It is very hard for us as parents to compete against processed fast food fun meals and to ensure that our children are eating a healthy balanced diet. Fast food is constantly being advertised on TV, promoted by their peers, and it comes in bright packaging, sometimes even accompanied by toys. When children are visiting fast foods restaurants or eating 'fun meals' they are missing out on the healthy nutrients that should be filling their little stomachs.

You should always make sure your child's diet contains whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables. To ensure their bones grow strong and healthy, they should also get good source of calcium. Healthy sources of proteins include fish, eggs, meat, poultry, and plant sources. These should be consumed on a regular basis for a healthy balanced diet. Foods such as these provide your child with the vitamins micronutrients and minerals, everything our children need to build strong, healthy bodies.

There is absolutely no reason why your child should be eating large amounts of sugar. Sugar in a child's diet is seriously bad for them, but is found more and more to the highly refined processed foods available on supermarket shelves.

Some experts contend that a child's behaviour can be dictated by sugar in their diet, particularly in their activity levels, whereas others state that sugar intake does not play a part. Sugar's effects probably depend on the physiology of each child.

When a child's blood glucose level falls below the normal limit, there is a release of adrenaline, known as hypoglycaemia. There are many signs and symptoms that can arise as a result such as sweatiness, shaking and altered behaviour and thinking. This adrenaline release occurs at a higher glucose level in children than that of adults. It is thought sugar itself is not the problem; it's the highly refined carbohydrates and sugars which quickly enter the bloodstream and cause rapid fluctuations in a child's blood glucose levels.

By giving your child a high fiber breakfast such as shredded wheat, oatmeal, bananas or berries, your child's adrenaline levels will be kept at a constant level. This will enable them to maintain concentration throughout their morning. You should ensure that their lunch box is packed with high fiber foods such as whole grain breads and fruits, enabling them to continue through their day without sudden changes in their blood glucose levels.

A child's insulin control can also be affected by refined sugars. Insulin determines how much fat a child will store. Sugars are found in nearly all foods. They are often referred to with different names such as sucrose, glucose, dextrose, sorbitol or corn syrup.

Sugar is in almost everything we eat, especially if it is processed or refined food. When you look at labels in the supermarket, you will find sugar under a variety of different names which includes sucrose, glucose, dextrose, sorbitol, or corn syrup on almost every label. The more uncomplicated meals from good wholesome foods contain much less sugar and are therefore much better for their tummies.

Fruit juice should only be taken in small quantities as well as it contains a lot of sugar. It is much better to offer your children whole fruit which is much easier to digest.