Study shows children more concerned with being “cool” than eating healthy food
Children who eat healthy school lunches are stereotyped as “posh” or”uncool”, according to new research from UK children’s charity Barnardo’s.
The report, published today, found that most pupils are still eating luncheshigh in fat and sugar and much of this has to do with media-influencedstereotypes that surround food as they do clothes, music or interest.
Pupils presented with a picture of a healthy lunch of a sandwich, rawcarrot, tomato milk and apple associated it with a “posh, sporty girl” whowas a “goody-goody teacher’s pet”.
However, most found a photo of a burger, chips and fizzy drinks appealingand associated it with “naughty, greedy boy heroes”, the survey of nursery,primary and secondary schools found.
Author Neera Sharma said: “If we are really serious about making adifference to the food children eat in schools, we have got to startlistening to what they say so that we can understand the meaning food hasfor them.”
The Government’s Healthy Living Blueprint aims to offer pupils a choice ofhealthy food to inspire them to improve their diets, but Ms Sharma said thisdid not go far enough.
Barnardo’s has called for more money to ensure better ingredients are servedand for a ban on snack vending machines in schools.