LITTLE FOODIES

WANT YOUR CHILD TO EAT MORE HEALTHILY? IT COULD BE TIME TO TURN ON THE TV

It might be time to switch over from Masterchef to Jamie Oliver, according to a new study from the Netherlands. The study found that children who watched child-orientated healthy cooking shows were more likely to choose healthier food options.

Researchers asked 125 students aged between 10 and 12 years to watch two TV cooking shows for children – one focusing on healthy food, the other featuring unhealthy options – then offered them a snack as a reward for participating. Those who watched the healthy version were 2.7 times more likely to make a healthy food choice than those who watched the show featuring unhealthy food.

“The findings from this study indicate cooking programs can be a promising tool for promoting positive changes in children’s food related preferences, attitudes and behaviours,” says lead researcher Frans Folkvord from Tilburg University.

The findings come after a snapshot on the health of Australian kids found that 96 per cent did not eat the recommended five serves of vegetables a day.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report found that while almost three-quarters of kids ate enough fruit each day, just four per cent ate enough vegetables and almost half had at least one sugarsweetened drink a week.

“Many people don’t know the size or number of serves they should be consuming,” says Shaun Lindhe from AUSVEG. “One serve of vegetables is equivalent to half a cup of cooked vegetables, half a medium potato or one cup of salad vegetables.”