Home is where the health is
It’s Healthy Eating Week this week (13-17 June). Developed and run by the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF), the initiative is now in its fourth year and promotes healthy eating and drinking, being active, food provenance and cooking in schools.
In support of the week, new research from the BNF reveals that immediate family members are ranked the strongest role models for influencing children’s healthy eating and physical activity habits, eclipsing celebrities.
The research, which surveyed just under 14,500 children aged seven to 16 years old, found that, while children are bombarded with celebrity stories and images, they still look up to close family members to set an example for healthy living.
Nearly a third (31 per cent) of children surveyed say that family members are their healthy eating role models, compared to celebrities (11 per cent); while almost a quarter (23 per cent) of children report that family members are their role models for being active, second only to sports people (26 per cent) and much higher than celebrities (nine per cent).
Roy Ballam, managing director and head of education at the BNF, says, “We are able to see from the children’s point of view the influence that close family members and friends can have on their attitudes and behaviour in relation to food and exercise, as well as the positive impact that strategies for changing behaviour can have in their lives.
“While models for good practice can be set out, and the science and application of food and nutrition learned in the classroom, children told us that they look to those close to them at home to help them implement positive changes in their lives.
“These research findings indicate that family role models are important in helping young people to make good choices related to food and physical activity and in supporting them in remaining motivated to achieve their targets.”
Good work, family members – and happy Healthy Eating Week.
