5 foods you should never feed your kids

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"One of the biggest challenges parents face in this modern-day lifestyle is figuring out what foods their kids should eat", says Dr Nick Fuller, a health and obesity expert from the University of Sydney and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

“Fair dinkum, we're living in a world where big business is cashing in on what we feed our little nippers, fobbing off rubbish advice on us and the youngsters.”

There's also this never-ending flow of advice, and heaps of it's outdated or just plain wrong, peddled by well-known celebrities or social media personalities.

Dr Fuller advised that parents listen to the guidance of healthcare professionals to safeguard their kids' diet and relationship with food, calling it "future proofing". He then listed off the five foods he wouldn't feed his little ones.

1. Coconut oil

Dr Fuller described coconut oil as "one of the biggest marketing rorts of the 21st century" and said it shouldn't be part of a child's diet.

“Coconut oil is approximately 80 percent saturated fat,” Dr Fuller said.

“We get it, the metre under usual conditions is rock solid."

It’s been proven to increase low-density lipoprotein, commonly referred to as bad cholesterol, which clogs the arteries and can lead to heart attacks.

Instead of coconut oil, Dr Fuller said employers and caregivers can use olive oil and canola oil, which have unsaturated fats that can improve a child's heart health.

2. Almond milk

Almond milk, which is made by grindin' up almonds and addin' water, wasn't a suitable milk substitute for infant formulas, toddlers or older kids, Dr Fuller said.

He said almond milk is low in protein, very pricey, and may contain other ingredients such as stabilisers, emulsifiers, and sometimes even veg oils.

"You'll come across brands that have extra sugar added to them," he said.

Dr Fuller said parents should instead opt for cow's milk, which he described as the "golden standard", containing significantly more protein than nut milks.

“It's also an extremely good source of calcium and vitamin D, which is required for keeping the bones in top condition,” he said.

It also contains iodine, which is essential for overall thyroid health as well as maintaining a healthy weight.

For kids with lactose intolerance, Dr Fuller suggested using lactose-free cow's milk, and for those with a dairy allergy, he recommended calcium-enriched soy milk.

3. Butter

Dr Fuller suggested using extra virgin olive oil or mashed avocado as an alternative to butter or margarine as spreads.

He said avocados and extra virgin olive oil provided "far more nutritional benefits", like having a positive impact on the heart and helping to prevent illnesses in the long run.

“It might seem a bit dill at first, but I reckon parents should give it a fair crack because they'll be stoked to find out that these healthier snacks actually become a real ripper with their kids,” Dr Fuller said.

4. Low-fat yoghurt

Although low-fat foods lowered the saturated fat intake in children, which should theoretically lead to better health, not all saturated fats were equally as healthy, Dr Fuller said.

He said research proved that saturated fats in milk and other dairy like yoghurt and cheese hadn't been found to be bad for, and might even benefit, heart health.

He advised against having low-fat yoghurt, which can have added sugar in high amounts, and suggested choosing a full-fat one instead.

“But if you want to, try addin' in natural sweeteners like fruit or honey, he said.”

5. White bread

Dr Fuller claimed that white bread had been highly refined, resulting in it containing largely no nutritious value.

There's heaps of research suggesting white bread is low in vital vitamins and minerals, which means it's not that great for fillin' the kids up for a long time, so they end up chompin' more excess food.

“Around two years old, the general guideline is to pick up wholemeal bread for kids because grains can be a choking risk”, Dr Fuller said.

“After that, you should be choosing wholegrain bread for kids over two years of age.”

2. Introduce new foods gradually. "Just putting one new food on the plate can increase the chance of a child being open to new things," says Dr. Clare Collins,.registered dietitian.

Fuller said that as a bloke who's a dad, he reckons he knows how tough it can be to cope with kids who are picky eaters and suggested gettin' the little nippers to help out with food shopin' and meal prep to get over fussy eatin'.

“It’s as good as promised the food will get them curious about what's on the plate, and they'll be more inclined to give it a try,” Dr Fuller said.

Dr Fuller suggested gettin' rid of distractions like the telly and mobiles during meals so kids can focus on tastin' and enjoyin' new foods. He also reckoned parents should stop usin' food as a reward or punishment.

A fair dinkum, a lot of mums and dads have been in this situation – they swap the promise of a tasty treat for two more serves of veggies.

“But this habit only creates unhealthy associations with healthy foods.”

Finally, Dr Fuller said parents should continue encouraging their kids to try new foods over a period of time.

“Studies have shown that it can take about eight to 10 attempts to try a new fruit or vegetable before people become confident to give it a go,” he said.

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