Adult diets get lots of scrutiny for foods that can raise the risk of heart disease. Children\u2019s meals and snacks often receive less attention, potentially impacting their future health.<\/p>\n
Super-sweet cereals, processed lunch meats, cookies and chips are kid-favorites that can deliver added sugar, saturated fat, excessive salt and empty calories to a child\u2019s menu.<\/p>\n
Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj, an interventional cardiologist in California, has three teen daughters and remembers the struggle to find quick, easy and appealing meals for the girls.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want them to live a long, healthy life, so now we\u2019re more intentional about what we put on the table,\u201d he told CNBC.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n Heart Health Tip of the Day: Avoid Giving These 3 Foods to Kids<\/p>\n Bhojraj listed these \u201ctoxic\u201d foods that are off the menu in his household:<\/p>\n Flavored Yogurts<\/p>\n The ones marketed for kids are often full of added sugars and artificial dyes, Bhojraj cautioned. <\/p>\n Processed Meats<\/p>\n They\u2019re linked to an increased risk of heart disease, research has found<\/a>.<\/p>\n Bacon, hot dogs and lunch meats are often loaded with sodium, preservatives and nitrates, Bhojraj noted. <\/p>\n \u201cAs a cardiologist, I\u2019m terrified of what these compounds can do at a cellular level. They interfere with important compounds like nitric oxide, which regulates blood pressure and blood vessel health,\u201d he warned.<\/p>\n Sugary Cereals and Drinks<\/p>\n No amount of added sugar is recommended for children younger than 11, according to Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025\u20132030<\/a>. Adolescents should \u201csignificantly\u201d limit the amount of sugary drinks they consume.<\/p>\n Why It Matters<\/p>\n Dietary habits are learned early in life, the American Heart Association notes<\/a>.<\/p>\n It recommends a heart-healthy diet for children starting at 1 year of age, calling it important for \u201ca favorable cardiovascular health trajectory throughout adulthood.\u201d<\/p>\n Eating too much and moving too little leads to obesity, which now impacts 21% of children and adolescents in the U.S., the AHA says. Obesity also has a direct effect on the heart<\/a>, raising the risk of heart disease.<\/p>\n How to Get Started<\/p>\n The healthiest cereal<\/a> is 100% whole grain with as little added sugar as possible, dietitians say.<\/p>\n When choosing cereal for your kids, they advise buying plain whole grain, bran-based cereal and making it sweeter (if needed) by adding fruit, or a drizzle of honey or maple syrup so you can control how much sugar is added.<\/p>\n