12% of kids’ calories come from fast food

According to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of children in the United States eat fast food every day.

In general, children are attracted to fast food goodies such as burgers and pizza. This is despite the recent struggles of McDonald’s sales figures. In fact, youngsters daily watch an average of three to five fast food ads daily. Value menus are often $1 and include tasty items including hamburgers, fries, and ice cream. When sodas and fries are paired up with fatty meats and cheeses, such combos are hard to resist.

Advance planning may be the key to avoid stopping at a fast food restaurant to grab a bite to eat. Instead of picking up tacos at your local fast food joint, you can prepare your own healthy version of a Mexican fiesta by incorporating veggies and low-fat protein into your recipes. Chronic Illnesses Popping up in Children The Food Research and Action Center also released statistical information from the CDC that indicates that childhood obesity rates have almost doubled over the last 30 years, with a rise from 7 percent in 1980, to approximately 18 percent by the year 2012. American teenagers are ingesting nearly twice how much unhealthy energy as juvenile young children, urging so quick food products becomes much more routine as American young children period. Teens are more likely than smaller children to consume fast food, the report said.

Childhood obesity is a growing concern all over the world, and while experts try to educate parents about proper nutrition, it seems that it is not enough. Sandra Hassink, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, credits savvy marketing, such as advertising the food with cartoon characters and including toys with meals. For example, McDonalds has shrunk its Happy Meal’s portion sizes. Each child gets a duty such as making the salad, adding in herbs and stirring.