Dr. John Sharry:

The Senator is right about parties and the regularity of treats. Some of the most important initiatives I have seen taken include the healthy schools lunch policy, which works very well. They could go even further with that. Sometimes they allow a treat on Friday but there is no need for that. Organisations such as sports or scouting bodies could have a code of practice so that at parties there would be healthy options. These are possible actions. People think it would be an outrage to do this but there are plenty of healthy, interesting and attractive foods that can be offered. Voluntary organisations could do much work, along with schools and us as individual parents and communities. We could agree to change the dynamics of these parties and social events. It is all about exposure in the research, and the Senator referred to an apple or Mars bar being available. It is not just children who pick the Mars bar.