Did you know?
Thirty years ago, most people led lives that kept them at a healthy weight. Kids walked to and from school every day, ran around at recess, climb trees, and played for hours after school before dinner. Meals were home-cooked with reasonable portion sizes and there was always a vegetable on the plate. Eating fast food was rare and snacking between meals was an occasional treat. Today, children experience a very different lifestyle. Walks home from school have been replaced by car and bus rides. After-school sports have been cut, afternoons are now spent with tuition, phones, and the social media. Parents are busier than ever and families eat fewer home-cooked meals. Junk food as meals and snacking is now common.
Food Portion sizes have also exploded, they are now 2 to 5 times bigger than they were in past years. Beverage portions have grown as well, in the mid-1970s, the average sugar-sweetened beverage was 13.6 ounces compared totoday, kids think nothing when drinking 20 ounces of sugar-sweetened beverages at a time.
In total, we are now eating 31% more calories than we were 40 years ago–including, 56% more fats and oils and 14% more sugars and sweeteners. The average Singaporean now eats 7kg more of sugar a year than in 1970. 8 to 18-year old adolescents spend an average of 7.5 hours a day using entertainment media, including, TV, computers, video games, cell phones and movies, and only one-third of high school students get the recommended levels of physical activity. Now that’s the bad news, because without us realising, our entire system is now designed to help parents raise a generation of sick kids.
The good news is, by making just a few lifestyle changes, we can help our children lead healthier lives–and we already have the tools we need to do it. We just need the will.
What Inspired Me?
Cancer rate is rising, Diabetes is rising, along with many other chronic lifestyle diseases. These diet-related problems are really hurting people and it upsets me because if people knew about food, they’d be able to make better choices and feed their families better. There’s not enough proper food education out there and no limit to how many fast-food restaurants are allowed to open.
We are so obviously in a place where we care more about money than we do about the health of ourselves and our kids.
I’ve gone into schools where kids can’t tell me what a potato or a tomato is...so called 'Health Experts' are promoting the wrong kind of food.
I think that’s pretty shocking. If our kids aren’t learning about food at home, we’ve got to make sure they learn at school in a contemporary, relevant, and exciting way. Being upset about our current system and all these things inspires me.
How?
Asia Food Revolution Movement is a comprehensive initiative, launched in November 2018.Dedicated to solving the challenge of childhood obesity, so that children born today will grow up healthier and able to pursue their dreams.
Combining comprehensive strategies with common sense, the movement is about putting children on the path to a healthy future during their childhood. Giving parents helpful information and fostering environments that support healthy choices. Providing healthier foods in our schools. Ensuring that every family has access to healthy, affordable food.
Everyone has a role to play in reducing childhood obesity, including parents, elected officials from all levels of government, schools, health care professionals, and community-based organization, and private sector companies. Your involvement is key to ensuring a healthy future for our children.
The Asia Food Revolution movement isn’t about taking away your burger, or telling someone they can’t have ice cream, it’s about sharing information and knowledge so we can change the day-to-day stuff and get back to having healthy, happy society.
Speak with our team on 'Farmz Happy Program' designed for kids, and please join me by signing this petition if you believe this movement is critical for our kids.
