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So, you have tried it all… ranging from the story of how spinach makes Popeye that strong to losing eyesight if carrots are not eaten. When it comes to making children eat what is “good” for them is a challenge nevertheless! And all the tricks in the trade can sometimes fail miserably.
The power and impact of TV is so far reaching since children these days are the targeted audience for many commercials. Children sell everything from cheese, juices and noodles to soft drinks. There are those advertisements that show children doing well in studies by consuming a certain product, and some that claim they become taller, smarter and stronger if they use the advertised product.
About 1000 children were surveyed in Mumbai to study the impact of commercials, and the results showed that more than 35% of children believed in the claims made by these commercials. And this was in Mumbai alone.
Of course, there are those ads that show a child making a face when veggies are put in front of him, and the one where the child transfers all the greens from his plate to his dad’s.
While 60 to 70% of the parents surveyed in this study said that their expense rose because of the demands made by children as a result of TV commercials, they also said they gave in to these demands.
Children and indeed many parents too, prefer foods packed in plastics to fresh food. So, it is not surprising that micronutrient deficiencies are on the rise among children. They simply are not eating nourishing food.
A staggering 30% of youngsters in Kolkata gorge on unhealthy snacks, turning grossly overweight by the time they are 30.
Processed foods, fast food and roadside snacks are cooked in trans-fat rich oil that turn carcinogenic, leading to prostate, breast or uterine cancer. The bad cholesterol levels are raised and there is a two fold increase in risk of heart disease, thanks to the trans fats. And the high sugar and starch content in drinks, noodles and breads or buns stress the pancreatic cells to that extent that they begin to reduce insulin production, leading, in the long run to diabetes.
Relying on processed and highly refined ingredients devoid of vitamins and minerals could lead to a range of disorders in children including pallor, fatigue, weakness, food cravings, hair loss and joint aches, according to a study in Kolkata. It could also trigger menstrual issues, lack of concentration among many. Around 40% of the city’s children are believed to be suffering from one or more of these symptoms. Growth retardation, low immunity to diseases, morbidity and in worst cases death are some of the long-term effects of micronutrient deficiency, says the study.
The health consequences may be stealthy but devastating for the growth of children. Experts say children in the age group between 5 — 10 years experience rapid physical, cognitive, biochemical, emotional and social growth. Girls in this age group experience pubertal changes. This period of childhood precedes adolescence—the transitional stage of development between childhood and adulthood. Due to increased growth and metabolism, many famous nutritionists and hospital dieticians have seen children suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and pancreatic diseases all too often. Sadly many adolescents claim to “live on” chips and noodles and reject anything else remotely fresh. The health impact is mind boggling, to say the least.
The problem is compounded in childhood since there is an increased demand for nutrients, both micro and macro in the growing years.
It is time to take action as responsible citizens and parents. Stringent laws against TV commercials promoting false claims using children or for children need to be banned. And promoting fresh, natural foods, including whole grains, fruits and veggies should be mandatory, just as warnings on alcohol and tobacco. Ads that promote foods high in sugars, fats or refined cereals should display a statutory warning saying these will damage the heart, increase risk of diabetes and blood pressure. Promoting health of our children is not an option anymore.
For more information on how to plan your child’s diet, contact expert nutritionists at Gympik.com.
As parents and caregivers, it’s crucial for us to be vigilant about the content our children are exposed to and to engage in open conversations about making informed food choices. Encouraging media literacy from a young age can empower them to critically analyze and question the messages they encounter. On a related note, for those looking to balance screen time with productive activities, the ‘DoCast: Cast to Chromecast TV’ app on the App Store seems promising. This app could potentially offer a way to enjoy educational and interactive content on a larger screen, providing an alternative to the barrage of food commercials. It’s important for us to explore such options to create a healthier media environment for our children.
its interesting information thanks you!
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