News South Africa

Kids who help to prepare meals learn to eat healthier food

According to Health24, the best way to get children to replace junk food with healthier fruits and veggies is to give them an apron. Researchers from the Canadian University of Alberta say that a survey of students in Alberta suggests that children eat - and enjoy - healthier foods more when they help with meal preparation.

Health24 reports that lead author Yen Li Chu, a post-doctoral fellow in the School of Public Health, says that kids who like fruits and vegetables, tend to eat them more frequently and have better diets. "These data show that encouraging kids to get involved in meal preparation could be an effective health promotion strategy for schools and parents," she says.

Nearly one-third of children reported helping with meal prep at least once a day. Kids who did meal prep and cooking were more confident about the importance of making healthier food choices, Health24 says. While, in general, children preferred fruits to veggies, children who helped with cooking showed a greater preference for both.

Read the full article on www.health24.com

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