Ready-to-cook frozen foods

Frozen parathas, burgers, nuggets and other bite-sized poultry pieces are wildly popular with little ones. Dietitian Sushma Ghag, Aster Hospital Mankhool, tells us why they shouldn’t be

The health impact

A wide variety of ‘kid’ foods tend to be high in fat and sugar. French fries, nuggets and other nutrientpoor snacks fall in this category.

Whether you get them in a restaurant or out of the freezer section of a supermarket, chicken nuggets and the like usually contain more salt, fat and preservatives than dietary requirements and also contain heavy breading, which is high in carbohydrates. This may cause restlessness, anxiety and hyperactivity in children.

Children as well as infants often tend to exceed their usual food intake, in turn exceeding their estimated energy requirements. This explains the prevalence of obesity issues at young ages.

Although burgers or cutlet patties don’t usually contain sugar, the main ingredient in them, processed meat, is usually high in preservatives and salt. Once in a while, a small, plain hamburger probably wouldn’t be much of a health problem, but the oversized patties, buns and toppings add increase the calories of a simple patty.

Moreover, certain foods seem to worsen Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder symptoms or cause behaviour that mimics the signs of ADHD in children. Some studies in the US suggests that kids with ADHD may have low levels of essential fatty acids.

So while a frozen paratha and chicken popcorn batch are easy to prepare, don’t fall into that trap.

What to swap it for?

Opt for small, grilled-chicken sandwiches with lots of veggies. Fries could be baked at home with very less or without oil – or substitute them with baked sweet potatoes.

Whatever you serve, innovate and include the general dietary recommendations of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, bean, and healthy fats found in certain types of fish, flaxseed and other foods.