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Report: Only 1 percent of U.S. kids eat properly
September 2, 1997
Web posted at: 4:34 p.m. EDT (2034 GMT)From Correspondent Carolyn O'Neil
ATLANTA (CNN) -- Only 1 percent of U.S. children eat the recommended quantities of grains, vegetables, fruits, meats and dairy foods, according to a new survey released by the National Cancer Institute.
The survey, published in the journal Pediatrics, indicated that just 36 percent of U.S. kids meet federal recommendations for the daily intake of vegetables and fruit.
The study on children's' eating habits was based on a survey of 3,300 children aged 2 to 19.
Dietitian Kathleen Zelman recommends five simple rules to help children eat better:
- Serve 1 percent or skimmed milk.
- Use higher-fiber cereals.
- Serve low-fat frozen yogurt instead of ice cream.
- Buy lower-fat snack food.
- Get them to eat more vegetables.
Also, on average, American kids were getting 35 percent of their calories from fat -- 5 percent higher than recommended. "The intake of fat is much higher than we'd like it to be," said Kathryn Munoz of the National Cancer Institute.
Kids were eating too much sugar, instead of fruit and vegetables, according to the survey. Only 36 percent of children polled ate the three to five servings of vegetables per day, as recommended by health authorities.
"Children are not eating their fruits and vegetables as often as they should," Munoz said. But she said that while some children were not given enough of those food groups, others might simply not like them and prefer sugary foods.
"I think it's a wake-up call. We need to take responsibility," said dietitian Kathleen Zelman, who urged parents to take control of the eating habits of their children.
That strategy could also pay off for children's futures. What concerns nutrition experts the most is that eating habits in childhood carry over to adulthood, which does not bode well for the future health of America.
Perhaps the greatest deficiency for families of today is time -- time to sit down and eat a balanced meal. But, as one mother commented, "I'm not saying it's easy to do, but it's important."
Related story:
- Study says consumers are fed up with expert advice on nutrition - June 26, 1996
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