After writing the list of the top five healthy summer snacks, I got to thinking. What are some of the more unhealthy Kids snack options? Since we already know that cookies, chips and soft drinks are not healthy for our children, what about the less noticeable items? Here is an impromptu list of the top 5 foods or snacks to STOP feeding your child now! This is why:

1. Yogurts – This one has always proven to be amazing! What, no yogurt for my child(ren)? Why? How will they get the calcium, probiotics, and other “healthy” stuff that’s in the yogurt? Here’s an easy answer: Since many of the popular yogurts marketed to kids are LOADED with sugar, they’re automatically a no-no in this mom’s house! There are healthier yogurts, like plain and Greek, but my children don’t like to eat them plain. (Imagine, after years of high sugar intake, your little taste buds and ideas of “good” foods are a little off!) So we add a small amount of agave or honey (or Truvia) and put it in the blender with berries for a quick smoothie, or get our calcium and probiotics elsewhere. I buy the once a day pediatric probiotic powder (Nature’s Way – Primadophilus Children) for the live cultures and found that the unsweetened, non-GMO soy milk I give my kids (Silk brand) has the same amount of calcium, protein and potassium like cow’s milk (or yogurt) but without all the sugar! Win-win in our kitchen.

2. Lunchables – Oops, now I’ve gone too far! This one was hard to get rid of at first (think time saved!) but after perusing the labels on these expensive hickeys, I quickly realized that they are not healthy for my little ones. Loaded with sugar, sodium, bad fats, and preservatives, I’ve resorted to making homemade mini-lunches instead. An all natural cheese stick, with some pepperonis and some whole grain Townhouse crackers, and my kids love it! Good for their taste buds, good for their bodies.

3. Juice: this one can also surprise moms, as you think, it’s fruit, healthy, right? Fruit juice is one of the WORST things you can give your child, just because most of it is loaded with sugar and preservatives. It is much better to eat only the fruit! Let’s do a quick sugar count: DO in the morning with breakfast (8 oz.), 20-28 grams of sugar. Apple juice (“No Sugar Added” on the label!) with lunch (8 oz. serving) 28 grams of sugar. Caprisun after school (regular), 17 grams of sugar. At the end of the day, that’s 66-74 grams of sugar, just in JUICE! Ideally, children should not drink or eat more than 20 grams of unnatural or added sugar per day! Wow, what a revelation. Try this instead: Light OJ (Minute Maid’s is really tasty) – only 10 grams of sugar, no aspartame. Water the apple juice by half or two thirds. Try Caprisun’s “Roarin’ Waters” line – the sugar content is bumped up to 8-9 grams of sugar per bag, so much better!

4. Fruit Snacks: My dental hygienist friend warned me a long time ago about these babies – nothing but cavity makers! The 15 grams of sugar in a baggie (usually about 8 pieces!) are the culprits, and the lack of anything nutritious in them gives them my “wrong choice” vote. My solution: make REAL fruit fun again! We freeze grapes for a fun, fresh crunch. Sometimes we’ll dice watermelon, apples, pears, and pineapple, then drizzle on some whipped cream for added fun. Or, blend some banana and berries into a smoothie, then freeze it in small cups with a popsicle stick for healthy, naturally sweetened ice cream. Craft project and nutritious snack in one!

5. Cereal – So many reasons why this one is NOT good! There are so many cereals that have way too much sugar (11 grams and more per ¾ cup serving) and nothing nutritious about them. Once you add the cow’s milk (regular milk), you have a bowl full of sugar, preservatives, and other toxins in front of your child: YOW! Better give kids this: Fiber A cereal (loaded with fiber and NOT loaded with sugars) with soy or almond milk. Now you have a good choice, and the kids start eating!