Kids First

It's tough to be a healthy kid today. Right from birth, children are bombarded with conflicting messages about food. What's good for them is to eat raw veggies and fruit; what's cool is to bring fancy packaged treats in their lunchboxes. What's good for them is to get outside and run around; what's cool is to spend hours in front of the TV perfecting their skills at the latest X-Box game. Major labels tempt kids with flashy commercials, claiming their foods are low in fat or sugar, but in reality they are highly processed and provide little nutritional value. At the same time, images of lean, beautiful men and women provide the standard of beauty in our society, wreaking havoc on the minds and bodies of young people in the form of poor self image and eating disorders.

Living a healthy life in North American society can be like fighting a battle, and the best weapon in this battle is knowledge. Kids need to be brought up knowing which foods are best for them and why: organic fruits and vegetables and whole grains because they provide the nutrients necessary for proper growth. Between 1981 and 1996 the prevalence of
overweight in Canada increased by 92 percent in boys and 57 percent in girls (Canadian Medical Association Journal, November 28, 2000, 168). Obesity, poor nutrition and a sedentary lifestyle are major causes of such debilitating diseases as diabetes and cancer. Let's prevent our kids from suffering by helping them eat right, starting today.

PDF Table of Children's Nutritional Requirements