WHAT IS "JUNK" FOOD? PART-2
(Najamuddin Ghanghro, Karachi (Original from Larkana))
Junk Food and TV
As we all know, many of the food commercials aimed at children are for foods
high in fat, sugar, and/or salt, and low in nutritional value. And some research
suggests that watching ads for processed foods encourages children to eat more.
Researchers from the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom exposed 60
children, ages 9 to 11, to both food advertisements and toy advertisements,
followed by a cartoon and free food.
The children ate more after the food advertisements than after the commercials
for toys, the study found. The obese children in the study increased their
consumption of food the most (134%) after watching the food ads, compared to
overweight children (101%) and normal-weight children (84%).
Taking the 'Junk' out of Junk Food
Now that you've got the facts about junk food, how can you try to eat more
healthfully in our junk- food-filled world? Here are three tips:
• Choose fast-food restaurants that offer healthier choices. And no matter where
you are, opt for food and beverages that are made up mostly of ingredients that
offer nutrients along with calories. Enjoy freshly squeezed orange juice or a
whole-wheat bagel instead of soda or donuts. Buy a bean burrito, pizza topped
with vegetables, or a grilled chicken sandwich on a whole-grain bun instead of
tortilla chips with processed cheese sauce; frozen pizza rolls; or fried chicken
pieces and French fries. Avoid sweetened beverages.
• Look for products low in sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, milled grains, and
partially hydrogenated oils. Choose a 100% whole-wheat cracker made with canola
oil, for example, or snack on a cheese and fruit plate instead of a bowl of
cheese puffs.
• Limit TV viewing, for yourself and your kids. Certain TV shows seem to attract
more junk food commercials more than others, so parents might want to discourage
kids from watching these shows. Or try TIVO (where you can fast-forward through
commercials) or watch DVDs.
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