Obesity linked to poverty

When my children were little rationing was still in force and we were not well off but by making the most of available food they were healthy and never hungry. Walking to school and playing outdoors in all weathers.
I still have my mother’s recipe books from when I was a child in the 1930 s. Good plain simple English food.

Sorry 40 s

Dear "grow stuff" didn't you read my post about my SON LEARNING TO COOK AT SCHOOL in the 1980 s? Cooking covers everything from maths to science -measuring ,why heat makes the ingredients rise etc. It was nt just for girls in his school and definitely should nt be. We ALL have to eat and we ALL have the responsibility to train our children to eat and cook healthily.
I know people have a hard time trying to make ends meet and my mum was one of them but she made stews ,soup with potato bread ,lovely homemade fish and chips on Fridays.
In my own family sat was treat night when we had chunky chicken toasties and French Fancies in front of tv. My chn now in their 400 still talk about it.!
Chn nowadays don't know what a treat is! End of rant!

My mum went to work, part-time but I always remember her working.

When I was a child Mums didn't go out to work, they were housewives who had plenty of time to shop and cook sensibly, whilst managing their "housekeeping" budget and most were happy to do so (if not, they just had a job rather than a family). Mums nowadays are expected and encouraged to have full time jobs, sort out the needs of their children and still do most of the housework etc. They can however afford to buy ready meals rather than cooking so it easily becomes a lifestyle choice (like using a washing machine and tumble dryer rather than hand washing and hanging washing outside to dry n- and ironing - what's that?).
If one parent stayed at home until the children were at least in full time education and then took a part time job during school hours like our parents did (and indeed I was lucky enough to do) I think the stay at home parents would have time to learn to cook cheap nutritious meals etc. There is enough pressure on young mums who are doing their best to juggle their busy lives without being criticised for choosing the easier options foodwise. (For clarity, my grandchildren are fit and healthy and not overweight. My DD is a have it all ways mum but she is also a brilliant cook but just don't know where she gets the energy from (in fact, I secretly worry that one day she will just burn out like the city traders do and be forced to slow down!)

I bottle fed mine early 70s. My choice. Let's not blame women for the problem.

Surely if food is dangerous /addictive it should be clearly labelled. I've just read an article that said the government was considering a health warning on cheese and butter in 2008. Still waiting.
Why is the government reluctant to do more; I wonder.

cc we didn't always manage to get to Lidl but yes, their fruit and veg are a lot cheaper; we're not able to get there at the moment.

We normally buy excellent fruit, veg and fresh meat from Lidl but have been shopping entirely online since March and our food bills have gone up by at least £20 per week.
Its hard to know if people don't cook well or shop carefully because they have less understanding of nutrition, less money or because they believe that they "don't have the time".
Cooking skills are another matter, it is amazing how many people just don't cook from scratch, and ready meals are probably more expensive than fast food.

There have been many programmes on TV about eating economically; as some have said a whole chicken goes a long way, frozen meat is often cheaper than buying fresh, ditto vegetables, and there is no waste. It was pointed out that a bowl of sugary cereal and milk costs about 25p, and a bowl of porridge 4p. We were poor when I was a child; my Mother could afford very little in the way of meat and our plates were filled with the most delicous roast potatoes, and fresh steamed vegetables. We couldn't afford sweets, and rarely had cake as the budget was so tight. No fat children in my class; I came across only one chubby girl later whose father owned a company and could afford to put a great deal more on the table - probably too much!

I echo every word of growstuff’s post about cookery not being something taught in schools. It wasn’t part of my school life, but I had no trouble cooking when I had to. I picked up a few things from my mother, the rest from books. It really isn’t difficult.

How does my statement of fact
"But breastfeeding IS the biological norm and confers life long benefit to Mum and baby"

become this?
"This sounds like just another thing to blame women for getting wrong"

The OP raised a really interesting question, but every single point of observation that I have made on this thread has been has been countered with personal umbrage. I'm off to have more productive conversation elsewhere. Like, Aldi.

Merryweather Are you talking about now or then? Are you really still breastfeeding?

Great post crazygranny.

I agree about hidden sugars, but I don't see how additives and preservatives add to obesity levels.

I didn't learn cookery at school and I'm very glad I spent the time learning things which were more interesting and opened my eyes to the world.

Schools shouldn't be about training future housewifes.

