The Snack Epidemic: How Ultra-Processed Foods Are Failing Our Kids

There are two types of lunches in a kindergarten classroom; One with fresh foods for lunch, fruits and juice box, veggies, and maybe a small unrefined snack. Another with a lunchable, chips, a juice box, and a Debbie's brownie. The number of kids who receive the latter is concerning. 

It’s easy to throw in a few grocery store snacks and call it a lunch for your kid, especially for those who are super picky. Making your own snacks from scratch is both time consuming and and hard to maintain with a busy schedule. Previously shunned on Salaaz newsletters, ultra-processed foods have been continuously linked to adverse health outcomes. But in an age where tomato sauce and french fries are considered veggies, knowing the extent the dangers of these overly processed snacks will make you rethink feeding them to your kid. 

• Many kids consume two thirds of their calories with these processed snacks since it is ingrained in culture. That’s artificial additives, sugars and sodium going in the body on a daily basis. 

• For example, “lunchables”, a popular pre-packaged lunch, have high rates of heavy metals, and even contain phthalates, the chemical you should avoid in your shampoos, let alone children's foods . And no, the Mr. Beast versions are not healthy either. 

• There is a strong correlation according to studies that ultra processed foods are directly linked to mortality outcomes.

• This is because these processed snacks are linked to so many chronic diseases including obesity, cardiovascular disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and cancer and even common mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. 

• Ultra-processed snacks disproportionaly impact marginalized groups and lower-income families due to affordability, high accessibility and heavy marketing. This increases gaps and perpetuates inequalities between classes. 

The most vulnerable population and our future generations are being fed cancerous foods on a daily and recurring basis with little warning. What we are seeing now is an epidemic for public health, and what does Kraft-Heinz, owner of Lunchables, have to say about this?

“The classification of foods should be based on scientific evidence that includes an assessment of the nutritional value of the whole product, not restricted to one element such as a single ingredient or the level of processing,” said the billion-dollar company.

In other words, remember that ultra-processed foods can also contain essential nutrients such as proteins and fibres. But mixing petroleum with applesauce does not make it a healthy choice, and similarly so with additives, sugars, and refined oils that are directly linked to cancer. 

Feeding the Future: Healthier Alternatives to Ultra-Processed Snacks

Here are some quick snack ideas that contain minimum refined ingredients. 

• Fresh fruits (apple slices, grapes, berries, mandarin oranges, bananas)

• Veggies and dips (hummus, guacamole, or Greek yogurt ranch with cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, bell pepper strips, or baby carrots) 

• Mozzarella cheese sticks, Greek yogurt, hard-boiled eggs, or nuts

• Dark chocolate squares and air-popped popcorn 

For many children, having too many raw foods can be less palatable, and a balanced meal that includes tasty energy is healthy. This Canadian brand focuses on better ingredients and is an affordable alternative to typical UPF.

Made good 

• Organic 

• Non-GMO

• Highly palatable options with less-refined ingredients

The snacks we pack for children shape not only their daily energy but also their long-term health. While ultra-processed foods dominate lunchboxes for reasons of convenience, cost, and culture, the evidence linking them to chronic disease is too strong to ignore.