Family meals 'shape children's food preferences'
Parents who want their children to follow a healthy, balanced diet in the future should prepare nutritious family meals, an expert has advised.Nutritionist Amanda Ursell believes the foundations for a good diet in adulthood need to be put in place at an early age.
She advised: "It is incredibly important for children to eat well because they need a balance of nutrients.
"If they are having unbalanced meals and they are getting too much fat and too much salt, then that is going to create their preferences in later life."
Ms Ursell claimed that children who have a poor diet typically continue to enjoy these foods in the future, increasing their risk of illness and obesity.
For this reason, adopting healthy, balanced diet plans during childhood is "crucial" to give youngsters the best start in life and increase their chances of enjoying nutritious meals in later life, she added.
Ms Ursell's comments came as a study by Tate & Lyle Sugars revealed that one in three parents use crafty tactics to ensure their families have a balanced diet.
