A study out of Montreal, Canada, has found that an increasing number of young people are using their bedrooms as “junk food havens” where they can eat whatever they want, without any adult supervision.
In the study of 534 10- to 12-year-olds, the Universite de Montreal researchers found that 58 percent of boys eat once in a while or every day in their bedroom, compared with 48 percent of girls. And when the researchers asked the kids what they ate, they were astonished by the responses.
The boys were more likely to wolf down pastries, ice cream, hamburgers, pizza, chips, French fries and soft drinks. [Source: The Montreal Gazette]
Very few of the boys or girls surveyed ate anything healthy while in their rooms, and many of them ate in front of a television or computer screen. Researchers encouraged parents to make family meals a priority, and to make them healthy. Parents are also encouraged to replace junk food with healthier snacks like fruits and vegetables.
Labels: parenting, junk food, family meals
Posted By: Stefanie Hamilton
