Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Much of this problem is due to a lack of finance for families. The reality is that it is easier and cheaper to eat badly. It is much easier to buy a frozen pizza from Lidl than it is to buy fresh vegetables and fruit. Also, in rural areas there might be only one local shop so options are limited. We also need to consider how snack-type foods are marketed. When one enters any garage one will see signs claiming two for the price of one or two for €1 when it comes to confectionery. It takes more effort to find healthy snacks and, unfortunately, they are less appealing, particularly to children. Healthy snacks are always more expensive. We need to address these matters. It is all well and good introducing a sugar tax. The reality is people do not want to eat badly but one's finances, etc. are limited if one has a large family and one resorts to convenience foods.

Eating healthily comes down to the approach adopted by the family and a parent or parents. I have children and I know about the food programmes rolled out in schools called Super Troopers and Food Dudes. I am lucky that the school my children attend is so strict about implementing a healthy eating policy that children can never bring in any type of a snack. That situation can be frustrating when one is trying to think of a new item for children to eat at lunchtime in school. My children tell me that they are not allowed to eat snacks, which shows one can change the mentality of children.

I suggest that healthy eating be promoted as part of antenatal care. The majority of people will avail of the public health system for maternity services and I know the service is extremely overstretched at present. One is offered antenatal classes during the first pregnancy. I suggest that a mother's well-being is promoted and that women are provided with information on the best foods to consume during pregnancy, when the baby is born and at all the various stages. When parents bring their toddler into a shop it is easier to buy him or her a packet of snacks to pacify the child rather than buy fruit. Most of this issue concerns trying to change the mindset. People do not see the long-term damage. Obviously the more sugar one has the more people will want it and all of the rest. I suggest that a programme is run in conjunction with antenatal classes. A little of that information is imparted at checks performed by public health nurses but it is very limited. I suggest that the nutritional aspect of the scheme is increased. I am interested in hearing the opinions of the witnesses on those areas. If my suggestion was implemented then people would benefit from an early age. If schools continue the good work with the healthy lunch policy then everyone will have a better chance of being healthy.