Bag a Better Sandwich

You may want to pack peanut butter sandwiches rather than bologna or salami for your family's lunches.

Getting in the habit of eating red and processed meats, such as steak, cold cuts, and salami, may increase your child's risk of colon cancer down the road, a recent study reports. Steer your family toward healthier protein choices, such as tofu, legumes, fish, nuts, seeds, and peanut butter, and limit red meat to no more than one serving per week.

This study found that people whose diets contained the greatest amount of red and processed meats had the highest risk of colorectal cancer. Approximately 150,000 new cases of colorectal cancer are diagnosed each year in the United States. Colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer in both men and women and is responsible for roughly 57,000 deaths each year.

In addition to limiting red meat in your family's diet, another way to protect your child's colon health is to provide adequate amounts of fiber. Each day, aim for at least 25 grams of fiber from whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables. Other risk factors for colorectal cancer include having a family history of colon cancer and having a personal history of colon polyps, inflammatory bowel disease, or diabetes.