Study Children in Germany eat unhealthy

Study identifies unhealthy nutrition of toddlers

23/05/2011

The diet of toddlers in Germany often leaves much to be desired. The adolescents eat too much meat and sweets, according to a study by the Research Institute for Child Nutrition (FKE). According to the infants also take on average significantly less liquid per day. In the long term, there are serious threats to health.

The research institute for child nutrition in Dortmund is dedicated to multidisciplinary research in the areas of nutrition, development and growth of children. The institute's experts have come to the preliminary conclusion in a recent study that toddlers in Germany eat too little healthy food such as vegetables, fruits and whole grains. In return, too much meat and sweets are consumed. Often, even in infancy, the foundation is laid for lifelong wrong eating habits, with correspondingly serious consequences for the health of those affected.

Children eat too much meat and sweets
By researching the relationships between diet, growth and metabolism of children and adolescents, the FKE claims to contribute to the promotion of health and development in growth by improving nutrition. One such research is the so-called GRETA study (German Representative Study of Toddler Alimentation), from which the first results have become known. In their study, the researchers analyzed the dietary habits in 525 representative households with one to three-year-old children, although on the one hand young children were eating too much sweets, meat and sausage, and on the other hand drinking too little, the news agency reported „dpa“. The FKE found that adolescents drank an average of only 0.4 liters a day instead of the recommended 0.7 liters a day.

Children eat twice as much candy daily as recommended
The consumption of sweets by infants, however, at about 50 grams per day was well above the recommended amount of a maximum of 25 to 30 grams per day. On the other hand, healthy foods such as vegetables or whole grains would also be under-consumed by the adolescents, the experts report. For the nutritionist Dr. oec. troph. Annett Hilbig from the FKE are particularly worried about the results of the GRETA study, because dietary habits are being developed especially in infancy. Accepted wrong habits can accompany the affected person for a lifetime and cause long-term significant health problems, the expert told the news agency „dpa“. Normally, infants take over their parents' eating habits as they move from baby porridge to solid meals, explained the nutritionist. Therefore, the role model function of adults should not be underestimated at this point. And since children are particularly dependent on a healthy diet in order to develop healthy, the parents should follow their role model role as fully as possible in eating.

French fries and sweets should be the exception
However, many parents seem to have significant uncertainties about infant nutrition. Because the GRETA study found that even after the transition to family meals, the adolescents often still receive baby porridge. According to the experts of the FKE, some children, even up to the age of three, are fed mostly with porridge. „Either they like to eat it or their parents have a certain sense of safety, because they could not go wrong with porridge“, so the assessment of Annett Hilbig. Also, according to the experts, many children shy away from unfamiliar foods simply because they are new to them. If the toddlers reject the inclusion of healthy foods for this reason, the so-called „Neophobie“ By administering small portions at regular intervals over time, the nutritionists explained. In principle, according to Annett Hilbig, there is nothing wrong with the kids eating fries instead of spinach, but the parents have to make sure that this remains the exception. In general, unhealthy foods should only be offered in a clearly restricted way, but bans help little, according to Annett Hilbig.

Optimized mixed diet as a nutritional recommendation for children
Toddlers should ideally use one after switching to solid food „optimized mixed food“ be nourished, recommend the experts of the FKE. Many plant-based foods such as vegetables, fruits, potatoes, pasta and rice as well as enough water, unsweetened drinks or highly diluted fruit juice spritzers should form an integral part of the diet, the FKE nutritionists advise. Also milk, dairy products, eggs, lean meat and fish are recommended, but only in significantly reduced quantities. The GRETA study concludes that children in well-to-do families and higher education tend to be significantly better fed than average. This is also due to the choice of fresh food in food preparation, explained the FKE nutritionist, Annett Hilbig. The more affluent families come closest to the FKE recommendations for optimized mixed diet, according to the results of the GRETA study.

Switch from baby porridge to family food
The under the name „Optimix“ The Research Institute for Child Nutrition also offers a protected nutritional recommendation for optimized mixed diets as a brochure. However, this diet can serve as a guide only after the transition to solid food. For the transition from porridge to „family fare“ For example, instead of the previous vegetable-potato-mash for lunch, the FKE recommends solid food from vegetables, potatoes, rice or pasta with a little meat for lunch. According to this principle, the morning milk-cereal porridge and the evening milk meal in breakfast and dinner can be made from milk, bread or cereal flakes, as well as fruit and raw food, explain the experts of the FKE. The porridge meals are replaced by equivalent solid foods from similar foods. From the beginning, the children learn a healthy diet that supports them optimally in their development and avoids health impairments due to their eating habits (eg lack of nutrients, overweight). (Fp)

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Image: Holger Gräbner