The "Fat-Free" Craze and Kids

It seems that almost everyone is jumping on the "fat-free" food bandwagon this year. But what about kids? Experts agree that parents should study food labels carefully before buying "fat-free" foods for growing children.

Why? Children actually need some fat in their diets, especially during growth spurts. In fact, roughly 30 percent of a child's caloric intake should come from fat. The energy which fat provides helps your children maintain normal bodily functions and supports the increased growth in muscle, skin and bone.

In addition, fat satisfies a child's appetite, and also helps the body absorb fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, and E. Some of the fat-free products on the market may not be as balanced in these vitamins.

What about situations where children have been advised to reduce their fat intake to lose weight?

Beware: "fat-free" foods are not necessarily lower in calories. In some cases, even when the dietary fat has been reduced in a product, the serving size may still contain a considerable amount of calories. Children may tend to eat more of the food, which may cause them to maintain or even gain more weight.

If your child has been advised to avoid excess fat, it's better to provide him or her with foods that are naturally low in fat for snacks instead of "fat-free" foods. These include: carrots, apples, celery, bananas, graham crackers, reduced-fat yogurt and skim and 2 percent milk.