Boys’ diets ‘less healthy’ than girls

Boys are less likely than girls to eat Jamie Oliver-style healthy school dinners, according to new research by a UK cancer charity.

A survey of around 1,300 children by Cancer Research UK found that fatty and sugary foods, as well as meat, processed meat and eggs, were more popular with boys, while girls tended to like more fruit and vegetables.

The charity’s research involved a questionnaire, which asked the children, all aged between 4 and 16, to rate their favourite foods. Foods such as chocolate, pizza and ice-cream were found to be firm favourites with both boys and girls, although the girls’ top ten list also included fruit such as strawberries and grapes.

However, foods that could help contribute to a healthy diet – such as spinach, leeks, marrow, swede, sprouts and turnips – all proved to be unpopular with children. Cabbage, cauliflower, mushrooms, onions, parsnips, celery and liver also achieved low scores in the survey.

Lucy Cooke, from Cancer Research UK’s Health Behaviour Unit, said: “The results of the questionnaire clearly show that children prefer unhealthy foods. Girls tend to like – and actually eat – fruit and vegetables more than boys and this is particularly so in the teenage years when girls become more conscious of their diet and how they look. But levels are still far lower than they should be for a healthy balanced diet.”

Professor Jane Wardle, director of Cancer Research UK’s Health Behaviour Unit said that providing healthy food in schools would make a “valuable contribution” to improving children’s diets. She said: “Research has shown that children can learn to like foods more if they try them often enough.”

The government has already introduced plans to improve the standard of school dinners, including the introduction of minimum nutritional standards, which will become mandatory in September 2006.

Richard Davidson, director of public affairs for Cancer Research UK said that education on healthy eating was also “essential” for children. He said: “Teachers throughout the country should be given information on the best way to help children learn about the advantages of eating fruit and vegetables and the effects of being seriously overweight. Practical lessons on how to prepare healthy food could be useful as an informal approach.”

It is thought that half of all cancers could be prevented by lifestyle changes. Cancer Research UK’s ‘Reduce the Risk’ campaign recommends eating a healthy balanced diet, which includes at least five portions of fruit and vegetables each day.

(KMcA/SP)