This article originally appeared in the Park Record’s Parent section on August 15, 2009, as written by Greg Marshall.

Homemade Snacks Are Better

The biggest challenge to making healthful meals for kids is a lack of time, says nutrition specialist Michelle Larson.  Busy parents often depend too much on pre-packaged goods for brown-bag lunches that are often loaded with sugar, artificial fats and other culprits.

“It’s an easy thing to fall into,” said Larson, who is the co-owner of Park City’s Origin Nutrition.  At the same time, Larson said letting kids overindulge in sweets and snacks can be detrimental, even if long-term consequences, such as diabetes and obesity, aren’t immediately apparent.
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Organic food has many reputations.  Some think it’s a marker of a healthier option for themselves and the environment, while others see it as an elitist, unaffordable, and unnecessary category.  A forthcoming report in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has further fueled the debate, stating that there are no significant nutritional differences in organic food as compared to conventional food.  The report also concludes that there are no additional health benefits of consuming organic over conventional food.  This is a review study, drawing its conclusions from a selection of fifty-five previous scientific studies.  Something not considered worthy of their review, however, is the very thing that differentiates organics- the restriction of pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides.
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