Why Children are eating so much junk food

Once a week, I take my niece & nephew out for junk food. We call it street food because through the summer months, we go to the beach and get fries, dogs, etc., from the street vendors there. This is our bonding time & we have fun. We eat really healthy on a regular basis all through the week - but on our day out, there are no food rules! There is nothing wrong with a junk food treat once in a while. Like everything else, just maintain a healthy balance.

hi Vingyan.. I agree with you with the current trending, that children are so much tempted to eat junk food that the normal meals. It's actually much spoilt the appetite of the child in their proper meal. My cousins who are now being chauffeur by my mum daily to and fro their school, will normally demand for their junk food every time my mum passes the gas station. One day, one of them found that his hair is thinning and he was so worry it was due to the junk food. I remembered back those days, junk food is for us to eat as a reward if we are well behave, and in school, we are also not allowed to buy any of those. I think back those days, the school has better control compare to now. And also as for money, it's more available to the child.

The reasons you gave are right on target. Children do it because adults allow them to do it, but I think, too, that some of the chemicals added to the "food" are addictive. Parents who want to control this somehow must feel really overwhelmed because as you say in #1 above, the access is so easy. Also the junk food is a lot cheaper than real food.

[i]Hello well whatever points you gave below are absolutely true but then even i would love to add very few points to it as.1 They are much famous and in trend.2.It has also become as a style icon or trend because kids exchange talks saying ' havent you tasted this yet, oh man which world you live in'..etc i think its just a change in our generation that getting our kids attract to junk foods as well as the wrong habits which are really not helpfull and healthy. [/i]

i know it's bad for me ving...... but darn they taste sooooo good I am not a kid..but how i love to eat junk... despite knowing how bad they are... how much more for kids who have no clue it's nad for them

Hi vingyan, the reasons listed by u are quite valid. But I would like to add one more to ur list. There was a time television did not have so many channels, and even if it had, there were no programs! Now, we have many television programs, and many channels. Eating is unfortunately one activity that doesnt require much effort and can easily go on, while watching TV. :( This is one invention we could well have done without I suppose. :( Even adults are addicted to it. I was, till about two months ago. I put on quite a lot of weight, and I am having a problem shedding it. Thanx to mylot, it is not increasing! Otherwise, I was increasing by almost a kg per month till I came to my senses. :) How do we tell kids to forego watching television, when we cant do it ourselves?

Well because junk food is really nice and salty ,some is sweet also , children love sweet stuff and they don't really know that it is harmful for them to eat a lot of junk food .

Hello vingyan I think you have explained very well hence there is no need to explain by me.Above all I can say only childrens are not responsible for eating junk food but we I ean to say parents & guardian also equally responsible. Childrens are very fond of junk and fast food due to its chatpati preparation and colourful ingredients and taste which in long run affect. Give them good awareness to avoid junk food. pkc300

vingyan06, I feel that children are not solely responsible for their inclination to junk food. Parents are equally culpable when they make excuses for lack of time to cook or ideas to make a delicious meal for the children. I feel that everybody need to realize the fact it is human to enjoy good cooked food and if there were efforts being made to cook a decent meal I am sure everyone including the children will stay away from all the Kentucky or Macs or Burger Kings. Logically, can't we whip up a better deep fried chicken than KFC? Our chicken cutlet isn't more tastier than KFC or Mac? On snacking, I think as long as children are eating well and balanced, we can always allow some slack here. It is just not as harmful as replacing normal diets with junk food.

Hi vingyan, it is up to the parent to provide a nutritious diet for their child and it is easy to not provide junk food by simply not buying it. If a child is brought up eating fruit and vegetables they may be attracted by the sight of junk food but haven't got the cents to buy it. The school my son attends does not allow junk food to be brought inside, along with sweets and chocolate so it is not available there, plus they are regularly told that it is bad for them and rots their teeth. A couple of times a year I will stop at Goodeys and let my son have the standard childs meal of chicken nuggets and chips plus inedible toy, and the odd treat at home, but on the whole it's not an issue as he knows it is bad and the point was brought home when we watched 'The Biggest Loser Australia' together and he saw the consequences in obesity and poor health of those who know no better about good nutrition. Also he knows that fizzy drinks are one of the worst things and is only allowed them when someone else buys him one when we are out.

You just specified every reason people consume junk food. The problem with the junk food is that I dont care if adults eat it and become overweight. That is their own responsibility. But when they just push it over to their kids, when they dont know what the effects are, then it is the parents fault that we have so many children that are obese. It is just common knowledge that people want to consume foods that taste good. I would rather have a snickers than a piece of broccoli but I also know the effects. People just need to be more responsible for their children.

in fact, i feel not only the children like junk food, but also some grow-ups like them too. when i was in the university, my roomie did like it. first, it smells well or taste well. second, cheaper than some other nutritious food. also mean easily accessible. third, as a snack. ...

The 5 points mentioned by you are very valid and the most important factors in this for me is that the food is tasty and it is easily accessible. A slight restriction has to be put to the eating habits that children have, and they must be given healthy food regularly. So parents...please take care of your families and children.

Well, you as an adult know what it is, if you have children, surely you will cook for your kids and feed them what is best. What does it matter if junk food is available everywhere? IT does not mean you have to buy it.

I was just reading an article abut this, that processed food will increase and how much of a percentage of our food is packaged. It is fast, and easy to use. Even cereal bars and granola bars are so very bad for us. I also think that we eat these foods because they fill us up fast, even though it doesn't last long. As with any bad habit it's aquired and very hard to quit. The schools here have stopped with the vending machines and things like that. I wish they would pay more attention to how bad the lunch is they prepare for the kids. They use alot of processed, imitation foods. The best be is to use the freshest food available, as much as you can.

They're eating it because it tastes good, it's there and because they don't know any better. They can get it anywhere and a lot of times, they're told about better choices and about how it's bad for them, but they're not being told HOW exactly it's bad for them.

I totally agree with you on all your points. I have started eating healthly several years back. My kids already grown and gone. I wish i had awaken long ago. I see so many young people now that i wish i can inspire to be more health conscience. I feel im much healthier than most people my age.

My sons are grown but they eat too much junk food, i think. I really think my grandson eats way too much. His mom is not into cooking much. Another bad thing about eating it all the time it is way too expensive, i think. When my sons were growing up if we had junk food is was a treat now it's just a way of life w/people.

I see blame both on the child and his/her parents. The individual should realize that eating junk food is detrimental to their health. Their parents should make the effort to cook healthier things and offer healthier alternatives.

Unfortunately,you are probably correct. Fast food, such as those available at Carls Junior and KFC, contain tons of saturated fat, and are cheaper than their healthy alternatives. Occasionally, it is OK to eat junk food, but in controlled amounts. In hard times, people turn to things that comfort them. For me, its playing around on my Xbox, but for many others, it is eating. Junk food has become the "comfort food" and those that eat it, want more and more to feel better. Today, children are more exposed to the world, with commercials from television, and the internet. Some candy appears to be eaten by all the "cool kids" and you are a looser if you don't eat it. Those that eat junk food might not know that it is very bad for them, while a candy may say that it "strengthens bone tissue" it might also add to the body fat. These are my views, (and my first Mylot Post)=] any one else?