CAE Essay: How we can ensure children eat healthy

 

Estimates suggest that inaequate eating habits amount for a number of chronic diseases among children. Markets are filled with low-cost, chemical-packed foods that offer a quick solution to quell hunger and raise mood, compromising children’s well-being. But parents and schools could help children eat healthy.

One solution is for parents to set examples and control their children's diet. Because parents are usually role models for their young, not only would their correct eating behaviour remind of eating norms, but it would also compel children to follow suit. Also, parents could ensure availability of diverse home-cooked foods, so that children would always have something nutritious to snack on instead of resorting to a packet of potato chips or a candy stick. And with some discipline, parents could effectively instil healthy habits in children, because the latter are, for the most part of the day, under parents' constant supervision. But family is not the only influence.

Additionally, schools can organize seminars on food and nutrition. By educating students about the implications of diet on a body, schools could help youngsters become discerning eaters. But this begs the question, how many children would readily apply that knowledge to practice?

It can be concluded that although schools could do their fair share in giving children theoretical knowledge about diet, parents would have a bigger impact because their own healthy eating habits would bear more weight, and their methods—more practical value. And ultimately, we would have fewer cases of food-induced afflictions in the young generation.