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...something no longer taught in many schools.
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The biggest problem is no one can cook from scratch it seems. You can make a healthy meal for a family in 30 mins from scratch, so rushing around isn't the reason ignorance is.
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Obesity and Type 2 diabetes are a big problem in Spain the UK is not unique with its problems. Spain is a large country not all of it is sunny and mild. Even in Murcia winters are cold and wet while Madrid goes from searing heat at this time of year to deep frozen cold in the winter. It has terrible smog problems so crocodiling the kids to school might not be a good move. Spanish kids by and large prefer video games and smart phones to exercise just like anywhere else.
What is very, very different in Spain is that families still (for the most part) eat together, at least one person in the household knows how to cook and of course the food is delicious. That makes it easier to control what people eat if not the amount. Spanish portions are uber generous.
Over the last 30 years cigarette smoking in England and Wales has declined from > 70% smoking to under 30%. Either the campaign against had some effect or there has been an unusual outbreak of common sense. Again there has been a dramatic decrease in the number of people convicted of drink driving although it has risen slightly of recent years. Carrot and stick does work.
The English have always had a prediliction for fast food from the street. Most of the authors writing about the past mention it - Defoe, Shakespeare, Dickens for sure. They don't like to cook, tend not to have the facilities and even if they do avoid it in the usual way.
Even worse there is a gene in the English which makes them crave chocolate more than any other country. Consequently the amount of sugar they eat is astonishing. Over half the country is overweight and a quarter obese. THat is why the NHS is running out of money not lack of funding.
Going back to Thatcher the government has been selling off school and community playing fields as building sites, closing sports centres or ppushing up the price beyond what many can afford. Some councils are even charging for park runs while there is a curious and lethal vendetta against cyclists. My GP surgery has 4 secure slots for bicycles and 100 parking places for cars. There is also a sign warning that pushbikes secured at unauth. positions may be removed. To be fair my GP has no problem with me wheeling my bike into his office and leaning it up against his own. LOL.
So we are where we are. Will the Fat Duck at Bray really start putting calorie values and traffic lights on its menus? Maybe as users of smart phone trackers and MyFitnessPal would be delighted. If McDos BurgerKing PizzaHut TGIF and all the rest did the same would it make any difference to the sales of lime pie? I doubt it.
The only quick fix for the NHS and people's health is a hefty tax hike on sugar and alcohol which has a snowflake's chance of success on a hot Monday in June.
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They should ask themselves how many smokers gave up smoking when the dangers were printed on packets, how many have been deterred by packets being plain. How many are put off alcolhol by warnings on bottles.
As vera says it is exercise that matters, plus as others have said a change of attitude. If the parents didn't eat takeaways regularly the children probably wouldn't form the habit.
We were impressed in Spain, and I know that this was easier for them because of the location and weather but, every day coach loads of school children, all ages, would unload onto the beach where there is an outdoor 'adventure' centre. they would start with exercises, then they would canoe, sail swim, race along the sand. Theyw ere never still and (I particularly took notice), I could not see a single over weight child or teenager among them.
Another thing we spotted at close of the school day was the nuber of groups being walked home from school. (By the way we also saw this in South wales - the 'walking bus')
As Vera has mentioned, those schools which instigate the run a mile programme have found how it improves their fitness and their work, and I did read that their parents also said they slept better at night.
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I don't think showing the calories will help at all. Parents who care are already only using these meals as occasional treats and those who aren't bothered won't be swayed by a bit of small print on the box.
A change of attitude is needed but I am not sure how you would go about this as people - me included - don't like being told what to do by the "nanny" state.
I think a lot could be achieved by a bigger emphasis on physical games and exercise. I know some primary schools now incorporate a "run a mile" programme into their daily schedule. It only takes 15 minutes of the school day but head teachers are saying there are noticeable improvements in both the children's physical fitness and their academic performance.
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Showing the calorific content isn’t going to change children’s fast food habits. If it’s only occasionally, there’s no problem. The problems arise when it’s a frequent, regular event.
Food Technology lessens are a laugh. Even if food content is analysed, there often isn’t enough time to cook a more balanced dish. “Next week we’ll make sausage rolls.” Doh!
Although it sounds elitist, sending older children away to college/university is a wake up call. They suddenly realise they can’t afford takeaways every day & learn to cook pasta in all its variations. They may be getting the carbs, but not the fats. Fruit & veg eventually kicks in.
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They should teach nutrition and proper cooking in schools.
Albeit many years ago, but in one secondary school my children went to, 'food tech' was looking at the contents of a shop bought pizza - and the children had to take a pizza box in :-(
As mine were never fed pizza, I had to buy one especially for them - and they weren't impressed - either time (they were in different years) - so we had the box.
They spent 2 minutes looking at the ingredients - never discussed what they 'actually' were - didn't go on to make a pizza from scratch and compare ingredients. They spent the next 2 lessons designing a pizza box!
When I worked in the same school years later, this 'informative' (sarcasm) task was still being taught. :-| :-| :-|
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Yes, a change of attitude is needed, all the rest is just picking round the edges.
I could rant for ages, but can't be bothered!
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Will now be forced to display calorie counts for all their food in a bid to reduce childhood obesity. If it ever comes in then it will be interesting to see how many people it actually helps.
It’s late you’re tired and your child is hungry. Your local takeaway does a child’s half pizza and chips, burger and chips, sausage and chips etc a lolly pop and a child’s drink for £2.00. Are you going to stop and look at the calories or see a quick and easy way of keeping your child happy.
We all know that children’s waistlines are expanding sometimes to truly terrifying sizes but in my opinion unless we change people’s attitudes to food displaying calories alone won’t help.
What do others think?
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