Improve your kids' diets with whole grains

From KidsHealth.org:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have recently released the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Many parents may wonder what, if anything, they should do to improve their children's diets. Specifically, the recommendations call for an increase in whole-grain consumption, with at least half of the suggested grain intake coming from whole grains, especially for kids and teens.

"Whole grains" certainly sounds like a healthy way to go, but what does that actually mean for parents? KidsHealth ( http://www.KidsHealth.org ), the most visited and linked-to website devoted to children's health, offers these tips for parents:

* Read food labels. Whole grains come in many forms: whole wheat, popcorn, buckwheat, wild rice -- the list goes on. What ingredients should parents look for? For a complete list, along with specific whole-grain suggestions, visit: http://www.KidsHealth.org/breaking_news/whole_grains.html .

* Don't be duped! Be wary of misleading claims on packages. "Multi-grain" isn't whole grain, and the only way to know is to look at the ingredient list.

* Mix it up! Enriched grains provide some nutrients that whole grains may not. Most enriched grain products are fortified with folic acid (folate), as well as iron, niacin, riboflavin, and thiamin. In general, parents should make sure that at least half of the grains their child eats are whole grains and the rest of the servings their child needs can be from enriched grains.

* Watch your sugars and fats. Just because a food contains whole grains, it doesn't mean that it is a healthy choice. When choosing whole-grain products, look for ones without added sugar or fat.

* Keep it colorful. Kids and teens need carbohydrates from all groups, not just grains. Don't forget to add color to the shopping cart, too, with fruits, vegetables, and dairy.

"Parents shouldn't go crazy trying to make sure that everything in the pantry is all whole grain all the time," says pediatrician Mary Gavin, MD, co- author of "Fit Kids: A practical guide to raising healthy and active children" and medical editor for KidsHealth.org. "If you want to get your child to eat more whole grains, start with small changes, like making sandwiches on whole- wheat bread rather than white."

About KidsHealth®

KidsHealth creates engaging online, print, and video media about a wide range of health and family issues. KidsHealth has a physician-directed, professional editorial staff -- and is the largest resource of online children's health, behavioral, and developmental information. In 2004, over 60 million families turned to KidsHealth.org -- making it the Web's most accessed site on children's health. KidsHealth comes from Nemours, one of the largest nonprofit organizations devoted to children's health.