The Importance of Diet and Nutrition

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The Importance of Diet and Nutrition

A child's diet and nutrition is a growing concern. Parenting is one of the most difficult jobs in the world, and often times parents struggle just to get their children to eat. Most parents assume that as long as their children eat something, it is fine to let them eat what they want. The wrong approach to food can give children mixed messages about proper nutrition and lead to serious problems later. Parents are solely responsible for children's poor eating habits.

"Children today, more susceptible than any to propaganda, are eating an increasing amount of sweets, lollipops, crisps and refined carbohydrate food." (Mount 23) To know what children are eating these days, one must simply watch Saturday morning cartoons. Children are targeted by advertisement after advertisement with bright colors and toys. From sugary cereals to new and improved cookies, children decide the types of food they want to eat from commercials and select those products when grocery shopping with mom or dad. With fun characters and special toys in every meal, fast food restaurants lure children in. Though children may be taken in by advertisements, their parents are the ones who buy the products and ultimately have the power to say "no." Parents unfortunately do not take a stand. They give in to avoid temper tantrums and get their children to eat something, but more lies at stake than a public scene. "Sweets, lollipops and crisps with the help of television advertising have eroded what innate good nutritional sense remained... and the stage is set fair for widespread subnutrition." (Mount 67)

A movement away from fruits, vegetables, and grains towards fats and sweets has become increa...

... middle of paper ...

...as a child, chances are the same bad eating habits will carry over into adulthood. Parents must realize their own struggles with obesity, high blood pressure, and heart problems are linked to their diet. In order to prevent their children from going through the same issues, they must plant the idea of nutrition now. Parents have ultimate control over the health and growth of their children. It is time they faced that responsibility.

Works Cited

Environmed Research Inc. homepage. pp. 1-2. http://www.nutramed.com/children/index.htm (Retrieved November 5, 1998)

Martin, H. Darlene. "Dietary Guidelines for Children Age Two to Five". pp. 1-4. Issued On-Line January 1996. <http://www.ianr.unl.edu/pubs/Foods/g1249.htm (Retrieved November 5, 1998).

Mount, James Lambert. The Food and Health of Western Man. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1975.

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