The Importance of Teaching Kids About Food Labels and Ingredients by Mia Barnes
Understanding food labels can be challenging for anyone, but parents need to know about them to pass wisdom down to kids. The sooner kids can decipher and recognize the ingredients in their meals and snacks, the more mindful they will be when choosing their food.
The Purpose of Food Ingredient Labels
Food labels provide helpful information about what you and your kids consume. Whether on the side of a canned product or the back of a juice box, they give you information about what nutrients and portions an ingredient contains, allowing you to make healthy decisions.
A study found that nutritional claims strongly impact mothers’ perception of a product’s healthiness, influencing the snacks they choose for their children. However, food labels provide a better deep dive that can benefit parents and children in the long run.
Why You Need to Teach Kids About Food Labels
Here are several reasons why parents should teach their kids about food labels.
1. To Understand Serving Sizes
Some kids may eat snacks in one sitting. However, different products will have different serving sizes. For instance, certain potato chip brands may have eight serving sizes instead of one in a single container.
Let your kids know they can save food for another time and that it’s not going anywhere. You can also divide a snack into individual serving sizes right away. One solution is to use small zip-close bags that children can take as needed.
2. To Steer Clear of Allergies
In 2021, about 6% of children in the U.S. reported having food allergies. Encourage your kids to check food labels to see if the food contains anything they should avoid. The ingredients list is also a good place to find alternatives. For example, if your kid wants a peanut butter alternative, tell them they can look at ones with products with sunflower seed instead.
Teaching your kids to understand their food allergies and decipher ingredient labels can help give you peace of mind when they’re eating at a friend’s house.
3. To Meet Dietary Restrictions
Aside from allergies, your child may have dietary restrictions. A growing awareness of lactose intolerance has led to more interest in plant-based drinks made from ingredients like soy, almond or rice. If your child is lactose sensitive or intolerant, encourage them to explore these products when grocery shopping.
The same practices can also apply to gluten intolerance. It can be harder to decipher these, as many ingredients like wheat, rye and barley contain gluten. Make sure you double-check what your kids grab.
4. To Recognize Healthier Food Options
Kids should learn to recognize healthier food options on their own. Look at food labels together and break down their health content. You can even encourage your kids by saying they can get a snack from the grocery store if they can point out why it’s healthy.
5. To Compare Nutritional Value
Food products have varying nutritional value. Teach your kids to compare the labels to determine which one may contain more or less unhealthy ingredients than the other. All 10-year-old kids should get 15 to 20 grams of fiber daily. You can teach your kids to analyze that line on the food label when looking at different cereals.
Teaching Children to Read Food Labels
Teaching kids about food labels and ingredients is about more than just helping them understand the products they eat and drink now. It’s also about showing them how to be health-conscious and meet daily nutritional requirements, helping them take care of themselves in the future.
Mia Barnes is a professional freelance writer specializing in postpartum wellness and practical family health advice. She has over 5 years of experience working as Body+Mind magazine's Editor-in-Chief. You can follow Mia and Body+Mind on X and Instagram @bodymindmag.