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Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Primary education

Can anyone tell me in what capacity would diet and saturated fats be discussed with 7 year olds?

18 replies

Beauregard · 06/05/2009 22:20

I am worried about my dd1 now.
She is now refusing certain foods and saying she will get fat.She is already predisposed to mental health problems and eating disorders.
She is 7 ,why is it neccessary to discuss diet with 7 year olds?

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ByThePowerOfGreyskull · 06/05/2009 22:23

Not sure specifically but DS1 who is 5 has been learning about healthy eating and is now obsessed by vitamins and if things are good for you and fat levels (although not saturated fat)
I have continued to tell him that in moderation there are no "bad" foods the only thing that can be "bad" is the amount of some of the things we eat.

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FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 06/05/2009 22:25

IIRC, it's basic at this age (the food groups) have you had a chat to her teacher? The school nurse team are very helpful aswell and they will speak to your dd at school about this if you wish or just talk to her about whatever's bothering her. You can access them through the school, you don't need to tell the school why you wish to talk to them, it's confidential. The school nurse can liaise with the school on your behalf regarding this.

We all need a certain amount of fat in the diet, it's essential. I can see why she's stressed out though. It's too much for a child so young.

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seeker · 06/05/2009 22:26

It is necessary to discuss diet with 7 year olds because a lot of the foods that are considered suitable for children are massively high in saturated fat, salt and sugar, and children need to be armed with information that will help them make wise choices.

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Feenie · 06/05/2009 22:27

It is linked to this Science unit in Y2:

Health and Growth

It clearly promotes balance though.

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Beauregard · 06/05/2009 22:30

Thanks for replying

I havent had a chat with her teacher yet no,as i have some problems with communicating with the school at the moment and i am not happy with them.

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Beauregard · 06/05/2009 22:32

yes seeker but at 7 years of age my dd doesnt have to buy food or be made to feel body conscious.I provide her with a healthy balanced diet.

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Beauregard · 06/05/2009 22:34

Feenie i cant open that document at the moment.

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seeker · 06/05/2009 22:35

You provide her with a healthy balanced diet - but a lot of parents don't do this for their children. And she presumably has pocket money to spend, or goes shopping with you and pesters for stuff?

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Feenie · 06/05/2009 22:36

Is this link better?

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seeker · 06/05/2009 22:36

There is a big difference between being food aware and being body conscious.

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Beauregard · 06/05/2009 22:39

Yes Feenie thankyou.

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Beauregard · 06/05/2009 22:42

Well seeker i have lost a sister to suicide because of the living hell of eating disorders which was actually triggered by the actions of a PE teacher in high school.So understandably i am concerned.

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piscesmoon · 06/05/2009 22:42

It comes under the science syllabus.

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Beauregard · 06/05/2009 22:45

Great thanks

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Caz10 · 06/05/2009 22:46

Very sorry to hear that PF.
I agree with what seeker is saying though - it has to be taught - but what should be being taught is balance.

There is research to show that there is key period BEFORE the event when you have to teach stuff to children - e.g. Year 6s are getting info on drugs atm, Yr 4s probably smoking, etc. That is because they are a few years away from encountering these things themselves. So the thinking is that by e.g. 10 or 11 your daughter will be much more actively involved/responsible for what she eats and by then she'll have all the key facts on board to make the right choices.

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piscesmoon · 07/05/2009 06:40

They are not being told not to eat fats, but that to have a balanced, healthy diet it is like a triangle and the fats and sugars are at the top and you only need a small amount, as opposed to fruit and veg on the bottom where you have a large amount.
see picture
If she thinks that she can't eat any fats she is getting the wrong message from the lesson.

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seeker · 07/05/2009 07:58

I am very sorry to hear about your sister - how awful for you. Is that why you say your daughter is predisposed to mental health problems and eating disorders?

Have you told the school about her background?

Schools (if they are doing it properly) only teach about food in terms of balance and a healthy diet, so I don't think you need to be concerned about what she is learning. But I would check with the teacher and look in her work book to make sure that it is being handled properly.

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Beauregard · 07/05/2009 13:30

Thanks for replying ,some good advice.

I need to sort out my communication with the school and go from there i think.Not happy with the approach and attitude of the school but need to decide if i can work it out or move dd.

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