Childhood is a criticaltime for the development of self-esteem and eating habits (food preferences). Children need support, encouragement and positive role modelling to learn how to care for their bodies.
Healthy eating does not only involve what we eat, but also how and why we eat. These behaviours and attitudes together form the basis of healthy eating. For example, skipping meals, feeling guilty after eating certain foods, ignoring hunger signals and eating for emotions can have a negative effect on a child's health.
How a child feels about their body affects their self-esteem and attitudes to food, eating and physical activity. For example it’s common for adolescents to be fearful of getting fat and diet or ‘body build’ to achieve the ‘ideal’ shape. In addition children often avoid participation in physical and social activities due to concerns about physical appearance.
Research indicates that education / health messages that focus on body weight are often harmful and do not reduce the prevalence of overweight children. Instead the emphasis should be on supporting all children to be physically active, eat a variety of foods and to participate, succeed and have their achievements acknowledged.
Food safety
Our children need food that is healthy and safe. Learning to incorporate food safety practices into every day life should form an integral part of a holistic approach to healthy living.
Research conducted by the Food Safety Information Council over the past few years shows that young people have poor knowledge of basic food safety issues, such as the importance of hand washing and food temperature control. As a focal point of the school community, school canteens are uniquely placed to reinforce the safe food message both in terms of student volunteers and via classroom linkages.
Schools and canteens are referred to the “Food Safety Matters” resource pack produced by the Department of Health and Ageing, Queensland Health and the Home Economics Institute of Australia. This package is available from the Food Safety Information Council and includes workbooks, posters and a video.
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