Fathers may want to use parenting skills with 'natural' products

Though it appears much of the country has embraced healthier diets and lifestyles, fathers may want to exercises their parenting skills when some products at the grocery store are marketed as natural.

A recent New York Times article pointed to a new marketing trend that was emerging in various grocery stores for products containing sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup.

Because the ingredient used is sugar, the word "natural" can be used as an ad slogan or banner on the packaging, according to the article.

Audrae Erickson, president of the Corn Refiners Association, told the news provider these kinds of ads are misleading consumers.

"When [consumers] discover they are being misled into thinking these new products are healthier, that's the interesting angle," Erickson said.

Some scientists have stated sugar, in high doses, may be just as harmful as high-fructose corn syrup.

Two products that appear to be jumping onto the sugar/natural bandwagon are Pepsi Natural soda and Healthy Choice All Natural frozen entrees.

A new study may also give fathers more cause to worry about the foods their children may want them to buy. A study published in the journal Obesity Reviews found that 89 percent of food items marketed directly to children had poor nutritional quality.

Fathers who are determined to shop healthily in the grocery store may have to put a little extra effort into their parenting skills.

WebMD suggests fathers plan the week's meals ahead of time and focus on the produce section of the grocery store to ensure healthy buying. If you do end up in other aisles, fathers should strive to get the least-processed foods available and to look to see if products were made with whole grains.

There are whole grain versions of breads, pastas and rice to choose from. For children with a more advance palette, fathers may want to try serving fish at least twice a week, which is the recommendation from the American Heart Association to decrease the risk of developing cardiovascular problems in the future.