Rosalee Brown

Some parents are concerned about their children's eating habits while others are not, thinking that their children will eventually learn how to eat right. When children are born, they are like blank canvasses waiting for paint and the first set of artists are those at home. The home environment helps to determine if this new work of art will be a masterpiece.

Six to 12-year-old children

In general, six to 12-year-old children maintain many of the habits learnt in earlier years and they continue to learn new ones. This growth periodis slow but steady and all food groups continue to be important. Breakfast is critical in whatever form the child desires and will tolerate. The important rule is that it should provide adequate energy, preferably from one of the cereals or staples along with some form of fat and protein. Provide healthy snacks such as fruit or unadulterated juices. Encourage children to partake in the school's cooked lunch programme as often, the variety of food groups offered is greater than (and not as monotonous as) the lunch kit.

Parents need to place some emphasis on meals served at home for this group and ensure that meals provide variety from all the food groups and are available to the children. Often, when children get home from school and the nutritious main meals are not available, they snack on energy-dense, nutrient-sparse foods.

Parents need to do a little planning .