My family has a history of high cholesterol. Should I make sure my kids avoid certain foods?

With eating, as with most lifestyle behaviors, moderation—not restriction or excess—is key. People with high blood levels of cholesterol are at risk for heart disease. But high-fat foods (think fried foods and cheeseburgers) are much more likely to raise blood cholesterol than high-cholesterol foods, such as eggs. Trimming saturated fat from meat and avoiding packaged snacks and baked foods containing trans fats also will help maintain healthy blood cholesterol levels. Being overweight would put your kids at greater risk for high blood cholesterol and heart disease than eating eggs.

All children should eat a variety of foods and maintain a healthy weight. How about letting your kids eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables? Then your family can focus on the bounty of foods that can be enjoyed, rather than the foods to avoid.