Beverage Choices Contribute To ‘Disordered’ Diets Among U.S. Children.

Per capita soft drink consumption among U.S. children has increased by nearly 500% over the past 50 years, and nearly half of all children age 19 and under consume carbonated soft drinks in a day, according to “Children’s Eating Habits In the U.S.: Trends and Implications for Food Marketers,” a new report by market research publisher Packaged Facts. The study goes on to report that after age 10, soda is the most commonly consumed beverage among kids.

High amounts of caffeine and phosphoric acid found in colas may also impede the body’s absorption and metabolism of calcium. These findings are troubling, according to the Packaged Facts report, because few American children consume adequate amounts of calcium. Forsaking milk for soft drinks, these children lose the opportunity to build the bone mass necessary to prevent conditions such as osteoporosis.

Marketers and parents can both benefit from this information and cater to America’s children by offering healthier alternatives. One solution is to provide kids with flavored dairy and yogurt drinks that provide both the flavor and nutrients growing bodies crave.

“There are many targets of finger-pointing when placing responsibility for childhood obesity,” said Don Montuori, Acquisitions Editor for Packaged Facts. “Soft drink manufacturers realize that they’re in the cross hairs, and have responded by developing carbonated milk drinks – some sold only in schools – to offer a more nutritionally appealing drink option for kids.”

“Children’s Eating Habits In the U.S.: Trends and Implications for Food Marketers” examines nutrition and health awareness and attitudes among children and adults and explores the influence these attitudes are having on the food and beverage industry. Evolving eating styles, including vegetarian, are profiled, and the role of schools and school foodservice in the eating patterns of youngsters is examined.

For more information at http://www.PackagedFacts.com