Kids develop taste for salt through starchy foods

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
1/11/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Cereals, crackers popular with kids loaded with salt

A new study has found that kids develop a taste for salt early on if they eat starchy foods that contain sodium. Things like soft breads, cereals and crackers are all loaded with sodium. Many parents have no second thoughts about handing these types of foods to their kids.

Ever put a cracker in your kid's hand? Five of those pack about 190 milligrams of sodium, according to Calorie King.

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LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Babies tried out different concentrations of salt solutions and water to see which they preferred. According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, children who had been exposed early to starchy foods -- typically processed foods that contain sodium -- drank more salty water than those who had not eaten those foods.

In determining the sodium content, values from the product Web sites were used, unless otherwise noted.

Cheerios, a popular food with kids, has a one-cup serving has 160 milligrams. If your kids like it hot, a packet of instant Quaker oatmeal, the maple and brown sugar flavor, has 260 milligrams. Ever put a cracker in your kid's hand? Five of those pack about 190 milligrams of sodium, according to Calorie King.

Sixteen original varieties Wheat Thins will cost you 230 milligrams of sodium. A slice of Wonderbread has 115 grams of sodium, and Gerber Graduates Lil' Crunchies in the cheddar flavor have 50 milligrams in 18 pieces.

While this doesn't seem like that much, it is once you start thinking about how much sodium infants really need. Though there are no federal guidelines, the Institute of Medicine set adequate intake levels of daily sodium for children from birth to 6 months at 120 milligrams, and for babies 6 months to 1 year at 370 milligrams.

It seems that salt adds up, even with a few crackers.

� 2012, Catholic Online. Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM

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Keywords: Salt, sodium, children, foods, salty foods, starch

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