Childrens health and the link with cancer

[elizabethmassey]

I am a student journalist at the University of Kent and am writing a piece on how 40% of all cancers are caused by things we have the power to change, in connection with Jamie Oliver's school dinner campaign, as much of our lifestyle choices begin from our youth.

I would love some opinions from mum's on this matter, as 1 in 3 children are obese or overweight and the second biggest cancer causer for men and women is the lack of fruit and veg, and being over-weight.

So...
Do you make sure that your child gets their 5-a-day?
Do you think is is important to try and install a healthy lifestyle into your children?
How do you do this?
For around 190 days from the age of four the government are in control of the nutrition of half your child's nutrition (if they have school dinners), does this worry, or please you?

Any help or comments on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks very much,
Lizzie

Role modelling: far more powerful than lecturing! We eat reasonably healthily, take reasonable amounts of exercise, don't smoke. We also enjoy reasonable amounts of treats and lazy days: moderation in all things, as my 102 yr old grandmother used to say

(and packed lunches, or get involved in child's school so you have a say in what goes in to their lunches....ideally)

Good luck with your studies!