FORT LAUDERDALE, FL (NewsReleaseWire) August 23, 2010 -- The following list of top ten foods kids should avoid to promote better health was developed by award-winning nutrition researcher and FoodSmart Alliance founder Diana Hunter:

1. Honey

Children should not consume honey until after their first birthday due the risk of botulism. Premature infants and infants with digestive disorders or immune system issues may require longer as advised by a pediatrician.

2. Foods With Chemically Induced Trans Fats

The production of partially hydrogenated vegetable oils creates trans fats that raise the amount of harmful LDL cholesterol in the blood. This type of cholesterol increases the risk of developing coronary heart disease. Avoiding these fats from an early age is likely to help reduce the risk of developing obesity and heart-related disorders later in life. Foods that generally contain trans fats include French fries, baked goods, pie crust mixes, margarine, and microwave popcorn.

3. Raw or Undercooked Eggs

Consumption of raw or undercooked eggs increases the risk of contracting Salmonella, which causes fever, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps and can lead to dehydration in children more readily than in adults. In addition, raw egg whites contain a protein called avidin that binds biotin, making this important B vitamin unavailable for absorption by the body. Sampling cookie dough made with raw eggs creates a double risk for kids.

4. Foods Made With Alcohol

Whether it's Aunt Mae's Rum Cake or Mom's Bourbon Chicken, it's best for kids to avoid consumption -- especially when larger amounts of alcohol are used in a recipe. Contrary to popular belief, most alcohol does not "burn off" or "bake out" of foods unless only a very small amount is used or the foods are cooked for an extended period of time. In the body, alcohol breaks down into numerous detrimental chemicals. It can have greater negative effects on kids than adults due to their size and developing organs.

5. Chemical-Laden Foods

Foods filled with artificial chemicals that have not been sufficiently tested for their individual effects, let alone their effects when mixed with other chemical additives, should be off limits in kids' diets. Any potential negative health effects from such chemicals or chemical combinations are highly likely to have greater impact on kids' developing bodies than on those of adults. For a description of numerous chemicals found in foods visit http://www.cspinet.org/reports/chemcuisine.htm.

6. Foods High In Acrylamide

Acrylamide is a chemical that can form in some foods (particularly carbohydrate foods) during high-temperature cooking processes, such as frying, roasting, and baking. This includes French fries, potato chips, and sweet potato chips. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), acrylamide is a "probably carcinogen" (cancer-causing agent) and studies are ongoing. In NIH's April 2010 issue of Environmental Health Perspectives it is noted that children had higher levels of acrylamide biomarkers than adults in a recent study. It is also noted that children appear to metabolize this chemical differently than adults -- possibly in a more toxic fashion. To view the FDA's current listings of acrylamide values in food product samples visit http://www.fda.gov/food/foodsafety/foodcontaminantsadulteration/chemicalcontaminants/acrylamide/ucm053549.htm#u1004.



7. High-Sugar Foods

Candy, cookies, snack cakes, doughnuts, toaster pastries, high-sugar cereals and other foods that contain excess sugar often provide empty calories with little true nutritional value. Sodas and juice drinks should also be avoided or consumed minimally. Highly refined white-flour products such as white bread should be replaced with whole grain foods whenever possible.

8. Prepackaged & Canned Meals With High Fat, Sugar & Sodium Content

Pre-made lunch and snack packs, tv dinners, and canned meals that contain high levels of sugar, sodium, chemical preservatives, and unhealthy fats lend toward obesity and other health problems in kids-- especially when eaten on a regular basis.

9. Eggs, Citrus Fruits (or Juices) & Cow's Milk

According to the National Institutes of Health, children should not be fed eggs, citrus fruits (or juices), and cow's milk until after their first birthday due to the risk of developing allergies to these foods.

10. Seafood, Peanuts & Tree Nuts

According to the National Institutes of Health, children should not be fed seafood, peanuts, or tree nuts until age 2 or 3 due to the risk of developing allergies to these foods.

For more information visit FoodSmart.org.

Diana Hunter is an award-winning author and nutritional researcher. She is currently on national tour with her latest award-winning title, FoodSmart: Understanding Nutrition in the 21st Century.

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