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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Have you seen the commercials?  My favorite depicts a couple sitting in the park, blanket spread beneath them; the woman offers her man a bite of a popsicle, two in fact, that’s how much she loves him.  He balks and says, “…it’s got high-fructose corn syrup in it…[and] you know what they say about [that]?”  “What?” she says.  He doesn’t remember and can’t answer, and she laughs at how silly he is.  Then she lays out the facts: “…it’s made from corn, has the same calories as sugar…and it’s fine in moderation”.⁸ (Two Bites Commercial)

You can probably guess that I’m going to disagree.  That’s my gut reaction anyway.  If I’m fair, though, high-fructose corn syrup is an outstanding example of the confusion at the heart of much of the nutrition world.  Depending on whom you ask, high-fructose corn syrup can be shown to be the root of all evil or just another delightful way to sweeten our foods.  So which is it?
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