re: NHS Spends Millions On Larger Equipment For Obese - Put an extra tax on Fast Food
 

There are people who don't know how to cook because cooking wasn't actually taught for many years.Some pale imitation called food technology took it's place from the 80s well into this century..in which children were taught about the retail and technology of making foods like bread etc.However they barely actually learn how to make a nutritional meal from scratch because they spent more time designing a food product and it's packaging than actually cooking anything..So a whole generation learned how to look at a ready prepared meal as a way of life..:rolleyes:

re: NHS Spends Millions On Larger Equipment For Obese - Put an extra tax on Fast Food
 

That I agree with. Absolutely no need for the ridiculous amounts of sugar piled into soft drinks.

re: NHS Spends Millions On Larger Equipment For Obese - Put an extra tax on Fast Food
 

Maggy, my children, both boys now in their mid 30's, know all about proper food and nutrition and are well able to cook a proper meal from scratch. They were encouraged by us, their parents, to help in the kitchen when they were young. Even pre-school they "helped" mix and bake cakes, saw how things were prepared for a meal, encouraged to help do all these things just as I had with my mother as a young boy. Junk food was a rare "treat" for my children maybe after a swimming session when we may have taken them to McDonalds, something I always hated but tolerated. They are both healthy, good physique and good build/weight balance.

I am of the same generation as yourself and it seems that unfortunately many parents of our generation have failed their children by indulging them instead of educating them thus creating problems for future generations. However good, or bad, the education system has been at teaching in this area ultimately parental guidance is what has failed.

re: NHS Spends Millions On Larger Equipment For Obese - Put an extra tax on Fast Food
 

No need to tax fast food or sugar people just need to learn about having some self control.

Re: NHS Spends Millions On Larger Equipment For Obese - Put an extra tax on Fast Food
 

It'd be great if my GP ordered me to have KFC once a week

I'm 6'4" and 15- 16 stone and am pretty sure I'm classed as obese, this bmi thing needs looking at imo

Or just learn that if you can get 3 chicken wings, chips and a drink for 2 quid then it's probably not going to do you any good.

Re: NHS Spends Millions On Larger Equipment For Obese - Put an extra tax on Fast Food
 

It isn't just fast food: I was in my local carvery recently and there were three female heffalumps at a nerby table. They waddled off and returned with plates heaped so high I doubt you could have got another roastie on them. They then proceeded to wolf down the lot.

Sheer gluttony and I doubt any tax would have stopped them. Shame though might: Say have a weight sensor in the entrance that sets off alarm bells and flashing lights when a fatty walks over it.:D

Re: NHS Spends Millions On Larger Equipment For Obese - Put an extra tax on Fast Food
 

What we need to do is TEACH our children to cook from scratch..and nutrition should be taught in schools.It amazes me how many people don't know even the differing food groups..and importance in their diet.

Re: NHS Spends Millions On Larger Equipment For Obese - Put an extra tax on Fast Food
 

The kids I know just wamt to drink the 'trendy' lucozade energy drink. and eat the 'trendy' McD's.

is there any parents out there that know that letting your kid drink fizzy pop constantly before, during and after meals suppresses their appetite. and is the reason why little Johnny is "Not Hungry!" and is why you "can't understand" ?

Re: NHS Spends Millions On Larger Equipment For Obese - Put an extra tax on Fast Food
 

After seeing what "cooking classes" were like in secondary school (bring in a premade pizza base, cover it in tomato puree and bits of precut cheese and ham... then take it home to cook) I offered my services to the twins' school.

Only 30 minutes, so I demonstrated how to sharpen knives, then how to use to to peel, slice, dice, etc.). They were not allowed to use sharp knives in case they cut themselves!! Many had never used a knife away from the dinner table!!

The second lesson was a description of the difference between the cooking styles: fry, boil, roast, poach, etc.

The third lesson didn't happen as the Head decided it was pointless!

The teacher never repeated my 2 simple lessons, but went back to the course she was told to deliver. :(

---------- Post added at 09:55 ---------- Previous post was at 09:52 ----------

I approached the parent-teacher group about lessons after school, but was formally told (by letter) that "cooking skills are not a mainstream skill, and not suitable for after school classes)".

With thinking like that, I can see why kids get a raw deal in school these days.

Re: NHS Spends Millions On Larger Equipment For Obese - Put an extra tax on Fast Food
 

Before we got equal education in schools us gals spent an afternoon a week cooking.We cooked from scratch and we cooked everything from Christmas cakes to a 3 course meal.We also had to research and do projects on nutrition and later answer exam questions on food and cooking.
After equal education cooking got thrown out of the syllabus.

One secondary school I worked in in recent years introduced an exam catering course for years 10-11..it was the most popular course for both sexes and they had to turn down students because there wasn't enough spaces on the course.Seems some students know what they want and it's more vocational and useful subjects for life.

Re: NHS Spends Millions On Larger Equipment For Obese - Put an extra tax on Fast Food
 

When l was at school 30 odd years ago l wanted to do the cooking classes but they turned me down as they said the classes were really for the girls at the school.

Luckily when l left home rather early in my life l learned how to cook for myself by buying cookery books and by asking people if l did not know something.

Re: NHS Spends Millions On Larger Equipment For Obese - Put an extra tax on Fast Food
 

I do a mean Pot Noodle.

Re: NHS Spends Millions On Larger Equipment For Obese - Put an extra tax on Fast Food
 

Maybe there should also be a tax on social media since this seems to have replaced exercise for so many young people. I believe this to be just as big a problem as junk food. Kids used to be far more active than they are today and that's not down to sugar.

Re: NHS Spends Millions On Larger Equipment For Obese - Put an extra tax on Fast Food
 

Well said. I was walking the dog this morning between 11:00 - 12:00 and part of the walk took in a large park, several acres of well maintained grassland with a hard basketball court at it's centre free for all to use! It was a beautiful morning here, but for the 15-20 mins I was in this park throwing the ball for the dog we were the only people there despite it being just a couple of minutes from several hundred houses! 50 years ago when I was a teenage schoolboy during half-term this sort of area would have been teeming with kids playing football, riding bikes, etc. but I suspect todays' kids were sitting in front of screens of PCs or games consoles. As we all know, except for the very few with genuine medical disorders, obesity is down to poor diet and lack of exercise

Re: NHS Spends Millions On Larger Equipment For Obese - Put an extra tax on Fast Food
 

As a kid I learnt to cook off my gran and when I became a dad I taught my kids starting off with an old fashioned Sunday lunch and eventually to casseroles and shepherds pie and the like as a result nonevof my kids are obese. It's not just teaching the kids it's about making it fun and a routine for them so they look forward to it we used to play a game to see who was going to do what part of the meal. These days a lot of parents fall into two category's too lazy to do it or too tired to do it after working all week. I'd rather not see another tax as no matter the good intention in introducing it eventually we all know it will be abused as other lifestyle taxes have been.

But if we have to have it then the proceeds should be guaranteed as someone else said as a subsidy towards healthier alternatives.