Food at school?

[steenbrassie]

Are school children mature enough to make their own decisions about what they will eat?

[lafrancaise]

I started getting interested at 12 whilst doing cookery at school where we learnt about nutrition so I knew what was good and what was less good, however it has to be taught.
I'd think primary school kids couldn't understand all that.

[Daave]

many many people have questioned this:

if you are in the uk then you might have seen the tv programme with the tv chef "jamie oliver" who has started a one man campaign against the food that is served in our schools, the fat and sugar and chice is appaling,

also, parents have fought against this, by handing out chips and crisps and chocolate to kids through the school fence..

with parents this irresponsible, i think childern need all of the guidence possible from knowledgeable adults/parents

"five a day veg" drinking water/drinks without additives and less sweets and fatty foods, all simple pushing in the right direction, less prepackaged and takeaways, more simple old fasioned homecooked meals, meat and 2 veg dinners

none of these simple, helpful, easy concepts are put to childern in school..

meaning a fatter-less healthy world

i think with a gentle puch towards less damaging foods then YES children are mature enough, but advertising and availablity of BAD food is too high and will influence toward bad decisions

[bollie]

I work as a cook in a day nursery where i cook everything from fresh, and dont fry anything, and the children love it.

I have had examples of parents saying that their children wont eat, for example fish or certain veg, but when ive done it for lunch, they've tucked in along with everyone else.

I think if you expose them to a good range of foods at this sort of age (about 12 months to 3 years) you are less likely to store up problems for the future.

Unless peer pressure has a part to play in it?

[pagey]

Junk foods often supply a short-term gratification and I don't believe that children necessarily have the conservative-mindedness to think about healty intake in the long term.

Advertising, peer pressure and convenience obviously have a very detrimental part to play. If fruit was heavily branded and advertised maybe things would be different.

[boyo bach]

The question is.....are we as adults mature enough to always eat properly and make the right decisions?!?! If we as a nation (who are becoming an overweight nation according to the gov) of adults cannot, do you think children can? Food for thought!?.....sorry about the pun! ;-)