Kids require healthy foods to thrive, but it’s hard to know whether a food is safe to put in their diet. Between the processed foods and juices, toxic ingredients can sometimes slip through the cracks and end up in some of the most popular kid-friendly dishes. Kids should avoid carcinogenic substances in their food wherever possible. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital reports that children face a greater risk of being diagnosed with cancer than adults. Cancers typically develop late in life, but research shows early exposure to carcinogens can increase the risk. You should avoid the following five items in your child’s diet:

1. Sugary juice boxes

A lot of families have a rule about sugary juice boxes. They are just for special occasions, and there’s a good reason to enforce the rule. Juice boxes can expose kids to carcinogens called dioxins, which are hazardous to their health. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital recommends cutting kids’ sugar intake and avoiding juice boxes full of unnecessary sugar. These types of sugar are cancerous, so you should avoid them at kids’ dinners. If sticks are not an option, look for “no sugar added” options and beverages that have no more than 15 grams of sugar per serving.

2. French fries

Fried potatoes are a great treat, but the kind of oil used to fry the potatoes is what matters. French fries are often made in the same oil as chicken and other fried foods, which is a big no-no for kids. The oils used for frying foods can contain carcinogens. St. Jude cancer hospital points out that munching on fries made from vegetable oil is safer than eating fries fried in unhealthy oils.

3. Processed or cured meats

Kids are exposed to harmful substances in processed or cured meats. Some processed meats can cause cancer, while other types of meats may contain carcinogens that are linked to eye and skin cancer. Young children should be especially careful when it comes to cured meats, as some data links colon, brain, and skin cancers with the consumption of such meat products.

4. Milk and cheese

The quantity and type of dairy you give your child are extremely important. High dairy intake may cause inflammation that, in turn, increases the risk of cancer. It only takes a small amount of milk or cheese to reach cancer-causing levels. The more processed dairy products you give your kid, the greater they’re risk of cancer. Kids fighting cancer should switch to nut milk, bone broth, and coconut milk for their dairy. They should limit the amount of milk they consume to one a day.

5. Diet soda

Soda is a serious source of sugar that can be very dangerous for young children. The sodium and artificial sweeteners in diet soda may increase the risk of osteoporosis and fractures. Kids with CFS and fibromyalgia are also at an increased risk of suffering from osteoporosis when they drink excessive amounts of it. It would be best if you always tried to restrict your child’s beverage intake to water, fruit juice, wine, and tea.

The St. Jude cancer hospital is the world’s largest nonprofit organization fighting childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. St. Jude’s mission is to “revolutionize treatment through research and discovery, and to partner with patients and families to improve the quality of life for children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases.” Given the nature of their mission, St. Jude donation is one of the best ways to help kids fight cancer.