“Extras” are the solid fats and added sugars in foods and beverages.

Extras add calories, but no vitamins or minerals. Preschoolers can have some “extras,” but too many can fill them up without getting the nutrients they need. “Extras” can also add more calories than your child needs.
Some examples of “extras” are:
	•	The sugars or sweeteners in soft drinks, fruit punch, candies, cakes, cookies, pies, and ice cream.
	•	The solid fats in butter, stick margarine, fried foods, sausages, fatty meats, cheese, biscuits, and some desserts.
Some foods such as milk, yogurt, and cereals provide important nutrients, but they can also contain “extras.” For example, sweetened yogurt and sweetened breakfast cereals contain sugars. Whole milk and cheese contain solid fat. Look for choices of milk, yogurt, cheese, and cereals that are low-fat, fat-free, unsweetened, or with no-added sugars.
There is room for foods with added sugars or solid fats now and then. But most daily food choices should be low in these “extras.”
Here are some ideas to help you choose foods lower in “extras” for your preschooler:

For more information on “extras,” see the MyPyramid Discretionary Calories section.
 

Last Modified: March 12, 2009 05:10 PM