3rd November 2011
Children’s understanding and experience of food issues is better than many people think, according to the results of research recently carried out with over 2,500 school-age children.
The research, commissioned by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) in conjunction with Farming and Countryside Education (FACE), found that 8 out of 10 primary-age children were involved with growing food at home, at school or with friends and relations.
This is up from 5 out of 10 in a similar survey conducted five years ago. The figures for secondary-age children are 6 out of 10 now, up from 4 out of 10.
Bill Graham, Executive Director of FACE, said ‘Growing food for themselves is such an effective way to help children enjoy and understand healthy eating, so we are really pleased to see that all the encouragement from ourselves and like-minded organisations is beginning to bear fruit’.
When asked about their attitudes to different foods, most children had an understanding of what constituted a healthy diet, and how to use labelling to help them choose. Typically, children of all ages claimed they were trying to eat healthy foods such as fruit and vegetables, and cut back on crisps and salt.
When the survey asked about cooking at home, 79 percent of children aged 7 to 11 said they had cooked at home, with 32 percent doing so on a regular basis (once a week). The children described making snacks and sandwiches and helping parents prepare meals as experiences of cooking at home, alongside more traditional activities such as baking cakes.
It becomes a different picture when reviewing the findings with the 11- to 15-year-olds. Although around a third (34 percent) said they cooked independently using either fresh or store-cupboard ingredients, the research highlighted that the number of this age group not cooking has doubled and their involvement and interest in cooking regularly is decreasing.
Di Symes, AHDB’s Education spokesman, said the survey also reflected the findings of other research which showed a longer term need to focus on improving basic cooking skills particularly among teenagers and young adults.
‘While these survey findings are incredibly promising in a number of areas, we still have to focus on ensuring schoolchildren don’t lose the ability and the enthusiasm to prepare healthy meals from scratch as they get older. This is why AHDB’s education teams are currently working on a number of food-provenance and cooking projects across the whole pupil age spectrum, including teenagers and young adults.’
For more information phone Bill Graham, Executive Director of FACE, on 0845 838 7192.
The AHDB resources referred to in the release can be accessed via the education page on their website www.ahdb.org.uk/projects/Education.aspx.
|
