Parents try to ensure that kids get the best of nutrition and taste. Finding the right foods to satisfy their hunger pangs is a delicate balancing act, and many often reach out for packaged foods when kids want a quick bite. But just how safe or healthy are these everyday foods and beverages that are crowd-favorites? These five foods and beverages are popular yet harmful for kids, especially for daily consumption.

1. Breakfast cereals
   It is quite impossible to imagine kids’ breakfast without a bowl of fruit loops, toast crunch, and apple jacks, but the cereals you buy off the supermarket shelves are loaded with artificial sugars and preservatives. In fact, the products from most favored brands contain more sugars and calories than the necessary nutrients and fiber. So, check the labels before buying breakfast cereals to see how many grams of fiber and protein you get per serving, and go for brands that produce organic crunchy delights.
2. Microwave popcorn
   Movie night is incomplete with a bowl of delicious buttery or cheesy popcorn, but is microwavable popcorn really a healthy snack? The answer is no! Everything from the bag that the kernels are stored in to the flavoring make it a popular yet harmful food, especially for kids. Microwaving the kernels inside the bag releases toxic chemical compounds used in the manufacturing of these one-time heat bags. Instead, you can buy fresh corn kernels and heat them up in a frying pan to make organic popcorn, minus all the preservatives and chemicals.
3. Canned foods
   Canned vegetables and sauces that many use for making pasta or pizzas rank among the popular yet most harmful foods for both kids and adults. A toxic element called Bisphenol-A is found in canned goods and other packaging materials used to increase the shelf life of commercial goods. This element interferes with a child’s development. In fact, any canned ingredients used in daily cooking can prove to be harmful. Instead, use fresh vegetables to prepare simple sauces in bulk at home. You can deep-freeze and use them later.
4. Processed meats
   Kids love hamburgers, but have you ever thought of what goes into making one? Beneath all those layers of onion, cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, and mayonnaise is a juicy piece of red meat. Studies show that regular consumption of red meats increases colorectal cancer risk among children and young teens. The same goes for hot dogs, as it includes fatty cuts of red meats.
5. Fruit juice
   All those juice boxes that promise flavored goodness in a single sip are also loaded with additives, artificial flavoring, coloring, and preservatives to prolong their shelf life. Instead, give children a glass or two of freshly squeezed fruit juice. Citrus fruits like oranges, grapes, grapefruit, berries, and lemons are loaded with essential vitamins and minerals. Homemade fruit juices can last a couple of days if refrigerated properly, and you can even add a little fizzy water for that bubbly soda effect.