Media Release: Study suggests one-third of an Aussie toddler's diet consists of junk food

In a startling recent study of Australian children aged 16-24 months, it has been revealed that one-third of a toddler's total food intake comes from nutritionally-poor snack foods such as chips, sweetened drinks and sweet biscuits.¹

Committed to providing healthier choices for kids, HEINZ® has launched delicious fruit flavoured Little Kids® Rice Bars, which are specially designed for little hands and tummies and are just the right size and shape for self-feeding.

Heinz Little Kids Rice Bars, available in three flavours - Banana & Honey, Berry Vanilla & Apricot Delight, offer parents a healthier choice with the following benefits:

• The goodness of puffed rice combined with real fruit juice or fruit purée
• Portion controlled sizes to reduce the risk of over-eating and promote self-feeding
• Appropriate texture to encourage chewing and help jaw muscle development
• At least 25% less sugar than the average sugar levels in many of the other available rice bars
• At least 70% less sodium than the average sodium levels in many of the other available rice bars
• No added colours or preservatives and no artificial flavours
• Provides an important contribution to fibre intake

The study, undertaken by Senior Public Health Lecturer at the University of Sydney, Dr Karen Webb, also showed that more than half of toddlers exceed the recommended upper intake of 1000mg of sodium. Dietary fibre intake is at half the recommended level of 14g per day partly due to the overconsumption of nutritionally-poor snack foods.¹

The team at HEINZ recognise that many foods that children snack on may contain high levels of sugar, salt and fat. Continuous snacking on these foods can reduce a toddler's appetite for nutritious food at mealtimes, depriving them of important nutrients such as calcium and iron.

"For most toddlers, small, healthy snacks twice a day between meals is enough," says HEINZ Early Childhood Nutritionist, Heather Ferguson. "Toddlers have small tummies that fill up quickly, and their ongoing growth and development also means they have high nutrient needs – so it's important that every mouthful counts."

Heinz Little Kids Rice Bars add to the already extensive range of Little Kids snacks and meals, and are available in the baby and toddler aisles in Coles or Woolworths.

For more information, visit www.heinzforbaby.com.au or call Heinz Baby Product Info-line
free call 1800 633 333. Also see our Fact Sheet (PDF 800kb).

¹ Karen L Webb et al, Foods, nutrients and portions consumed by a sample of Australian children aged 16-24 months; Nutrition & Dietetics 2008; 65:56-65

Mum Zone Release Date: 5th August 2008

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