Buying organic food, which tends to cost more than conventional food, is not essential, he added.
In 2012, the AAP released a clinical report that said diets rich in organic, dairy, and meat could reduce your exposure to potentially drug-resistant bacteria and pesticides, but there is no evidence to suggest that organic foods provide more benefits. nutritional than conventional ones. food.
“The most important thing is that children eat a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat or fat-free dairy products, whether they are conventional or organic foods,” said one of the report’s lead authors in a statement from press. at the time.
You can also save money by buying fruits and vegetables in bulk. A three-pound bag of Gala organic apples at Whole Foods in Brooklyn, for example, costs $ 4.99. If you bought the same number of apples individually, it would cost about $ 7.50.
Vanessa Rissetto, Registered Dietitian and Acting Director of New York University’s Diet Internship Program, also suggested other money-saving tips: Sharing a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) membership with another family may be cheaper than buying one. yourself. Or you can buy fruits and vegetables from companies that offer “ugly” organic produce at a deep discount.
Finally, even if your child doesn’t attend school in person, check to see if your school still offers school lunches, which should include fruits and vegetables, said Diane Harris, a lead health scientist at the CDC and one of the study’s authors.
2. Offer healthy options at your fingertips.
Having plenty of easily accessible fruit and vegetable options within your home can improve your teen’s chances of choosing nutritious foods to eat, experts said.
“Teens tend to be hungry and often look for food in the kitchen and pantry,” said Dr. Natalie D. Muth, a pediatrician and nutritionist in Carlsbad, California. “If fruits and vegetables are easily accessible, they might choose to snack on them. This works especially if there aren’t many other easily accessible processed snacks. “