Between encouraging picky eaters, dishing out afternoon snacks, and snagging “just a couple” fries from that drive-thru meal, you probably end up eating as much off your kid’s plates as they do, if not more. And although kids’ snacks are packaged in the most convenient way possible, they’re not convenient for your health—or your child’s health, for that matter. Since your metabolism isn’t quite at the place your kid’s is anymore, it’s time to leave these sugary, fattening culprits at the playground. More from Prevention: 6 Healthy Recipes To Cook With Your Kids, 13 Healthy Life Lessons To Teach Your Kids
Boxed Fruit Juice
Why It’s Tempting: Plain old water gets so boring—and these often come in six-packs, so it’s all too easy to rip off an extra one. Why You Should Resist: Don’t let the smiling, dancing apples fool you. “This is similar to the fruit roll-ups situation,” says Sass. Just take a look at where fruit shows up on the ingredients list of most brands. We bet it’s not at the top. What To Snack On Instead: Look for juice boxes that contain 100% fruit juice, preferably organic, with nothing artificial. Or better yet, go for real fruit.
