NUTRITIONISTS WARN PARENTS AGAINST EXCESSIVE PROCESSED FOODS FOR CHILDREN

Nutritionists have cautioned parents against overfeeding their children with processed foods, warning that an overreliance on packaged snacks and sugary meals could increase the risk of nutrition-related health problems.
Experts explained that many processed foods are high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats while being low in essential nutrients necessary for proper growth and brain development. Regular consumption, they said, could predispose children to obesity, weakened immunity, and early-onset non-communicable diseases.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) recently raised concerns over the rapid transformation of children’s diets worldwide. In its December 2025 review on ultra-processed foods (UPFs), the UN agency noted that traditional meals are increasingly being replaced by diets dominated by highly processed products.
“UPFs are designed to maximize profit rather than nourish children,” the UNICEF review stated. “They combine sugars, fats, salt, and additives that stimulate brain reward pathways, encouraging overconsumption. Children and adolescents consuming diets high in UPFs face an increased risk of overweight, obesity, and cardiometabolic conditions. These health consequences often persist into adulthood, leading to chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers.”
Speaking to PUNCH Healthwise, former President of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Prof. Wasiu Afolabi, emphasized that establishing healthy eating habits in childhood is critical to long-term well-being. He urged parents to prioritize home-cooked meals made from fresh, local ingredients over processed options.
“Children have a strong taste for processed foods, such as breakfast cereals, biscuits, pastries, snacks, and pasta. While occasional consumption is acceptable, moderation is key,” Afolabi said. “Substituting processed foods with nutrient-rich options, such as meat, dairy, fruits, and vegetables, helps build healthy food habits and prevents obesity, which is a risk factor for future diseases like diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular problems.”
Corroborating this view, Professor of Public Health Nutrition at Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof. Beatrice Ogunba, urged Nigerians to favor homemade meals. “Most processed foods lose nutrients during production. To promote health, we should reduce sugar, salt, and fatty foods,” she said.
Dr. Temilade Babatunde, a nutrition expert, warned that excessive intake of processed foods—often described as a pro-inflammatory diet—can trigger inflammation in the body, increasing the risk of heart disease and heart failure. Pro-inflammatory foods include processed meats like sausages and bacon, refined sugars, fried foods, and items high in saturated and trans fats.
“A pro-inflammatory diet damages the heart and blood vessels, increasing the likelihood of heart failure. Parents must limit children’s intake of these foods and focus on balanced, nutritious meals,” she advised.