Children and Low-Fat Diets

I'm sometimes asked whether children as well adults should eat a low fat diet. In general, it's not a good idea to put your child on any kind of restrictive diet, and you should never do so without medical advice. Fat is essential to children's growth and development, especially in the baby and toddler years. Yet given that about one-third of American school children are overweight or obese, we're right to be concerned about what our kids eat and their level of physical activity.

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways in which we can help children eat a healthier diet, one that happens to be lower in fat, especially more harmful fats, and higher in key nutrients. Here are some ways to help your child eat better. As it’s the beginning of a new school year, why not use the opportunity to improve your child's diet?

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