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 Children’s health - leaving a healthy legacy |
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 Poor lifestyle habits established in childhood may contribute to our children’s risk of cancer later in life. Many cancers take years to develop, so it’s crucial that children - and their parents or carers - hear our message.
Our guidelines
Like adults, to stay healthy, children need to eat a diet rich in plant-based foods, limit their intake of red meat and avoid processed meat.
They also need to be physically active in some way. While adults should be physically active every day for 30 minutes or more, it is recommended that children do at least one hour of exercise a day (although this doesn’t have to be all in one go).
Children need to maintain a healthy weight – we are all aware of the obesity crisis and research supports the link between being overweight or obese and cancer. However, unless advised by a doctor, dieting is not normally recommended for children while they are still growing - so it is all the more important for children to control their weight through eating healthily and doing enough physical activity.
The Great Grub Club
We believe that the earlier we can help influence children’s lifestyles the better, so most of our work concentrates on children aged 4-7. Our Great Grub Club website, funded by the Department of Health, is full of fun activities to help children make sensible food choices and help them understand how physical activity can make them healthier and happier.
Leading by example
Young people learn by example - so mums, dads and carers can help their children lead a healthier lifestyle just by being healthier themselves.
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Copyright
WCRF UK, 19 Harley Street, London W1G 9QJ - Tel: 020 7343 4200 - Fax: 020 7343 4201 - wcrf@wcrf.org
Registered Charity No. 1000739
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