cooking shorba gosht and I thought she had added a potato, until i realized it was a HUGE scoop of gheee…:yukh:
That said, I know I have to fix my own eating habits before i can talk abt wat i will and will not feed my kids.
Re: Should little kids be given McDonalds and other fastfood?
I thought I'd clarify this thread's not about desi vs. non-desi food in particular.
Yes, desi food might be unhealthy; however, I doubt it tops or is just as bad as McDonalds, and other such fast food or pop.
It's sad when I see little kids drinking pop as well. Parents don't stop them. I feel bad when I have to give my little cousin soft drink. It's completely against my wish, but the parents are okay with it.
Sara516, I have some pretty horrific eating habits myself. I still feel it's much worse for kids than for the adults.
Re: Should little kids be given McDonalds and other fastfood?
i suggest that little kids esp uptill toddler age should be given less sweet ( whether it's candy ,pop, drink or else ) , less spicy , less salty and less fatty food , be it desi food , american food , fast food or junk .
Re: Should little kids be given McDonalds and other fastfood?
Sara516, I have some pretty horrific eating habits myself. I still feel it's much worse for kids than for the adults.
Yeah, but you know the best way to keep your kids on the right track is by example, and that goes for everything in life, study/work habits, prayer, treating others, dress etc. If you're not gonna change your own habits, if you're gonna feed ur kids fruits for dessert and you yourself down a tub of ice cream later on.. well thas not really a gud xample :)
Re: Should little kids be given McDonalds and other fastfood?
not just for kids but everyone should eat salt and spicy foods in moderation. the thing is if you (those that eat spicy foods) dont introduce your children to spicy foods early on (toddler yrs) then they its most likely they wont be able to tolerate it later on in life which will be quite difficult for those families that are used to eating spicy stuff.
i agree with the sweets......in my opinion a child shouldnt eat sweets before the age of 2 and even after that...if they dont ask for it...dont give it. I see parents who insist of giving their child sweets even when they arent showing much interest in it. Once they taste it....they'll keep wanting it. But even so....parents can always put limits on it.
Oh and dont even get me started with the soda in the bottle thing...argh! makes me cringe when i see that!!
^
