Unhealthy eating habits of children. market forces and parents

Though much has been said about the unhealthy eating habits of children the world over, what is done towards rectifying the same is very little. Some say it is due to the belief that parents are responsible for children’s eating habits while others blame the absence of controls on food market forces.

Try to see the substance behind these two views and say what you think of the second opinion? 

There is no dearth for discussions, seminars and media covers on the poor eating habits of the children world over. But there is very little walk on these talks. In this context, it is viewed in different ways: things do not change because the onus is on parents’ shoulders; and it is due to poor controls on food market forces. Both views are of some significance.

At the very outset, the world must admit the fact that all good things take shape in the family, and, in the same way, all bad habits get bred inside the family itself. Bad eating habit is one of them. All the talks on the children’s eating habits, for example, are, unfortunately, going on in one direction, and the new generation nuclear parents, obsessed with the food vagaries of their children, are moving on in the opposite. Precious little could be expected of the pretty busy new generation nuclear parents of the times. If parents cannot, who on earth can!!! None.

This sorry situation notwithstanding, we must not miss out the fact that children are children and they are vulnerable to influences. The media advertisements on food products using cute kids and chubby children entice other ordinary children towards mouth watering food makeovers, exotic dishes, coveting confectionary, yummy junks and sizzling, fizzy beverages. This is dangerous, and governments are not doing much to control these encroachments on children’s eating habits carried out by corporate food chains day in and day out. Food market is a force.

In this context, what I think of the second view is that, even if parents are up for rectifying the food habits of their children, it is not likely to happen, for these days, in most of the families, children call the shots, and parents simply fall prey to their pestering pressures. There should be strict controls over food marketing advertisements. This is my conclusion.