By Kelsey Goodwin, Reporter

Junk food—the temptation is everywhere. At home, commercials appeal to children and teens. At school, though there are many healthy choices, the unhealthy may overpower them. At restaurants, high calorie counts and fat-laden entrees are the norm.

Healthy choices can be hard to make, and it’s harder for children an teens than most because of advertising and what they eat at home, researchers say.

In a study at the Rudd Center for Food Policy at Yale University, research found that 71 percent of cross-promotions included some character advertising the food, and 57 percent of these characters and promotions targeted children. The cartoons make the product look appealing, the study said, and encourages children to grow up on junk food.

School nurse Barb Giese said family also influences things people eat. The food children are exposed to while growing up impacts the foods they choose as an adult; the child whose family indulged are likely to continue indulging as adults.

In the long run, bad food choices can be deadly.

“People have food addictions just like they would have any other addiction,” health teacher Cindy Miller said.

According to Mayo Clinic, a healthier diet is one that limits solid fats and added sugars; they recommend staying away from desserts, pizza, sausage, fatty meats, candy and butter and consuming less than 100 calories of added sugar a day.

THE STATISTICS

• 35% of high school students get 60 minutes of physical activity five or more days a week.
• 30% attend daily physical education classes.
• 8% of teens get the recommended hour of daily exercise.
• 42% of children ages 6-11 get 60 minutes of exercise.

Source: The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Breakfast

A small, healthy breakfast is better than no breakfast. Half a whole-wheat bagel with cream cheese or peanut butter is healthier than a regular bagel with butter, and it’s a good way to keep the body going until lunch.

Lunch

A small snack before lunch isn’t a bad idea, especially when people have the last lunch. If it’s allowed in class, bring a small bag of trail mix or something that won’t be too much, but a good snack until lunch comes.

Dinner

Something healthy before the last meal of the day can be a good choice to get an appetite for dinner. Simply eating an apple, banana, orange or some type of fruit is a good way to prepare for the next meal.