Healthy Eating for Children

We hear so much about healthy eating and children these days but so little about what is healthy for the teeth. Sugary and acidic food and drinks are the ones to watch - and sometimes that means fruit and fruit juices. The best policy is to limit these to mealtimes so that kid's teeth aren't exposed to them for too long.

For general good health, foods that are recommended include:

• Milk, cheese, yogurt, soybeans and tofu. These are all rich in calcium, which is good for teeth and bones.
• Fortified breakfast cereals, margarine and oily fish. All good sources of vitamin D, these foods will help keep up levels of calcium in the blood.
• Meat, fish, beans and green vegetables. High in iron, these foods are good for maintaining healthy blood.
• Fish is a good source of protein, vitamins and minerals while being low in saturated fat. Oily fish such as salmon, mackerel and sardines are also full of beneficial Omega 3 acids.
• Citrus fruits (like oranges) have lots of vitamin C. But remember that this type of fruit is acidic, so while it's OK to snack on fruit between meals, it should not be in excessive amounts. Fruit juice should be diluted with water (1 part juice to 10 parts water) and limited to mealtimes.
• Milk, margarine, butter, green vegetables, carrots and apricots all contain vitamin A to keep skin and vision healthy.

Sugar vs. Teeth

Children love sugar. But the trouble is, some of the bacteria that live on our teeth love it, too. They turn the sugar into acid, which attacks the enamel.

If your children keep eating sugary foods (or drinking sugary drinks) then their teeth end up being exposed to acid for a lot longer. And that's when they can start to decay. So protecting your children's teeth isn't just about how much sugar they have, it's also about how often they have it.

Try to persuade your children to limit sugary foods and drinks to mealtimes - and stick to fruit, vegetables, cheese, milk and water in between meals.