Test Your "Healthy Foods" Savvy

WHEN IT COMES TO CARBOHYDRATE-ADDICTED KIDS
WHICH OF THE GROUPS BELOW
CONTAIN "HEALTHY FOODS"?

(HINT: THE ANSWER WILL SURPRISE YOU)

Group A
MEAT - EGGS - CHEESE - OLIVES

Group B
BREAD - PASTA - LOW-FAT YOGURT - CARROTS - FRUIT JUICE - SPORTS DRINKS

Group C
CHOCOLATE CANDY - POTATO CHIPS - DONUTS - COOKIES AND CAKE

ANSWER:

If you picked Group B, you may be all wrong!

For the child or teen who is addicted to carbohydrates, the foods in Group B, although typically "healthy low-fat" foods, are high in carbohydrates and will (depending on your youngster's particular metabolism): 1) Lead to strong cravings for junk food and sweets, 2) Make your youngster's body more likely to store food in the form of fat, and/or 3) Lead to low-blood-sugar swings and to learning, motivation, mood, and impulse control problems.

Surprisingly, for the carbohydrate-addicted youngster, the foods in group a are far less likely to cause cravings or to put the body into a "fat-making" mode or put your youngster on the blood-sugar seesaw. While these foods are high in fat, you may choose other protein substitutes that are lower in fat but low in carbohydrates at the same time, such as chicken, turkey, tuna, tofu, or low-fat varieties of meat and cheese.