Philips
Written: Wednesday, September 1, 2010FOOD FIBS
Millions of mums admit fibbing to their kids to get them to eat the right foods, a study revealed yesterday (Tues).
Researchers found eight out of ten mothers regularly wheel out old classics such as 'carrots will help you see in the dark' or 'crusts will make your hair curl'.
Other popular food fibs include 'eating vegetables will make you big and strong' and 'Spinach will give you muscles like Popeye'.
A cruel claim the ice cream van only plays music when it has run out of lollies is also still commonly used.
The study also found the average parent tells the kids two white lies every day to encourage them to eat fruit and vegetables or put them off fizzy drinks.
Deneice (corr) Harwin from Philips AVENT, which commissioned the study to mark the launch of its Toddler Feeding Range, said: ''Encouraging toddlers to eat new foods can be a nightmare for parents and make meal times the most stressful part of the day.
''But it's important that they get the right nutrients and this means eating fruit and veg, which tend to be the worst foods in children's eyes.
''So it's no wonder parents are telling little fibs to their children in an attempt to get them to eat certain things.
''If kids think eating more vegetables will help them grow up to be like Ben 10 or Sportacus from Lazy Town, then hopefully they will be more willing to eat what is put in front of them without a fight.''
The study of 3,000 mums revealed almost two thirds struggle to get their toddlers to eat a healthy, balanced diet.
Four out of ten admitted feeling a pang of guilt for lying to the children and six out of ten said they often reach a point where they simply don't know what else to do.
A similar number said their kids only ever wanted to eat what was on mum's plate rather than their own.
And 50 per cent said they used food fibs when the children suddenly decided to stop eating something they previously liked.
Almost seven out of ten said they considered their child to be a fussy eater.
It also emerged 89 per cent admit regularly worrying whether their children were getting the right nutrients, with 13 per cent so concerned they have taken them to see a doctor or nutritionist.
This could explains why almost 41 per cent of parents have resorted to hiding unwanted food among something the kids do like, with another 36 per cent turning it into an eating game.
The study also showed eight out of ten mums have given in when their child refused to eat something.
Dr. Gillian Harris, Child Psychologist, said: ''Parents looking for an easier time at the table should remember that the best way to get a child to enjoy eating is to interact with them and get them interested in food - if a child is interested in what's going on their plate and what they put in their mouth, parents are less likely to need to battle to get them to eat something.''
Top Ten Food Fibs
1. ''Eating vegetables will make you big and strong''
2. ''Eating carrots helps you see in the dark''
3. ''Eating crusts will make your hair curl''
4. ''Spinach will give you muscles like Popeye''
5. ''Its not fruit, it's sports candy''
6. ''If you eat apple pips, you'll grow an apple tree in your belly''
7. ''Eating sweetcorn will help you grow like the Big Green Giant''
8. ''The ice cream van only plays music when it has run out of ice cream''
9. ''Okay don't eat it, I'll throw it in the bin'' (reverse psychology)
10. ''Fizzy drinks turn your teeth to jelly''
