children’s health better. (Protudjer, L. 2010)
To have healthy children is the goal of every parent
in the world. In a world where fast food is quickly
becoming popular, it has become more difficult to
control our children’s eating habits. More and more
children prefer to eat junk food, and as a result they
suffer from being obese and having unhealthy lifestyle. In 2004 John Reid introduced the “Choosing
health” newspaper article by stating that: “while we
respect individuals’ rights to make their own choices, we need to respond to public concern that some
people’s choices can cause a nuisance and have a
damaging impact on other people’s health.” (Reid,
Choosing health 2004) In particular, this report emphasizes the existing problem of dysfunctional eating habits and the importance of maintaining healthy
food choices. Doctors all around the world are seriously concerned with the problems of junk food. A
person who has dysfunctional eating habits can be
described as an individual who approaches meals
and preparation of food with chaos. For most young
children, dysfunctional eating is learned behavior.
Such eating habits like fasting, dieting, and starvation are very dangerous and may bring an enormous
harm to the body and health. For many teenagers dysfunctional eating patterns are learned behaviors from
their own parents, who were modeling a wrong behavior and often can be tracked to their own personal
origins and eating behaviors as early as four years
of age. Nowadays children commonly miss breakfast
and have a hard time finding healthy snacks. Children
go into the kitchen only to find something to eat and
very often children’s choices are unhealthy. They can
choose fluids with very little or no nutritional value,
like soda, and high fat, high-sugar snack foods. British scientists have proven that children, who eat hamburgers, French fries, and other fast food more than
three times per week, have a lower development rate
of their brain. The health of children is one of the
main problems in this world, occupying the minds of
doctors and psychologists. According to recent statistics, one in three children is suffering from obesity. In
many countries, advertising junk food is forbidden.
Many schools are not selling fatty foods and sweets.
Junk food is dangerous for child’s body, and especially bad for the digestive system. Eating various hot
dogs, hamburgers, and pizza are not a good example
of balanced meal. These foods have a lot of fat, salt,
spices, additives, and carbohydrates. (Becker, 2010)
The consumption of junk food may lead to problems
in the development of the gastrointestinal tract, intestinal dysmotility, gastritis, colitis, cholecystitis,
and may cause obesity. In addition, researchers
have proven that hot dog and hamburger meat contains substances that cause mutations of cells and
increase the risk of cancer. (O’Dea, 2004)
To make a conscious effort in improving children’s
diet is quite difficult. Children learn by example, so
when the parent is eating healthy food, the children
learn to eat healthy food too. Helping your children
build healthy eating habits early in life will help
them to be healthier, and understand the benefits of
good nutrition in future. The change in eating practices is commonly blamed for the rise in obesity levels among children. It is attributed to the disappearance of the traditional family meal, having a dinner
together round a table, and the increasing level of
convenience and junk foods. The importance of eating together is often also cited as something that is
essential to the reproduction of “civilized”, wellmannered children. The dysfunctional eating habits
lead to a wide range of health problems. Dysfunctional eating habits are major causes of childhood
hypertension, obesity, diabetes types I –II. These
children
are exposed to the increased risk of coronary heart
disease, which creates pressure on the joints. It can
also cause mental and physical delays, psychological
problems, low self-esteem, and may have a negative
effect on the child’s relationships with peers.
The relationshi p between children and their environment has a profound impact on their development.
Physical, emotional, social, cultural, and economic
factors should be considered when we build healthy
eating habits. The interaction of these factors may
promote healthy attitudes toward nutrition and eating.It is important to teach children to have healthy
eating habits. Children should know the differences
between healthy food and junk food. Adults have to
supervise children’s food choices and preferences;
make an early intervention if a child has difficulties
with maintaining healthy eating habits. All children
have to know why food is important, and that food
choices and eating habits are important for their health
and lifestyle. The best nutrition instructions to keep a
child healthy and help him/her maintain healthy eating habits throughout the life include the following:
eat a variety of healthy food: vegetables, fruits, grain
products, fish, and meat; balance the food a child eats
with physical activity; choose food low in fat, saturat
ed fat, cholesterol, sugar, and salt; and choose food
that provides enough calcium and iron, vitamins and
minerals, which promotes the body and brain development. Aside from those, the process of transition
to healthy food habits is one of the most effective
ways to help children maintain healthy eating habits. It is impossible to force them to eat healthy food
if we do not follow the same requirement. Choosing
a healthy lifestyle has to be an option for all family members. Parents have to eat the right amount
and the kind of food in front of their children during meal time to promote healthy lifestyle and fight
obesity. Care to have a big gulp of junk? Or have a
big bite of fresh? Make a healthy option.