Kids Cuisine

A few weeks ago I wrote about the UK and their banning of cheese advertisement to help stem child obesity. While I agreed in principle, I still think you need to look at the root of the problem and not blame “the television” or simply point your finger at the food manufacturers.

In yesterday’s (Thursday, March 29) Chicago Tribune (Section 1, Page 3), an article (”Kids gorge on junk-food ads”) reported on a Kaiser Family Foundation study that says “children 8 to 12 years old are exposed to an average of 21 television food advertisements each day, mostly through commericals that push candy, snacks and other unhealthy foods contributing to childhood obesity.” The report goes on to talk about how the advertisements do not advertise the consumption of “healthy foods” like vegetables, fruits, grains and dairy products.

While I wouldn’t disagree with this claim, whose fault really is it that children are getting obese? That they are not eating vegetables, grains, and other healthy foods? The television station programmers? The food manufacturers? The children? Partly, I guess.

More likely, though, I’d squarely put the blame on the parents! That’s right. The majority of the blame in fact. There’s nothing wrong with children watching television. I did it, and you probably did it too. But come on. If your children are plopping themselves in front of the tube and are bombarded with an average of 21 food advertisements per day (7,600 per year the report says), it’s clearly obvious your children are watching too much television. I’d have to say that’s it’s the parents fault for not enforcing some rules on television watching. And, it would be make perfect sense that your children could be obese or on the verge of becoming obese. Eating fatty foods with little or no exercise would make any overweight–that’s a no brainer.

While the study raises some valid points, it overlooks another problem. Instead of children being outside (it’s spring right now and summer is only a few weeks away), they are allowed to sit infront of the television and scan the zillion cable stations or play their video games. With today’s elaborate video games and explicit shows, why wouldn’t a child want to “veg-out” in front of the television. If the child is not given direction to go outside to run around and play–or do some yard work–of course he or she will put on a few pounds.

Plus, it’s not the commericals that are putting on the weight, it’s the food. I don’t think the kids are going to the grocery store buying chips, soda, ice cream, and other “junk food.” If your kids are doing the shopping, well, that’s an entirely different issue. Generally parents doing the shopping. I know, you can’t control your children when they are away from you, but if you lead by example, you can only hope they will follow what you do at home when they are at school, out with friends, etc. And, you don’t have to listen to your children when you’re at the grocery store to buy this junk food or buy that junk food. Who’s in charge here?

I honestly cannot remember my folks stocking up on tons of junk food. Sure, we had ice cream and chips. But it was not there for grazing purposes. Chips were served with sandwiches at lunch (mainly on the weekends). A scoop (one scoop … not two topped with whipped cream, nuts, cherry, etc.) of ice cream after dinner. A soda on a hot day… better yet, Kool-Aid or Gatorade. Dinner was served with milk, not sugary drinks. We were given limits, and it’s paid off, because I still do not overindulge on junk food.

Parents have to take the responsibility of feeding their children and leading by example. Stop passing the buck. Don’t place all the blame on your television (unplug it, change your cable package to just get the basic channels). Again, while I don’t disagree with the Kaiser study, I feel it’s a bit misleading and not sharing the blame on why children are not as healthy as they should be. Parents need to take responsibility for their children and their eating habits. Lead by example, cook healthy meals, encourage exercise and don’t buy the tons of junks food.

Who’s with me?