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It's good to talk: children's views on food and nutrition

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 59, pages 542–551 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

To gain an insight into children's views about food and nutrition.

Design:

Data were collected in focus group discussions; two focus group sessions were undertaken with each school group.

Setting:

A total of 11 postprimary schools in Northern Ireland and England.

Subjects:

In all, 106 children aged 11–12-y-old (n=52 boys, n=54 girls).

Results:

Focus group transcripts were analysed using qualitative research methodology. Major barriers to healthy eating were taste, appearance of food, filling power, time/effort, cost, choice/availability, risk, rebellion, and body image/weight concerns. The main difference between sexes was in terms of motivating factors for eating well; girls tended to focus primarily on their appearance whereas boys appeared to be more influenced by sport. There was some mention of balance and variety within the focus group discussions, however, in practice, the children had a tendency to categorise foods as either ‘good’ or ‘bad’, ‘healthy’ or ‘unhealthy’.

Conclusions:

This study has revealed a number of barriers to, and motivations for, healthy eating, which should be taken into account when planning nutrition intervention strategies aimed at children moving into adolescence. While it may be possible to immediately attempt to address some of the barriers identified in this study, for example, in nutrition education initiatives, other barriers (such as the lack of available, attractive and affordable healthy foods in the school canteen) will prove more difficult to tackle without changes at the policy level. Overall, it appears that health promotion specialists have a major challenge ahead in order to encourage this age group to view healthy eating as an attractive and achievable behaviour.

Sponsorship:

Food Standards Agency, London, UK.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to teachers and pupils from all the schools involved who gave so freely of their time and to the Food Standards Agency for funding this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK

    M C McKinley, P J Robson, J M W Wallace, M Morrissey & M B E Livingstone

  2. Food and Health Communications Ltd., Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, England

    C Lowis

  3. Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ulster, Jordanstown, Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland, UK

    A Moran

Authors
  1. M C McKinley
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  2. C Lowis
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  3. P J Robson
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  4. J M W Wallace
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  5. M Morrissey
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  6. A Moran
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  7. M B E Livingstone
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M B E Livingstone.

Additional information

Guarantor: MBE Livingstone.

Contributors: MMcK was responsible for study design, execution, data analysis and preparation of the paper. CL assisted with study design, performed duplicate data analysis and commented on the paper. PR assisted with study design, data analysis and commented on the paper. JW and AM assisted with study design and commented on the paper. MM provided assistance with data collection and transcribing focus group manuscripts. MBEL was the principal investigator, assisted with study design and commented on the paper.

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McKinley, M., Lowis, C., Robson, P. et al. It's good to talk: children's views on food and nutrition. Eur J Clin Nutr 59, 542–551 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602113

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602113

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