Parents who eat out at fast food restaurants and buffets often weigh more and are more likely to develop insulin resistance (type 2 diabetes)… Not good for you, but did you know these behaviors can also be harmful for your kids? A recent study has connected many common health problems in adolescents with eating out or having meals prepared outside of the home.
When adolescents eat meals NOT prepared at home (i.e. fast food, sit-down, take out, delivery), they are much more likely to be overweight and develop insulin resistance (a precursor to type 2 diabetes). In this study, the leanest kids had more meals cooked at home with very little risk for type 2 diabetes.
Why are meals not prepared at home resulting in obesity? There are several potential culprits:
- the portion sizes are much larger
- food preparation is often less healthy (fried!)
- more unhealthy food options to choose from
Based on this study of almost 400 adolescents, meals shouldn’t just be eaten at home – they should be PREPARED at home too. Even home delivery or take-out foods were linked to excess weight and increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
Three cheers for home-cooked meals!!! More delicious and good for you, too! Here are the simple ingredients for oven-roasted fries: olive oil and Mrs. Dash no-salt seasoning. Who needs to go out for fries?
Oven-Roasted Fries
