Processed Deli Meats - Cancer and Kids' Lunches

For years, there's been arguments about the unhealthy aspects of deli meats - or should I say, about the nitrates and additives in the processed meat. In fact, research indicates a cancer link to deli meats.

I don't know about you, but with the new school year just around the corner, I'm in "planning mode." Yes, that includes planning my kids' lunches. They take a bag lunch every day, and I work hard to make those lunches healthy AND appealing! It seems a standard American bag lunch oftentimes includes a sandwich - with deli meat - because of the convenience and ease with which these can be prepared. But we need to fully understand the impact of this kind of lunch on our kids' health.

According to an MSN.com article, "The American Institute of Cancer Research (AICR) also urges that adults and children alike avoid processed meats, citing research that suggests that the risk of colorectal cancer starts to increase with any portion." The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) estimates that if people ate less than 2.5 ounces of processed meat each week, approximately 3,700 bowel cancer cases could be prevented!

The article goes on to say, "Instead of filling kids’ sandwiches with processed meats, parents could give kids healthier alternatives, such as poultry or fish, low-fat cheese, hummus, or small amounts of lean meat."

Yes, yes, yes!

Click here to read more about AICR's recommendations to avoiding processed meats. And start planning alternatives today!