Learning to cook really isn't rocket science. I learnt from cook books.

Totally agree with GrannyLaine. Hidden sugars are 'poison' together with additives and preservatives..
Mr W and I are "old school" and have often got 10+ meals out of a chicken - roast dinner, stir fry, soup, sandwiches etc.,

Furret

Nobody, certainly not me, Oops has ever harangued mothers into breastfeeding. Certainly there has been a lot of encouragement which has helped reversed the bottle feeding trend of the 60s. It is universally agreed that mother’s milk is best.

Sorry, I disagree. I'm a member of a local Facebook group and there are a lot of young mothers. There's definite pressure on new mothers and a certain amount of snobbery about breast feeding. Those who don't always have to give some kind of excuse.

Nobody, certainly not me, Oops has ever harangued mothers into breastfeeding. Certainly there has been a lot of encouragement which has helped reversed the bottle feeding trend of the 60s. It is universally agreed that mother’s milk is best.

The Child Povery Action Group figures show that in 2018 to 2019 30% of children in the UK lived in poverty. But exactly what that means in terms of its effect on nutrition I feel completely unable to comment through my own ignorance of just what an impoverished life means. It is so far removed from my personal experience. I have a home with good cooking facilities, enough money to afford nourishing food, a fast and constant internet connection which allows me to research topics on nutrition and to watch the many shared cookery and diet videos on youtube. I have a car so that I can shop where I please. I have appliances to make preparation and cooking easier. If it is cold my heating keeps me warm. I am not rich, I haven't been away on holiday for over 15 years but I am certainly not poor. I never have to make the choice between clothing for children, rent, food, heat and medicine which the CPAG and other organisations tell us that many poor families face. All I have for families who struggle is profound sympathy.

How many mums were full time?
Children were able and safe to play outside with less risk- fewer cars, more green areas etc.
Most weeks we have around £20 for food for 5 although I’m breastfeeding one I go with out. We grow as much as we can. I try to keep meals healthy and there’s very few treats. I cook from scratch. There’s more preserving agents in food too these days to make things last like salt and sugar.
A year ago our lives were very different but we still didn’t over eat nor were mine fat as very sporty.

TheFrugalPiggy.....this offer from Coop is in fact awful and part of the obesity problem ! These are the foods kids are addicted to and these food are not healthy...

When I was young there was no convenience food so people had no choice but to cook from scratch. Now, after working all day, it must be difficult to find the energy to cook a family meal. I'm retired and cook from scratch every day for health reasons but it bores me to tears. I can see why people take the easy option. However, a lot of people I know have a cupboard full of biscuits and junk snacks. If they replaced those with fruit that would help.

When I was young it was eat it or do without no going for pizza, macdonalds, my mother cooked us one main meal a day and if you didnt like it that was it. So you sat and ate it as far as I can remember. I was always large as a child (and still am now).as we were given things like rosehip syrup, malt in those days which left me with a sweet tooth as well as an extra spoon of sugar in the bottle of milk I got told. Nowadays I have found a lot of people are unable to cook as they have just never learnt how to and with all this ready prepared stuff around it is a lot easier to do ding in the microwave than come home from a day at office/factory or wherever and start preparing a meal. Much easier to phone up for a take away. I learnt cookery at school but I dont think they teach things like that these days.

Thanks Furret for coming to my rescue.

There is a link between poverty and obesity in children. I know that we are on to why do older people get fat but once you are grown up there is an element of choice!

Start your baby on mother's milk, wean them onto fruit and veg without too many dense carbs;, 3 meals a day rather than constant snacking (and try not to see sugary drinks and sweets as "treats" ) and you are unlikely to grow a fat child.

It does get harder once the child goes to school and begins to have choice. School meals are not the meat and 2 veg with rice pudding they once were, and for secondary school kids there are takeaway food outlets within easy lunchtime walking distance.
Whereas actual food shops (selling fruit and veg) are usually far from the school gates.

There always have been fat children. It used be blamed on "glands" - the Billy Bunters,
I wondered why my DGC schools no longer have a class photo and thought it might be because they didn't want to embarrass the "fatties"
Here is my school photo from 1955. There isn't a single fat child

Shortlegs

If, years ago, there were no overweight children in your class, who went in goal when you played football?

My very skinny, very tall DS who could leap into every corner because he was so agile.
Not when I was at school, of course and we didn't play football either.