{"id":1334705,"date":"2024-06-22T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-22T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.agriland.ie\/?p=1334705"},"modified":"2024-06-21T16:00:53","modified_gmt":"2024-06-21T15:00:53","slug":"animal-products-can-be-beneficial-for-young-children-nutritionist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lightsail.agriland.ie\/farming-news\/animal-products-can-be-beneficial-for-young-children-nutritionist\/","title":{"rendered":"Should young children eat meat and dairy?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A leading nutritionist has confirmed that animal products such as beef, lamb and dairy<\/a>, can feature in meals made available to young children, as long as they make up part of a balanced diet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is according to director of nutrition at safefood, Dr. Aileen McGloin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She said: “Plant protein sources must also be included. Young children should be offered a range of protein sources.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where potatoes are concerned, Dr. McGloin confirmed that they are not included on the five-a-day list of vegetables that people are advised to eat on a regular basis. Rather, they will continue to be regarded as a source of dietary carbohydrate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Safefood <\/a>is an all-island body, established 25 years ago, to provide healthy eating and food safety advice to the public. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The organisation also carries out research into food safety while providing independent assessment of Ireland\u2019s food supply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. McGloin was in Belfast recently to launch a five-year communications campaign, highlighting the growing change of obesity within children in Ireland. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The event saw a number of experts confirm that lots had been achieved over the past two decades in tackling the issue of poor diet within Irish society. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The introduction of a sugar tax was cited as a case in point, however, the issue of childhood obesity remains a priority, one that must be addressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA total of \u20ac600,000 will be spent across the island of Ireland on developing the new campaign in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHowever, manufacturers of crisps, fizzy drinks and chocolate will spend millions of Euros advertising their products during the same period,” the nutritionist added. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With 63% of pre-school children in Northern Ireland <\/a>alone able to identify unhealthy food brands before they can read and write, one-in-four children are currently living with either overweight or obesity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Food-related ill-health is the leading cause of preventable illness in the developed world, and children living with overweight or obesity are at a significantly increased risk of developing chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and many cancers in adulthood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile the psychological and social toll on children due to weight stigmatization can be profound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new safefood campaign will seek to rally Northern Ireland<\/a> public opinion to confront the harsh reality of our unhealthy food environment and demand immediate action to safeguard our children’s future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It will spotlight the urgent need to transform our food landscape, tackling the overwhelming variety and availability of unhealthy options head-on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It will also highlight the marketing tactics that promote high-fat, high-sugar, and high-salt foods in in children’s everyday lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As part of the campaign, safefood will lead a food environment forum, which will comprise the lead health agencies involved in the policy and partnership work in this area and will steer a roadmap for the next five years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is anticipated that the demand for change created by the campaign will help advance this work and expedite the changes needed to build a healthier food environment.<\/p>\n\n\n