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Research has identified that parents in England fall into a nutritional knowledge ‘comfort zone’ as their thirst for nutritional knowledge dries up as children get older.
The poll, commissioned by the School Food Trust, investigated how and when parents seek out information as their child develops. It revealed that only 11% of parents with primary school age children will actively seek out information on this phase of their child’s nutritional development. This figure compares to 50% of all parents who look for information when they start feeling their child solids for example.
Not only do parents stop looking for information, but it also coincides with a period when the information flow lessens. Healthcare practitioners were cited as the number one source of information (56%), with midwives following closely behind (43%). As children get older, it can be argued that these sources play less of a pivotal role in a child’s nutritional development.
However, regardless of what is available and how much parents are looking for information, nearly all (94%) agreed and appreciated that the right school food choice has an impact on their child’s development.
To plug this information gap, the School Food Trust has created the Little Book of Goodness to provide more advice, make school food choices simple and re-engage parents with their child’s dietary needs.
Prue Leith, School Food Trust chair, commented:
“The research shows that parents spend a lot of time seeking out information on children’s early nutritional phases but during the identified ‘comfort zone’, it becomes less of a priority as other decisions take precedence.
“Because we’re aware of the pressures parents are under, we created the Little Book of Goodness. It provides a source of information on this important phase in a child’s nutritional development and raises awareness amongst parents that even when they are as old as four to six years, they still have very different nutritional needs to adults. School food is one of the easiest ways to ensure they are getting the goodness they need.”
The Little Book of Goodness aims to support parents in making this key nutritional decision. The booklet has been specifically designed for parents and has all the information they need to make an informed decision on their child’s school food.
Over 750,000 parents of reception year children will receive this booklet which is currently being distributed to more than 17,000 primary schools across England for parents of children going to school for the first time.
Parents can request a booklet by contacting their school. Alternatively visit http://schoolfood.uk.msn.com for further information or to download a copy at http://bit.ly/XGZQT
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