Most kids can’t seem to get enough sugary foods. Parents may try to limit their kids’ exposure to sweets but that's not enough. Sugar is added to many food items that most people would never imagine it could (or should) be in, from ketchup and bread to snack chips and granola bars — even processed meats have sugar added to them. Instead of serving fruit-flavored yogurts, try plain yogurt and jazz it up with ripe banana slices and blueberries, sliced almonds, walnuts and raisins and ¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract.

This is certainly one of the last ingredients you’d think could wind up in your kids’ food. However, traces of lead are found in fruit juices, mixed fruit, apples, pears, baby foods, and vegetables like carrots and sweet potatoes, according to the FDA. Lead causes behavioral problems such as hyperactivity, aggression, inattention and lower IQ. Serving foods high in calcium will work wonders as it combats lead and blocks its absorption altogether.

Solid fats like the kind contained in red and processed meat, fried foods, milk and cheese, butter, pastries, and cakes increase an individual’s risk for heart disease later—kids included. If your child like most — can’t seem to get enough cheese pizza, pre-packaged American cheese, and processed meat slices, substitute them with healthier options such as lean meats and veggies.

High–fructose corn syrup (HFCS) has a different ratio of fructose to glucose, so it's even sweeter than sugar. It’s also much cheaper, hence why added to numerous food items and is the primary caloric sweetener in sodas. Many researchers theorize that there may be a link between rising rates of obesity and the increased consumption of HFCS since the 1970s. Instead, parents should serve only 100% fruit juice to their kiddos (and even that should be given sparingly).