10 Best and Worst Foods for Kids

The Center for Science in the Public Interest had compiled the 10 best and worst foods for kids (CSPI, 2009).

10 Best Foods for Children (2009):

1. fresh fruits and vegetables (especially carrot sticks, cantaloupe, oranges, watermelon, strawberries)

2. chicken breast and drumstick without skin or breading

3. Cheerios, Wheaties, or other whole-grain, low-sugar cereals, Skim or 1 percent milk

4. extra-lean ground beef or vegetarian burgers (Gardenburgers or Green Giant Harvest Burgers)

5. low-fat hot dogs

6. non-fat ice cream or frozen yogurt

7. fat-free corn chips or potato chips

8. seasoned air-popped popcorn

9. whole wheat crackers

10. Small World Animal Crackers (2009).

The CSPI top 10 worst Children’s foods (2009):

1. soda pop

2. whole milk

3. hamburgers

4. American cheese

5. hot dogs

6. French fries & tater tots

7. ice cream

8. pizza loaded with cheese & meat

9. bologna

10. chocolate bars

Nutritionist Mona Sutnick and professor of nutrition Riva Touger-Decker also have a list of the 10 worst (Sutnick & Touger-Decker cited in Family4Life, 2001).

10 Worst Foods for Kids (Family4Life, 2001):

1. chicken nuggets

2. chips

3. doughnuts

4. French fries

5. fruit leather

6. hot dogs

7. juice-flavored drinks

8. prepackaged lunches

9. soda

10. toaster pastries