The Impact of Fast Food on You and Your Child

Whether we like it or not, fast food has become embedded in our society. You can’t go very far without seeing the familiar golden arches or a drive-thru fast-food establishment. It’s also all too common to hear the excited cries of our kids when they spot the opportunity to drive through one of these stores or stop in for an after school or dinnertime treat. While fast food is quick & easy – and let’s face it, tasty! – it’s important to not make a habit out of eating poorly. Unfortunately, fast food has little nutritional value and can lead to potential health risks, including childhood obesity. So how do we help ourselves and our children make mindful choices when it comes to nutrition without feeling like we’re missing out?

What makes fast food unhealthy?

Because fast food is typically high in sugar, salt and saturated or trans fats, it can be harmful to your physical and mental health if consumed often. Fast food is very poor in terms of nutrition, causing people to feel hungrier at their next meal which can lead to overeating or other poor food choices. Also, high-carbohydrate foods like takeaway burgers increase the body’s demand for insulin, which promotes more hunger. Foods that are higher in salt can also have an immediate impact on the proper functioning of a person’s blood vessels. Excess sodium intake also has links to fluid retention. Aside from the impacts on the physical body, fast food also has a negative effect on the mind. Since fast food is highly palatable, breaking down in the mouth quickly and not requiring as much chewing, it activates the reward centres in the brain faster. This leads to the craving of consuming more of the same foods, reducing a person’s desire for wholesome, fresh foods.

Health risks of eating fast food

There is plenty of evidence showing that regularly eating fast food can have serious short-term and long-term impacts on a person’s health. Immediately after consuming junk food that is high in fat or sugar, someone may experience indigestion or gut health issues due to the low-fibre content in these foods. Long-term regular consumption of junk food can lead to health issues such as obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and various cardiovascular issues. Consuming fast food can also have negative impacts on different stages of a person’s life, such as during pregnancy. Newborns and children are also negatively affected by fast food.

During pregnancy

From pickles to late-night ice cream or pizza cravings, pregnancy can test our willpower when it comes to reaching for fast food. But before you reach for another packet of chips, be aware that while it may give you a temporary ‘high’, junk food provides no nutrients and will not provide anything beneficial to you and your growing baby. Studies have shown that a mother’s relationship to junk food may affect their child’s healthy eating habits, influencing them to make poorer food choices. Other impacts of eating junk food while pregnant include:

• An increased risk for allergies: Too much sugar in the form of fructose, sucrose, honey or fruit juices during pregnancy saw a 38% spike in a child’s allergy risks between the ages of 7 and 9. Mother’s also report seeing an increase in allergic asthma in their children.
• An increased risk for heart disease: Studies have shown that a high-sugar diet and pre-pregnancy obesity may increase the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth and gestational diabetes.

Children

Children who regularly consume fast food in the form of sugary drinks and sweets or processed snacks are at a high risk of developing childhood obesity as well as respiratory problems. One study found that children who consume fast food at least three times a week are more likely to develop asthma. Overweight and obese children are also more likely to stay obese into adulthood.

Fast food alternatives for toddlers and pregnant women

When you feel that fast food craving coming on, there are alternatives that will give you the same tasty treat but with the added nutrients junk food doesn’t provide. When you want an alternative for yourself and kids, consider the following:

• Swap sugary drinks, sodas and high-sugar fruit juices for water, milk or freshly squeezed juice or smoothies.
• Swap potato chips for carrot or celery sticks with nut butter, cheese sauce or natural yoghurt.
• For healthy snacks on the go, consider Bellamy’s Organic Apple Snacks, tubs of yoghurt, trail mix, cherry tomatoes and sliced bananas, apples, grapes and pears.
• If you’re craving a sweet fix, try adding fresh blueberries and honey to your yoghurt or indulge in some pieces of dark chocolate. Kids may also like warm porridge with applesauce and sliced fruit.

Remember, fast food can be consumed – and enjoyed! – occasionally. Just don’t make it a habit to eat high-fat, sugar or high- sodium foods and drinks every day. Be particularly diligent with your food choices pre-pregnancy and during pregnancy, as your unhealthy habits may cause complications with your pregnancy and birth as well as your baby’s health. For babies and young children, it’s important to instil in them healthy food habits by being an example to them.

So how does Bellamy’s Organic product range relate to mindful eating?

Bringing your baby up on wholesome, fresh produce will give them the right foundation to make wiser food choices as they grow older. Offer your child a pure start to life with uncomplicated nutrition and good food that is nutritious and wholesome. Bellamy’s Organic offers a range of organic food and formula products for babies, toddlers and young children, with over 30 products in our range from birth to early childhood. You can click here to find your nearest stockist.

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