Easter, chocolate and the parental dilemma
Calvin posted this on Apr 2nd 2008 under Evening Echo Column, Parenting, Writing
I’d just finished watching yet another depressing documentary about the burgeoning obesity pandemic in children of the western world. Poor diet, junk food, lack of exercise, parents too busy paying extortionate mortgages to really have time to notice… it all ads up to a recipe for disaster.
Common sense will tell you that a diet of burgers, pizzas, chips, crisps, fizzy drinks and chocolates is a sure-fire way to an early grave. If we stopped to think about it, we wouldn’t do it, but of course we don’t; we’re too busy, it’s too convenient, and let’s face it, putting a plate of chicken nuggets and chips in front of them is much less hassle than cajoling them to take another bite of their broccoli.
The occasional foray into the world of convenience food, sweets and snacks doesn’t do any harm, of course, but when it becomes a regular and frequent component of the diet the alarm bells should ring. The dietary habits we help our children to form today will form the foundation for the relationship they have with food for the rest of their lives. This is critically important stuff that will affect their future health and wellbeing.
