How to help children eat healthily?

[OldieMum]

I've been feeding dd (7 months) on home-made baby food, organic jars and juices, but am only too aware of how soon she'll be bombarded with advertising for junk food and additive-laden snacks. How do parents with older children deal with the effects on their children of advertising, or of seeing other children eating junky snacks? Also, what kinds of policy changes do people think could made to help children eat healthily (eg in Sweden advertising aimed at the under 12s is banned)? What would you like to see the government do about children's diets?

For those of us who (like me) who thought that packed lunches would be healthier than school meals, the Guardian reports on research that shows that they often aren't: lunch boxes

sorry Tinyfeet for not answering, just logged on again. Bozza answered what I would have said!!
Actually Bozza, you've given me an idea...I may change my delivery day - mmm I'll give it some thought. I'm always after tips to make life just that bit easier!!

Hmmm yes - interesting Guardian article - but what it doesn't point out is that school dinners are highly processed, very little fresh and the child does't have to choose the healthy options - consequently 90% of the food on offer is of dubious nutritional quality.

However, don't agree entirely with pupuce. I don't think it's necessary at all to involve the children in the cooking process - although I do educate them about what foods are good for them and what foods are "only in moderation". I always put a bit of everything on their plates even if I know they don't like it. If they're hungry enough they will try it. 50% of the time they will then decide it's OK. Agree though that if you don't buy junk food they can't eat it. I don't stress too much when they get junk food at parties etc. but the standard of school dinners outrages me. My ds wants a school dinner because that's what his friend has - if he has packed lunches he has to sit somewhere else - but the food is c**p.

oldiemum, except that report was the same day about a report on rancid meat (particularly chicken breasts) that was being washed in bleach and sold to schools to make school meals..... AURGJHGHJHJGJGJGJ!!!!

Made me feel sick reading about it.

Pupuce - just wondered about the custard - I sometimes buy ambrosia custard to go over Lottie's fresh fruit deserts, is it that bad?? Today she's having stewed organic apples with organic raisin that I've soaked in water overnight before adding them and I've given the childminder a small tub of ambrosia to go with it as something different as she had stewed apple yesterday as well.

BTW - talking of bad foods etc - wasn't it you that recommended Brazilian cocktails for my dinner party? OMG - you are responsible for an incredibly drunken evening!!!!!!! Well done!

Beware Sonnet IME end of week home delivery slots fill up quicker than Mon/Tues.

It's just the sugar in the custard that can be quite high... that's all

Bozza - I'll have to get super-organised then like you

For those of us who worry if we only manage to cram 4 fruit/veg portions in a day from time to time, a report to make us feel better

Three Fruit and Veg May Be Enough

What I'd like to know is: I hate brown bread, have never liked it so we have white. However, have recently switched to these brands that are now saying it's white bread with the goodness of whole flour. Is this a con? I'm fully prepared to accept it's still not as good as brown bread, but if it's slightly better for you than white, then I'm happy to keep on buying it!

Sonnett - I wish ....

Its the horror of not getting a slot and having to actually venture around the supermarket that has taught me this.

PPH, I heard that report too on the condemned meat ending up in school dinners. Oh, the horror!
Ds's new nursery has organic, locally sourced food as a priority and doesn't serve meat, only fish and vegetables. The menus are fantastic. I asked if I could come for lunch, but they said no

Another thing that makes me worried about school dinners is this: My son will tuck in and eat all that is offered, healthy and less healthy. But then if seconds are offered he'll have them too. He can certainly put a lot of food away. He used to come back and tell me with glee about the two helpings of sponge pudding and custard he'd had, and that was after a first course of pasta, salad, baked beans and chicken drumsticks, for instance.

He is chunky - not fat, but not exactly slim - and having heard what he was having for lunch, I felt it was way too much. I asked his teacher if it would be possible to refuse him seconds but she said that is not school policy.

That was the reason I started giving him packed lunches.