Parents: Food fads stop children having healthy diets

A national survey showing pre-school children have inappropriate diets finds most parents believe food fads prevent them from providing a healthy diet for their child.

As well as the child’s likes and dislikes, convenience and other people minding the child were blamed by six out of 10 parents.

The finding is contained in a national nutrition survey of pre-school children being launched today.

While most children are getting sufficient fibre, vitamins and minerals, a “significant number” have inadequate intakes of iron and vitamin D. Almost a quarter of one year olds and about 10% of two to three year olds had inadequate intakes of iron, while intake of vitamin D, essential for healthy bones, was found to be generally low.

The study, conducted by researchers from UCC and UCD, found that children were consuming whole milk instead of reduced fat milk; processed meats instead of fresh meat; white bread rather than brown or wholemeal and fruit juice instead of whole fruit.

Not surprisingly, between the ages of one and four, there was an increased intake of soft drinks and less nutritious foods, such as biscuits and sweets.

About 25% of energy was obtained from sugars, including milk and non-milk sugars, with intakes of sugar from biscuits, confectionery and drinks increasing from age one to four.

Average salt consumption exceeded targets set by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland 2g for one to three year olds and 3g for four year olds.

Meat, especially cured and processed meats, were the main contributor to salt intake.

Professor in nutrition at UCC, Albert Flynn, said ways to help parents and carers establish healthy dietary habits in pre-school children needed to be identified.

Human nutrition expert at UCD, Anne Nugent, said clear guidelines for healthy eating needed to focus on appropriate portion sizes, lower consumption of salt and sugar and a higher intake of vegetables and fruit.

The study was funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, under the Food for Health Research Initiative. Scientific data from the study will be used to develop nutrition policy and help development healthy eating programmes.

Meanwhile, Labour MEP for Munster, Phil Prendergast, has welcomed a proposal by a French MEP to extend the school fruit scheme to include vegetables and milk. Michel Dantin’s proposal, expected to be favourably received by the European Commission, will offer school children a greater chance of obtaining their ‘five-a-day’.

Ireland has been participating in the scheme, co-funded by the Government since 2009. “It is just a simple example of how a good Common Agriculture Policy can benefit our whole community and as such is to be commended,” Ms Prendergast said.