Untitled Document
 It’s
no secret that kids love sugary junk food. Admit it: if you
had to choose between a healthy salad and a chocolate
bar, most of you would pick the chocolate bar.
However, a new study by a research organization has
found that American children are eating less sugary foods and drinks.
Today, kids are eating and drinking sugary sweets 125 times less than
they did in 1998.
 Since
1980, NPD Group has been asking families across the United States
about their eating habits. The study involved 5,000 people in
2,000 households. People who participated in the survey
were asked to keep a food journal and write down everything they ate
for two weeks.
The study revealed that a large percentage of Americans still eat
sugary foods, but in smaller amounts. Almost 98 percent of children
surveyed said they have at least one sweet but only
every two weeks. “It’s not a question of whether or not you’re going
to have a sweet,” said Harry Balzer, the vice president of NPD Group.
“It’s a matter of how frequently you’re going to have a sweet.”
The company selected 20 products to conduct the study. Some items
on the list included cookies, brownies,
yogurt, and fruit juice. Today, kids are eating cookies eight times
less than they did in 1998 and drinking fruit juice 16 times less.
“This change is about the family,” Mr. Balzer said. “Families are
altering their eating patterns.” This is good because the percentage
of obese children aged six to
19 tripled in America between 1980 and 2000, according to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC)미국질병통제센터. Today, an estimated
one in three American kids and teens is overweight and obese, a figure
that is neither falling nor rising.
 How
often do you eat sugary snacks or drinks? While it’s okay to eat sweets
every once in a while, make an effort to eat foods
such as fruits and vegetables.
After all, good nutrition and a balanced diet will keep you
healthy. So the next time you have to choose between a salad and a
chocolate bar, pick the salad! |
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