Excerpt from
Circulation Journal of the American Heart Association
Practitioners: Consensus Statement From the American Heart Association
Dietary Recommendations for Children and Adolescents 2005
TABLE 2. Tips for Parents to Implement AHA Pediatric
Dietary Guidelines
Reduce added sugars, including sugar-sweetened drinks and juices
Use canola, soybean, corn oil, safflower oil, or other unsaturated oils in
place of solid fats during food preparation
Use recommended portion sizes on food labels when preparing and serving
food
Use fresh, frozen, and canned vegetables and fruits and serve at every
meal; be careful with added sauces and sugar
Introduce and regularly serve fish as an entrée
Remove the skin from poultry before eating
Use only lean cuts of meat and reduced-fat meat products
Limit high-calorie sauces such as Alfredo, cream sauces, cheese sauces,
and hollandaise
Eat whole grain breads and cereals rather than refined products; read labels
and ensure that “whole grain” is the first ingredient on the food label of
these products
Eat more legumes (beans) and tofu in place of meat for some entrées
Breads, breakfast cereals, and prepared foods, including soups, may be
high in salt and/or sugar; read food labels for content and choose
high-fiber, low-salt/low-sugar alternatives
