If you missed it, children’s cereals have been in the headlines recently, and the news is not good.
The Rudd Center for Food and Obesity at Yale University confirms what many parents have already discovered: cereals marketed for our children are loaded with sugar and sodium not so good for you, while they contain less fiber than cereals for adults.
The figures 85% more sugar, 60% more sodium, and 65% less fiber.
And our young people find everything irresistible. After all, they are bombarded, on average, with 642 cereal ads every year on television, which raises about $229 million annually for manufacturers.
Meanwhile, that does not count all the hour’s children can spend on the Internet. For example, when they visit Reese’s Puffs, they are invited to “Customize your Avatar and create your dance.” On the Millsberry site, you can play “Swirl the World Game” on Trix World and have fun with the Lucky Charms web episodes, just to get started.
So while your children can beg, stay away from these less nutritious cereals; Many contain 40% to 50% sugar and are typically the most publicized:
Reese’s Puffs (general mills)
Corn Pops (Kellogg’s)
Lucky Charms (General Mills)
Cinnamon Toast Crunch (General Mills) and Cap’n Crunch (Quaker Oats)
Trix (General Mills), Froot Loops (Kellogg’s) and Fruity & Cocoa Pebbles (Post)
Cocoa puff pastry (general mills)
Cookie Crisp (general mills)
What should a father do then? Consumer Reports researchers offer these better alternatives for your child:
Cheerios (general mills)
Kix (general mills)
Honey Nut Cheerios (general mills)
Life (Quaker Oats)
Cheerios tops that list because it contains only one gram of sugar, but offers up to three grams of fiber in each serving. Also, consider Kellogg’s mini-frozen wheat, although each serving contains 12 grams of sugar, your child will also consume six grams of fiber.
Do You Need Some More Alternatives?
Hannah Montana (Kellogg’s)
Clifford Crunch (Cascadian Farm)
Mighty Bites (Kashi)
Honey Sunshine (Kashi)
Organic Wild Puffs (Barbara’s Bakery)
In other words, wisely buy the good health of your children, believing that these experts and the nutritional data on the side of each cereal box are not health claims affirmed boldly on the front.
What Is a Busy Box, Questions?
It is a medium-sized mini cereal boxes (preferably with a lid) that contains all kinds of items to keep toddlers and preschoolers busy during school hours or while parents work in the same room. You can demand that Box be played on a blanket or at a certain place. Some parents even use a small plastic pool to contain the mess and increase the fun. You can schedule an older child to help and supervise in 30-minute increments. We usually use Boxes occupied during morning hours, when we meet to read and memorize. Some ideas to set your own busy boxes:
Box of rice (or lentils) with tablespoons and cups (definitely make this in a blanket!)
Stickers and paper
Fruit and fake baskets (we found lots in the thrift store)
Dummy money and sticky notes for price tags to play in the store
Washable markers and paper
Mini markers and dry erase markers
Puzzle
A blanket was thrown on a card table (not technically a busy box, but the same idea)
Muffin pan and something to classify (the size of the objects to be classified depends on the age of the child: different varieties of cereals, large beads, coins, etc.)
Large wooden beads with rope
Miniature animals and wooden blocks to build pens (Jenga blocks are a good)
Mini plastic boats and a tub of water (on a plastic tablecloth)
The key is to have a special set of times to use Boxes so that the contents do not disperse or feel common. If your child can play with Boxes at any time he wants, the mystery aura is lost. Set a rule that you can only take out one box at a time. If they want to change, they have to save the first one they took out.
Young children and preschoolers are small busy people who benefit from planned activities to stimulate their minds and motor skills. Preparing a Busy Box in advance saves parents the frustration and effort of providing fun and safe activities for their children. Busy parents can use occupied boxes to keep children occupied!
