Ways to protect your children

7. Eat Healthy - Avoid Pesticides, Limit Sugars and Fats, Wash Fruits and Vegetables Thoroughly and Buy Organic When You Can.
According to numerous studies, including several conducted by the publisher of Consumer Reports, there are detectable traces of pesticides on up to 73 percent of the fruits and vegetables sold in the United States. While the actual human health risks associated with exposure to these pesticides remains unclear, experts agree that it is important to carefully wash all fruits and vegetables before eating them.

Several other studies, including ones conducted for Consumer Reports, also demonstrate that organic fruits and vegetables contain significantly fewer pesticides. Organic foods are grown without pesticides or with limited applications of safer pesticides. While they are generally more expensive, it is an easy way to reduce pesticide exposure. Even organic fruits and vegetables should be washed before eating them.

Steps You Can Take:

• Feed your child a balanced diet. Eating habits develop at a young age and a diet with fruits and vegetables is integral in helping a child develop a healthy body that will be less susceptible to disease. Foods high in fat or sugars can create many health related problems throughout the child’s entire life. While these foods are considered convenient, they are no more convenient than an apple, orange, carrots or many other healthier alternatives. Children learn from experience and the food they will eat as adults is often related to what they were fed as children. Childhood obesity is a serious problem and the result of a diet high in sugars and fats. Being an overweight child will not only affect the child’s physical health but their self-confidence and image of themselves as adults. A helpful website can be found at KidsHealth for parents:

http://kidshealth.org/parent/ nutrition_fit/nutrition/habits.html

• Always wash fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables should be scrubbed under running water, allowed to soak briefly, and then washed again before rinsing and enjoying them.

• Buy organic when you can. Organic fruits and vegetables are produced without any or 13 with significantly fewer and safer pesticides. They are generally more expensive, but they are safer and better for the surrounding environment. Many Berks County farmers are growing organic crops and raising organic livestock. In addition, organic food is readily available at most food stores and specialty stores.