CONVENIENCE FOODS

This topic is a Contemporary Issue identified in Chapter 4, Childhood Health, Nutrition and Safety, of Exploring Early Childhood. It discusses concerns regarding the increasing rate of obesity in children in the past ten years, and the reasons for this increase, with convenience foods and reduced activity levels being the two major contributing factors. Various initiatives for improving childhood health aim to provide guidance for controlling childhood obesity, and reduce concern for the future.

A University of Sydney study found that the number of overweight Australian children aged between 7 and 15 years almost doubled between 1985 and 1995. Of 3000 New South Wales 11-year-olds studied, 10% were found to be obese, and another 20% overweight (Needham 2002). It has been predicted that, if this trend continues, by 2020 half of Australian children will be overweight or obese.

The recent concerns regarding childhood obesity are well founded, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, which warns that childhood obesity has health consequences not only during the individual's childhood years, but also when the same individual reaches adulthood. Overweight children are at greater risk of becoming overweight adults. They are therefore more likely to develop disorders such as diabetes, coronary heart disease and some forms of cancer (Metherell 2002).

Contributing Factors to Childhood Obesity

The major contributing factor to children becoming overweight is a high-energy diet combined with a low-energy lifestyle. This means that children tend to eat too much of the wrong foods, and do little exercise to burn off the extra energy they are consuming. It is alarming that although the quality and volume of food available in Australia has risen in the past 30 years, the nutritional value of what children are actually eating has fallen. The role convenience foods have played in this problem cannot be ignored, as the amount of pre-packaged and take-away foods available and consumed is very significant.

Governments at all levels are realising the potential health costs of this problem, and are taking action to find solutions. In September 2002, the New South Wales government will sponsor a three-day summit on childhood obesity. The summit will address topics such as the marketing of convenience foods, foods available in school canteens, and children's activity levels. It will bring together people from government and businesses and community organisations with an interest in children's health and nutrition (Robinson 2002).

Dependence on Convenience Foods

In Australia we are becoming more dependent on convenience and take-away foods. Dr. Kouris-Blazos (2001) reported that 30% of the household budget is spent on these types of meals, and that the number of take-away meals consumed in Australia doubled between 1996 and 1997. Robinson (2002) reported that more than 30% of children have two or more servings of hot chips each week, over 40% drink one or more soft drinks each day, and only 12% eat the recommended quantities of vegetables. One in three children aged under 12 eat no fruit or fruit products at all, and one in five eat no vegetables whatsoever!

In addition to the fact that we are eating more convenience foods, the sizes of servings is also getting bigger. The standard individual serving sizes indicated on food products and recommended by nutritionists are often much smaller than what we actually purchase in fast-food outlets. Customers are often encouraged to 'up-size' their meals. The typical fast-food meal contains 75% of the daily kilojoules needed by the average sedentary adult (Needham 2002). The health consequences for children are even more extreme.

The Role of the School Canteen

So, why are Australian children eating more convenience foods? A significant contributing factor is the school canteen. Collectively, school canteens form the largest take-away food network in the country. (Robinson 2002) Many children purchase all of their lunches and some breakfasts from their school canteen, whereas, in the past, most children brought their lunch from home, having only the occasional treat from the canteen. Similarly, the food children do bring from home includes more pre-packaged foods, such as biscuits, snack bars, sport drinks and confectionery.

There is also now a greater tendency towards snacking than in the past, and convenience foods are commonly the preferred 'snack' of children. Because snacking is in addition to regular meals, the daily kilojoule intake is increased. Products such as fruit bars, instant noodles, biscuits, potato chips, soft drinks and other energy-rich foods are very popular among children.

Advertising

Convenience foods are heavily advertised, and are often targeted directly at children. Some nutritionists and other concerned groups have called for a total ban on convenience food advertisements during children's television hours. This has met with very strong opposition from food manufacturers, and was one of the topics to be discussed at the Child Obesity Summit, in September 2002.

Television plays a significant part in the childhood obesity problem. Like Australian adults, Australian children are leading a more sedentary lifestyle as a result of technological and social changes. For example, leisure activities now tend to be watching television and playing computer games. Robinson (2002) indicates that 81% of five to twelve-year-olds watch more than an hour of television each day, and 40% watch more than two hours. One in seven children play computer games for more than an hour each day in addition to over two hours of television. With all that television watching going on it is no wonder that food manufacturers do not want to lose their advertising!

Activity Levels and Exercise

Children's activity levels have also been affected as a result of increased parental concern regarding the safety of their children. As a result, children are more likely to be driven to school and other events than in the past, and spend less time playing in their neighbourhood.

Suggestions for Families Wanting to Improve Their Health

A healthy diet and increased exercise or activity are the obvious solutions to child obesity, but achieving them is not always easy. The following are some suggestions for families to help improve the health of all family members.

• Don't forbid or ban convenience foods altogether. Just remember that they should only be eaten occasionally, not every day. Some fast foods are better choices than others. For example, a vegetarian pizza is better than a meat-based one, and it's okay to have the burger, but forget the chips, or perhaps try a sushi box instead.
• Snack on healthy foods such as bread, fruit bread, crackers, yoghurt, fruit or vegetables. Children tend to eat what they can see and what is easy, so have these foods within easy reach. Bananas and kiwi fruits in the fruit bowl on the kitchen bench, a selection of crackers in the cupboard, grapes and strawberries in the fridge, or celery and carrot sticks cut up ready in a container are some good ideas to encourage healthy eating.
• Have three good meals each day, with a special focus on breakfast. Leaving for school or work on an empty stomach means family members are more likely to snack on chips, lollies or other poor choices later.
• Be an active family together. Go for walks, play football or cricket in the backyard or at the park, hire a canoe for a day, or go camping.
• Limit the hours children (and other family members) watch television or play computer games. Become involved in other interests, such as sports, drama, martial arts or volunteer work. Encourage everyone to help with household chores.
• Parents and older siblings should set a good example for the younger members of the family. They should enjoy a wide variety of foods, be involved in sporting or other activities and have a positive outlook on life. Instead of driving to the local shop to get the newspaper on Sunday morning, walk there and ask other family members to come along. (The environment will be better off, too!)

Glossary

References

Kouris-Blazos (2001) Junk Food http://www.healthyeatingclub.com/info/articles/diets-foods/junkfood.htm
(28 March 2002)

Metherell, M (2002) 'Children face health time bomb', Sydney Morning Herald
(28 June 2002)

Needham, K. (2002) 'Facing the facts', Sydney Morning Herald (29 June, 2002)

Robinson, M. (2002) 'Hunt for answers on child obesity', The Sydney Morning Herald, (12 July 2002)

Wilson, A. (2000) 'Helping children maintain a healthy weight', http://www.asnsw.health.nsw.gov.au (1 December 2001)