Surprise: kids eat like their parents do!
November 9, 2008
I don’t really know why this would surprise anyone but a new study demonstrates that when presented with supermarket choices, even preschool kids choose the same foods their parents usually buy. The moral: if you don’t want your kids eating junk food, don’t have it in the house!
The report is not surprising. What is alarming is that younger generations have grown up with a certain food ideology geared towards packaged foods, fast foods, and other less healthy alternatives. Based on this study, the cycle will continue. All those politicians talking about health care plans really need to take aim at nutrition and diet; otherwise, we are bound to eat our way to huge incidences in obesity-related diseases.
Comment by Joseph — November 9, 2008 @ 4:19 pm
I echo Joseph –no surprise at all. Where do most kids first learn poor eating habits? What we put in our mouths (and what comes out of them) is truly one of the only things we have control over. And here is the US, it’s a big problem (obesity-type big).
Comment by Jill, The Veggie Queen — November 10, 2008 @ 3:36 pm
Case in point: I spoke to a heavyset lady the other day who couldn’t figure out why her 13 year old daughter was overweight as well. I asked her to give me an example of what they ate for breakfast on a typical day. She seemed a bit embarassed when she described to me some “Pancake and Sausage on a Stick” from the freezer section. Uh, hello? I asked her where such a thing might come from in nature. Needless to say, she didn’t have an answer…
Comment by jessica — November 11, 2008 @ 7:43 am
The sad thing is that the comments by Jill, Jessica and me are not new revelations. Science keeps coming back to these fundamental issues about diet, but as long as the less nutritious foods are more accessible or affordable, it will be hard to break bad habits. Perhaps starting outreach efforts in schools so we reach school-age children will be more effective. Parents may be too ingrained in old habits, but if children come home with more information, questions or demands, that may push adults to change.
Comment by Joseph — November 11, 2008 @ 1:11 pm
[…] who eat junk food usually do so because their parents eat junk food. Big surprise, […]
Pingback by Taste T.O. - Food & Drink In Toronto » Food For Thought - Tuesday, November 11th — November 11, 2008 @ 5:43 pm
I say AMEN……It seems so silly when over weight parents can’t figure out why their child is fat too… get a grip people…..children don’t do the shopping they have to eat the junk you feed them or bring home…..if you want healthy children YOU have to be healthy first and cook at home not fast food.
Comment by Kitt — November 16, 2008 @ 9:59 am