Answer Back: Children’s views on healthy food
| Parents working long hours can give you eating disorders. |
Carmen Kalnars, 11, London
One reason for children getting eating disorders is that their parents work long hours and therefore don't have time to give their children the attention they need. So they may start to eat too much or too little - and then it develops into something serious.
Jasmine Stewart, 14, Sheffield
If parents are meant to encourage their children to stay healthy, they should give their children a decent amount of money instead of loose pocket change. Kids often buy unhealthy foods because they are cheap. Some young people may have reasons for eating lots and lots because they may well be stressed, feeling down or even depressed.
Daniel Cohen, 12, London
Parents worry about their children's safety more now than they used to because of crime and other things. One result is that children do not get enough exercise. Teenage anorexia has also increased. Celebrities such as Victoria Beckham have been criticised for promoting being thin. It is sad that girls feel so self-conscious that they stop eating just to look better. Fat or thin, who really cares?
Marvyn Benoit, 15, London
My Mum is quite flexible when it comes to me eating in a certain way, whether it is because I am a boy or because I am quite slim, who knows. She has ways of getting me to eat my salad: she prepares layers of tomato, lettuce, sweetcorn and carrots. To top it off, she adds mayonnaise and cheese - codename "layered salad". Mmmm. I know it is still just plain salad but somehow it seems more appealing. If young people do not like the food they eat, then maybe they should not be made to eat it.
Michael Leathem, 14, Belfast
Four months ago I went vegetarian. My Mum and Dad supported me because there is a lot going on with animals such as BSE in cows. I tend to eat more exotic foods, as my parents encourage me to try new things rather than egg and chips or fish and chips. Parents should influence their children, although you cannot force children to eat what they do not like.
Amy Ward, 14, Sheffield
Parents pressurising their children to eat certain foods shows in some ways that the parents care about their health. But eating salads and fruit every day is boring. My Mum does not say: "You should start eating healthy foods." She just says: "Why don't you have chips one day and salad the next?"
About answer back
answer back is a weekly column by Children's Express members, published in the Parents' pages of The Times.
