Food Expert Talks about Schools and Children's Nutrition

Prue Leith, internationally known food expert and chair of the United Kingdom’s School Food Trust, recently discussed health news, parents and children on http://www.vision.org/. She believes that fighting obesity beginnning in childhood, is worth doing. As she discussed the role of family and relationships in nutrition, Leith emphasizes that children are not eating right, “because their parents were not taught anything about food and a lot of them were not taught to cook.”

“Family meals have gone right out the window,” she said, chiding parents who give their children pocket money instead of making sure they eat a good breakfast. “Forty percent of children buy a chocolate bar and a fizzy drink on their way to school by way of breakfast ...”

Research has proven that most foods are an acquired taste, so once you have given someone like a child nine two ounce portions of broccoli , they will like it. It has also been proven that behavior and concentration are linked to good versus bad diets and nutrition.

Leith talked about the methods of teaching nutrition and which works best in schools, recommending teaching about food and cooking in school, and in cases where it is possible, she believes the kids should grow food or go and visit farms. The reason? Because just as soon as children start getting interested in food, they are more likely to care about what goes into their own bodies.

The country of Finland reduced its obesity rate from 35 percent to two percent in 15 years thanks to radical changes in the school system. The schools created a pleasant atmosphere for eating and also taught children about food, getting them actively involved in working in kitchens, serving as well as cleaning up and.

We live in a "snacking society" with pressures from commericals and ads from food manufacturing companies, so Leith also discussed positive and negative peer pressure with regard to the fight against obesity. Schools, parents, family and relationships with the teachers all play a critical role.

Leith encourages parents, teachers, catering staff and school officials to get involved by setting an example for good nutrition and eating habits.

-- Rocco Basile