Goldfish crackers. They lost out to Chicken Nuggets which came in first place. What sort of contest would chicken nuggets beat goldfish crackers, you ask?

Time Magazine’s List of Nine Kid’s Foods to Avoid.

You’ll find them in most pre-schools and kindergarden classes. They come in “convenient” little bags for lunches; “a tasty and smart treat” according to their marketing info. Dieticians recommend their “whole grain goodness” and their 100 calorie packs. They now come in a rainbow of colors and also “flavor blasted” varieties.

How come they ended up on this list of Kids Foods to Avoid? Because according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, they are “swimming in salt”.

I’ve been leading the crusade against goldfish for years. In my workshops with teachers and parents of toddlers, I warn them that Goldfish can act as a “gateway drug”. So easy, convenient and seemingly not unhealthy, they get our kids started eating “edible foodlike products” that have no connection to real food. That satisfying crunch sets them up for things like Doritoes  and Cheetoes in the years to come.  Why not give them a healthy orange crunchy food like carrot strips instead? It only takes a few minutes to peel and slice a carrot or two. Your kid can use a peeler and help you to do it!

In my opinion, Goldfish have gotten even creepier now that they are rainbow colored and “flavor blasted”. Those colors were never proven safe for your kids. Flavor blasted can only mean one thing in my book: MSG. Ingredients include Hydrolyzed Wheat Gluten, Enzyme Modified Cheese, Autolyzed Wheat Extract, and Disodium Guanylate. What the heck is all that??  The Truth in Labeling folks will tell you that Autolyzed Wheat Extract is a fancy word for MSG.

Bottom line: feed your kids real food, not goldfish.