SIRC – Media Watch 30-04-99

Healthy = Boring

On the day that saw the launch of National School Meals Week, a Gallup poll reveals that 37% of all parents questioned were not currently worried about the contents of their children's diet. While a large number of the 8-16 year olds asked showed an awareness of 'healthy' eating, 40% called this type of nourishment 'boring'. David Blunkett, who last year introduced measures to allow schools greater freedom in the choice of their caterers, said that he was keen to ensure that this new flexibility was used for the provision of more nutritious food rather than solely for the benefit of cost reduction.