Only One-Third of Parents Feel They Do Good Job of Helping Kids Eat Healthy
Most parents want their children to eat healthy foods, but it easier said then done.
Out of 1,767 parents who were polled, only one-third of the parents feel they are helping their children eat healthy foods.
The survey was from C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health at the University of Michigan.
In the survey, over half of the parents said their children were eating mostly healthy foods. One in six rate their children’s diet as very nutritious. About a fourth of the parents said their children were eating somewhat healthy or not healthy foods at all.
The common challenges for the parents were mainly three factors: price, picky eaters, and convenience.
“Most parents understand that they should provide healthy food for their children, but the reality of work schedules, children’s activities and different food preferences can make meal preparation a hectic and frustrating experience,” the researchers said.
Struggle to Buy Healthy Foods
For parents, it’s always a struggle between buying food that are healthy and what their children like to eat.
Even though most parents want their children to eat a healthy diet, one is five parents in the poll don’t think it’s important to limit fast food and junk food in their children’s diet.
Another 16 percent believe it is somewhat or not important to limit sugary drinks.
Also, parents of teens were less worried about their teens’ eating habits compared to parents of younger children.
The researchers said that parents should be careful not to fall into the habit of buying convenience foods. These foods are usually high in sugar, fat and calories.
Another big hurdle for parents is the confusion when trying to buy healthy foods. Phrases such as “all-natural,” l”ow-fat,” “organic,” and “sugar-free” are used inconsistently on food labels and packaging and can be confusing for shoppers.
Also, one in four parents said they could not find the healthy foods they were looking for in the places that they usually shop.
This survey is enlightening but it’s what most parents know already. It’s hard to find and buy healthy foods that our kids like, while keeping an eye our our budget.
Full Mott Poll report: http://mottnpch.org/reports-surveys/healthy-eating-children-parents-not-following-recipe
