To think most people don't believe their diet will have an impact on their health

[Notcontent]

This is just something I have been thinking about recently. There has been so much in the news about the damage sugar is doing to us, the number of people with type 2 diabetes is rising at a huge rate, more and more kids are becoming fat and having their teeth pulled out, etc.

And yet - I get the feeling most people think it's "nanny state rubbish". On mumsnet threads people always say "children need treats". I was talking to a work colleague about sugary drinks and her view was that water is too boring so she was quite happy for her kids to have juice and cordial with every meal and snack.

I am not sure what the solution is - maybe proper food and health education at schools.

[thatsn0tmyname]

I think the same logic is applied to smoking here. I'll have my fun now and sort myself out before the risks kick in.

[gamerchick]

Personally I think palm oil being in a fuckload of stuff isn't helping either with the getting fat thing.

I did have a conversation with one of my team about the drinks though, she thinks they 'can't just be expected to drink water all the time'. I don't understand that.

[Ciggaretteandsmirnoff]

I think it's all in moderation.

However - my Dh diet is appalling. His mother is in the 'water tastes of nothing' camp and none of her sons like it. I've actually spoken to him today that I'm worried he is making him self ill - which isn't fair on me and the kids.

[vulgarbunting]

I think that a lot of it is due to the papers reporting scientific findings badly. For example, all the constant mixed messaging about what causes cancer then dilutes the really important messages about the impact that diet has on your health.

I agree that it is heartbreaking to see overweight children, and kids eating rubbish.

[WorraLiberty]

Perhaps it depends on where you live, but the schools around here genuinely couldn't do any more than they're already doing about this.

I think the general message is getting through to some children very slowly. But if their parents/rest of the family aren't on board with it, it can be like pissing in the wind.

After all, most kids aren't responsible for the shopping/budgeting/cooking in the home, so we may not see any big changes for a few years to come yet.

Children don't need treats, but they're nice to have and imo there's nothing wrong with the occasional sweet treat in moderation.

The problem is, defining 'occasional' and 'moderation' because some people's ideas are vastly different to others.

[gamerchick]

The smoking thing is just stupid. I smoke socially and I always feel like crap the next day. The next social thing I'm not buying any. Alcohol is enough of a poison

[scarednoob]

I think a lot of people are ostriches about things even if they are educated. I know I can be.

[Jojoriley]

I think money has a lot to do with it. If I buy a bag of 6 apples it will cost £3.60 I could buy a bag of 6 donuts for £1. Truthfully it's very very cheap to eat badly. It's not just a question of ignorance its economic.

[scarednoob]

Sorry, educated about them not just educated!

[ephemeralfairy]

I don't know, genuinely. I spent a couple of days with DP's 4 yo nephew last week and was genuinely shocked at his diet. Met from school with sweets and crisps, chocolate spread and white bread when he got home, sausage and chips for tea. And numerous Fruit Shoots!
I dunno, I don't have kids so I can't judge from that perspective. DP's mum has a shocking diet (and she is a nurse so really should know better), and he would too if left to his own devices.

I am aware that I sound very judgemental and I don't want to be. I think there is a fundamental problem in the way we see food in this country and I don't really understand why.
This book www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00BS06SOI/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21 changed the way I looked at food, and is very good on highlighting the difference in attitude in the UK compared to continental Europe.

I think there are deep-rooted problems that are linked to big things: lack of coherent education, conflicting stories/scare-mongering in the news, too may 'buzzwords', teenagers being taught how to design and market a ready meal rather than devise and cook a healthy budget menu, fuel poverty, rented accommodation without freezers or decent ovens etc etc etc.

[Ciggaretteandsmirnoff]

worral your absolutly right. It's getting a real issue between myself and Dh on what he is feeding dd while he is alone with her.

[gamerchick]

jo where on earth are you shopping that apples cost that?

[Palomb]

The money thing is ridiculous - eating good food can be really cheap! Cheaper than eating doughnuts for every meal anyway.

The reason we are all getting fatter is that we are all addicted to sugar.

[summerdreams]

palomb im actually getting fatter because I am addicted to crips not sugar.

[Notcontent]

Jojoriley - I disagree that it's just to do with money. There is a small minority for whom it might be, but most people can afford to have an egg on toast and a cup of tea for breakfast instead of Nutella on toast and a glass of orange juice - they just don't want to...

[Roonerspism]

I agree.

I know a lot of people with various health issues and im always amazed that they won't consider that what we put in our bodies directly affects how they work.

I don't think conventional medicine helps.

I agree schools are probably doing as much as they can. IMHO it's the absolute shit in most processed foods that is the issue. And the constant bloody snacking.

[ArgyMargy]

Palomb - not all of us are getting fatter. Speak for yourself.

[BillSykesDog]

No, I think most people are perfectly aware. But a lot of people would rather live a couple of decades less than live on mung beans and quinoa until they're 90.

That's up to them. They're adults. It annoys me that people try to push their lifestyle choices onto others and mistake not giving a fuck for ignorance.

[BabyGanoush]

Apparently humans, like all animals, are programmed/evolved to prefer a short term advantage (a sugary snack! joy!) over a long term advantage (saying no to sugary snack leads to longer term health).

One can of coke won't lead to health problems after all...so why not have it, when you fancy it.

The real miracle is, that not everyone is obese.

[BIWI]

The thing is, as far as your body is concerned, the potato crisps that you're eating are just the same as the sugar in the Coke you're drinking.

When people talk about us eating too much sugar, what this really means is all the carbs that we're eating. Potatoes, bread, pasta, rice, sugar, chocolate, fruit ...

[GreaseIsNotTheWord]

If I buy a bag of 6 apples it will cost £3.60

Bloody hell. Go to Lidl. You can get 20 apples for £2.10.

[Jojoriley]

Tesco empire apples (very nice ) gamer chick

It's not just money as I said but money massively affects people's choices.

[WorraLiberty]

I don't know anyone who lives on mung beans and quinoa, whether they're slim or overweight.

I also don't know anywhere that sells 6 apples for £3.60

If that was the cost of apples around here, I'd switch to a different fruit.

[ephemeralfairy]

The money thing is ridiculous - eating good food can be really cheap! Cheaper than eating doughnuts for every meal anyway.
I completely disagree. When you've had a shit day at work, or with the kids, or job-hunting or whatever; you're hungry and you want something tasty and filling. It's cheaper and easier to fill up on starchy carbs and cheap processed meat than on lean protein and veg. And yes, maybe you can shop around and find cheap veg and three chickens for a fiver but a lot of people just don't have the time, or the money to spend on petrol or bus fare to go to three or four different shops and the market. And if you're on a meter for your electricity then you can't be doing with slow-cooking cheap cuts of meat or making stews. You want something you can stick in the microwave or heat up in a pan.
It is completely naive and disingenuous to maintain that poverty and poor diets aren't linked and it makes me really angry when people do it.

[Jojoriley]

I'm very particular about my apples..