Left on their own, children eat junk
The eating habits of Greek schoolchildren are to blame for most of their health and growth problems, according to a survey conducted by the Consumer Institute (INKA) and made public yesterday. The survey also claims parental absence and lack of communication have ensured the role of television as the key source of recreation and education for schoolchildren who become hostages to television, as at least 77 percent of school pupils hardly ever eat at the same time as their parents. Television allows convenience-food producers the opportunity to market to the children’s target group, INKA said. This leads to 77 percent of children eating food lacking any essential nutrition, according to the survey which blames state complacency and allowance from their parents for the worrying trend. Last month, the culture minister – after Simitis, the most senior government official involved in Greece’s Olympic preparations – caused a stir by announcing he would attend press conferences given by Oswald and Angelopoulos-Daskalaki.
