Should I Feed My Kids Fewer Carbs?
By Dr. Daniel S. Kirschenbaum

The remarkable popularity of low-carbohydrate diets like Atkins, The Zone, South Beach Diet, Protein Power Diet and Sugar Busters Diet has many parents wondering, "Should I try to get my kids to eat a low-carb diet, with less bread, pasta and potatoes?" Based on the amount of media coverage these diets receive, it may seem like this question makes sense. But science tells us that there's more nonsense than sense in the answer to this very reasonable question.

Science does not support the value of low-carb diets, especially for growing children and young adults. Low-carb advocates point to the fact that many Americans (including younger Americans) followed low-fat diets in the 1980s and 1990s, but still gained weight. However, research shows that, on average, Americans never followed the advice of health professionals to eat less fat. Surveys reported by national groups, like the National Center for Health Statistics, showed that Americans have maintained a moderately high fat diet for the past couple of decades, eating about 80 fat grams per day. Fat intake has been stable, not declining.

So, in addition to maintaining a relatively high fat diet, why are we and our children gaining weight? Not from carbs per se, but rather from calories. The increase in weight of many Americans witnessed over the last 20 years comes from increasing total calories, an average of 200 calories a day, and from limiting activity.

Here are the implications for your family:

1. Don't stop eating carbohydrates. Breads, potatoes, rice, and pasta should remain mainstays of your family's diet. These foods can be prepared in very healthy and interesting ways and provide important nutrients for growing children and teens. Keep in mind that nutrition is a key driver of performance in school and that proper nutrition comes from a balanced diet. Also remember that successful weight controllers eat ten times more carbohydrates than the level recommended by Atkins.

2. Keep working toward decreasing consumption of fat. The many health benefits of low fat eating include prevention of serious diseases in the long run (like heart disease and cancer) and greatly increasing chances of losing weight and maintaining low weight.

3. Watch calories and portion sizes, especially when eating at restaurants. Portion sizes continue to creep upward, and research shows that Americans have an amazing ability to finish whatever is put on their plates. For example, some restaurants serve six cups of pasta in a regular order. One-two cups should suffice for dinner. Don't let restaurants decide how many calories you want or need. You be the judge.

Dr. Daniel Kirschenbaum is a professor at Northwestern University, Clinical Director of Healthy Living Academies, and author of "The Nine Truths About Weight Loss" and "Weight Loss through Persistence."