Kids Size Me

Obesity is one of the main preventable causes of death in the world.  It’s a growing problem in all western countries and in many it is reaching epidemic proportions.

I was interested therefore to read about an initiative in Ireland aimed at encouraging children to eat a healthier diet and develop a more sophisticated enjoyment of good food.  Apparently, even in these recession hit times, 72% of Irish families eat out with the kids at least once a month.  “Kids Size Me” is a program being jointly run by The Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI) and the Nutrition and Health Foundation.

Put Simply it wants restaurants to offer a range of half-size portions for children off the adult menu at half price.  I’m pretty sure that was normal practice about 40 years ago, but seemingly the situation today is very patchy with many restaurants demanding full price for anything on the main menu.  What has become normal of course is the Kid’s Menu, comprised of exactly the kind of high fat, high salt, low fibre dishes that are doing them so much harm: chicken nuggets, fish fingers, pizza, burgers and the ubiquitous chips.

Ireland has one of the worse childhood obesity levels in the world.  10% of children aged 5 to 12 are clinically obese and many of them will be set for a lifetime of weight related problems.  This scheme won’t change that on its own, but by showing children that food can be so much more interesting than chicken nuggets it may just make a dent, without denting their parents’ bank accounts.

Maybe next they could run an initiative to get adults to eat grown up food too!