Fast food versus wholesome meals their effect on the development of kids and teenagers

08 Jun 2021

Fast food versus wholesome meals; their effect on the development of kids and teenagers.

 

Meal delivery services have been gaining popularity among parents in recent years and there is a good reason for that. Everybody has a hectic lifestyle nowadays so making sure that your child has a wholesome, fresh, home-cooked meal three times per day is more difficult than it has ever been. Luckily, prepared meals delivery service presents a wonderful alternative to time-consuming home cooking. So, you do not have to choose between the convenience of junk food and the health benefits of freshly-made meals; you can just order a nutritious fresh meal for your little one with a click of a button.

In this article, we will delve deeper into the benefits of wholesome meals made fresh from natural ingredients and their harmful alternative – fast food. 

 

The fresh food your child should be eating to grow up healthy and happy.

 

Every adult knows that fresh meals are better for us than fast food, but unfortunately most of us do not have the time to cook healthy meals regularly, not even for our children. This is why prepared meal delivery services are essential for those parents who still want their children to eat healthy despite the lack of time.

Since children do not yet have the mental maturity to make the best decisions for themselves and they also don’t have access to purchasing power, the decision to monitor their diet and make sure they are eating healthy fresh food falls upon adults.

School-age children should be eating fresh meals that utilize ingredients from five healthy food groups. These groups are fruits, vegetables, protein, grain food, and reduced-fat dairy. Each of these food groups contains different nutrients which are essential to the healthy development of your child’s body and mind. And if you order freshly-made meals from a meal delivery service you do not need to think about it, you can be confident that the dish will be rich in the essential nutrients. 

So let’s have a closer look at what each of these food groups contributes to children’s health.

Fruits and vegetables contain a wide range of vitamins, antioxidants, fiber, and much more. All of these nutrients help strengthen your child’s immune system and protect them from serious diseases such as viruses, chronic diseases (heart disease and organ failure), and even cancer.

Grain foods such as couscous, quinoa, barley, and oats give your children the energy they need to make it through the day. These grains help a child’s brain to function properly so that your child can maintain their focus better. You just need to choose grain foods that have a low glycemic index (for example whole-grain bread and pasta).

Reduced-fat dairy (such as low-fat yogurt, cheese, and milk) is a good source of calcium and protein which help strengthen your child’s bones, teeth, and muscles.

And, last but not least, eating protein-rich foods such as chicken, fish, lean meat, lentils, tofu, nuts, chickpeas, etc. helps your child’s muscles grow and remain healthy. The more muscle mass human beings have the better their metabolism and the rate at which they burn fat; consuming our recommended daily dose of protein also makes us feel fuller for longer. Both of these characteristics of protein protect us from becoming obese.

 

The detrimental effect of fast food on children’s and teenager’s physical and mental development.

 

When adults cannot prepare fresh meals for their children they often turn to fast food due to its accessibility. Fast food is an umbrella term that is used to denote all types of food items that contain a lot of added sugar, fat, and salt; however, they do not contain the necessary amount of important vitamins and minerals which are crucial for children and teenagers.

Unfortunately, fast food has gained a lot of prominence in recent decades. Nowadays many parents allow their children to consume fast food on a regular basis even though they know that it is not good for them, simply because it is easier to do so.

But this has to stop because fast food causes immense harm to all individuals (especially children) who are still developing physically and mentally. And thanks to fresh meal delivery services there is no need to compromise anymore. 

Here are just some well-known facts about the negative effect of fast food.

If fast food is consumed regularly from an early age it can lead to chronic illnesses later in life (such as obesity, heart disease, and emotional and self-esteem problems). In fact, one single fast-food meal could add as much as 300 extra calories to the children’s and teenager’s daily caloric allowance, so you can only imagine the damage having this type of meal three times a day would do.

In addition, most fast foods contain unhealthy fats that clog up our arteries, harmful food coloring, and unhealthy preservatives. And then there might also be a problem with the safety of food preparation. Speed is the selling point of fast food, which means the staff often have to work against the clock so the quality and hygiene might be compromised. If you have been following the news you have probably heard about the outbreaks of bacterial diseases at various fast food chains in recent years.

If a child consumes fast food several times a week there’s a high chance that they will develop conditions such as eczema, rhinitis, and asthma. Eating fast food on daily basis interferes with brain development and prevents children from acquiring proper reading and math skills.

In addition, when children eat food that is high in sugar, fats, and carbohydrates they are less likely to consume healthier options such as milk, fruits, and vegetables all of which contain fiber which is essential to the proper functioning of our digestive system.

Moreover, fast food makes children lethargic and they have difficulty participating in extracurricular activities and leading healthy active lives with their friends. As a result, fast-food-addicted teenagers are at higher risk of missing out on important social relationships and becoming depressed.

To conclude, purchasing freshly-made wholesome meals from delivery services is the best way to go, not only for parents and their children but for all health-conscious human beings in general.