Thrifty Tip Of The Day - Save Money On Kids’ Dental and Medical Costs

Posted by oshun on March 19, 2009

No, this isn’t an ad for Ameriplan.

Some other moms and I were talking about how if parents monitored their kids’ diets more diligently, the rate of childhood cavities and obesity in the U.S. would drop drastically.

Our kids eat way too much sugar. Not only are they eating candy and drinking massive amounts of sugary sodas, they are also eating mass-produced “food” (such as breakfast cereals) that contain what should be illegal amounts of sugar.

It’s no wonder that as a nation we pay more for children’s dental and health related issues, but this can be remedied somewhat by making better choices at the grocery store.

Rule of thumb: Check the ingredients label. If refined (white) sugar (or corn syrup) is one of the first three ingredients, drop it like poison (it is).

Alternatives: Instead of buying breakfast cereals loaded with refined sugar, purchase healthy cereals such as granola. It’s sweet but contains ingredients that supply nutrients and sweetened with natural sweeteners such as honey. Look for foods that do not contain refined sugar, and drink 100% juices (natural sugar) instead of sodas.

Bottom line: Shop frugally, but always keep good health in mind. There is definitely a link between our medical and dental bills and what we put into our bodies, and it doesn’t make sense to buy cheap low quality food and go bankrupt in the dentist’s or doctor’s office.