Mum, what is this?
A beetroot my dear!
Many children should ask you this question if you introduce them to this vegetable. In fact, according to a study conducted in 2013 by theASEF (Association Santé Environnement France), 87% of children do not know how to recognise a beetroot.
The survey was carried out among more than 900 schoolchildren aged 8 to 12 in the PACA region.
Faced with the growing increase inobesity and overweight among children, the ASEF doctors (general practitioners, paediatricians, etc.) decided to carry out a survey to gain a better understanding of children's eating habits and to be able to set up operations to raise awareness and prevent overweight. The survey was distributed in class by means of an anonymous questionnaire.
The first observation concerns drinks. Nearly one in four children say they never drink water at the table, preferring syrups, sodas or other fruit juices.
The second finding is that children are not familiar with food. And you will be surprised!
Indeed, it is not only beetroot that poses a problem... A small selection of the answers obtained:
- 31% of them cannot identify an artichoke, a fig or a courgette,
- 20% cannot recognise an apricot,
- ¼ of the students surveyed do not know that yoghurt is made from milk,
- ¼ of children do not know that Chips are made from potatoes,
- 50% do not know theorigin of the minced steak or ham.
Today's children are so used to eating processed foods that we sometimes forget to introduce them to the basics... It makes you think, doesn't it?
If you want to test your children's knowledge, here is the questionnaire that was distributed. Let us know what you think!
