It is often said that a nutritionally balanced diet is important during the growth period when the body is growing. However, even in developed countries, children often do not eat a well-balanced diet. In this regard, according to a researcher at Tisside University, a study found that adults and schools should actively improve the balance of influence because dietary life in childhood affects not only during growth but also after adulthood.
In developed countries, there is a strong tendency to become obese even among children under high school students, so the UK is listed in the top 20 countries with many obesity. The number of obese children doubled when they graduated compared to before elementary school, and the number of obese children was also increasing in middle school.
The research team points out that this is because children in the UK are on an unhealthy diet with a focus on processed foods with low nutrients. British girls are deficient in nutrients such as vitamin A, folic acid, and iron, which are important for health, and other youths are also deficient in nutrients necessary for development. Also, in the UK, only 4% of adolescents are reported to take the recommended amount of dietary fiber that should be consumed per day. Considering that dietary fiber reduces the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, this trend is a major health problem. In addition, adolescents consume more foods and sodas containing sugar than other age groups, and in the morning they prefer cereals with a lot of sugar.
The growing number of obese children in the UK is also due to the inability to buy important fruits, vegetables, fish and other health foods to meet the nutrients that families need to not be wealthy. There are also studies that show that a diet with poor nutritional balance not only adversely affects the child’s physical body, but also worsens the mental state due to the inability to exercise discretion in school.
This lack of nutrition in children is also part of the children’s own choice. When the child is about junior high school age, they often choose sweet food and juice rather than choosing well-being food. In addition, many students feel that their lunch time at the cafeteria is regrettable, or the teacher skips thinking about being in the cafeteria. A vicious cycle occurs in which the hungry part is supplemented with unhealthy foods such as sweets.
Against the background of these problems, it is mentioned that the UK middle school failed a campaign to appeal to the importance of food education. Jamie Oliver, a famous British chef, worked to improve school meals in public schools in the UK, but after a decade of activity, there are still many schools that provide high fat and sugar content. Oliver himself admits that efforts to improve the nutritional balance of school meals have failed.
However, eating habits in childhood continue even after adulthood. It is very important to learn healthy eating habits among teenagers. Therefore, it is argued that children should not be left with meal choices, but should be led by their children or school and provide healthy diets to children.
To create a better cafeteria environment for schools and students, making them healthy through discussions or cafeteria menus can also be an option. In addition, food development should introduce the perspective of child growth and nutritional balance. Not only at school, but also at home, parents should help their children eat healthy, and they say that giving hungry children fruit rather than snacks is necessary. Related information can be found here .
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