2008 Polls

Click a link below to see the results of our member polls from 2008: 

• March - Unhealthy treats
• May - Food labelling  
• August - Active Communities
• November - Australia: The Healthiest Country by 2020
• December - Healthy Menus, Healthy Venues

March - Unhealthy Treats

In March 2008 The Parents Jury polled you on how frequently your children are given unhealthy 'treats' by other adults and whether you are happy about this happening.

Q1) Do any of your child's teachers give his/her students sweets as a reward for good behaviour?
- Yes 39%
- No 52%
- I don't know 10%

Q2) Do you approve of teachers using sweets as rewards?
- Yes 10%
- No 88%
- I don't know 2%

Q3) i. Why do you approve of teachers using sweets as rewards? (sample of responses)
- "We need to put our trust into teachers that they are responsible and know that they are knowledgable in what they are doing"
- "There is a place for treats and as long as it is not excessive I think every kid should have the pleasure"
- "My child eats healthy food most of the time and is active so I see no problem with occasional sweets as rewards. I also object to my children being prevented from having 'unhealthy' treats because of the inappropriate actions of other parents not providing their children with regular healthy food"
- "If it's done in moderation, it's fun and teachers do get results"

ii. Why do you disapprove of teachers using sweets as rewards? (sample of responses)
- "Some children may only behave if they know they will get sweets"
- "There are healthier and more effective ways of rewarding good behaviour that will help to build a child's resilience in the long term"
- "It lays the foundation for the mentality of 'I deserve a little something in my mouth for doing a task'. I don't think the connection should be made between food and behaviour"
- "The reward is potentially related to obesity; alergies; tooth decay; hyper-activity; emothional attachment to sweets; targeted messages that effort must always be rewarded with something tangible"
- "Giving a lollypop after a swimming lesson is silly. Ruining a healthy activity with unhealthy food"
- "It takes the away the control of the parent to know what their child is eating and when"

Q4) How many times a week is your child offered unhealthy 'treat' foods and drinks by other adults (external to the family)?
- Less than once per week 45%
- Once or twice per week 40%
- 3-6 times per week 9%
- Everyday 1%
- Never 2%
- I don't know 2%

Q5) Do you find it hard to say 'no' to your child accepting a 'treat' food if you are with them at the time?
- Yes 58%
- No 37%
- I don't know 5%

Q6) i. Why do you find it hard to say 'no' to your children accepting a treat? (sample of responses)
- "The sweet is being given by someone that they trust and that we want them to have respect for. Therefore we don't want to undermine that person"
- "You worry that the person offering the treat is going to feel that you are judging them as a bad parent for letting their own kids have that treat"
- "You worry that you are viewed as an extremist by other parents"
- "Because [my child] doesn't understand|and I may not have it in me to deal with a tantrum"
- "Other children are getting a treat so you feel like a killjoy if you say 'no' "
- "I don't want to make my child feel uncomfortable being singled out"

ii. Why do find it easy/OK to say 'no' to your children accepting a treat? (sample of responses)
- "I want them to learn that there are other rewards besides sweets and treats as a reward for good behaviour"
- "I tell them [my child] reacts violently and they will look after her until the reaction wears off"
- "I expect other adults to understand that I should have the choice about what my kids eat"
- "If the item is offered to the child and others are recieving them I usually accept and take the item to be handed out at a more apprpriate time"
- "If someone offers my child a sweet while I am there I simply intercept, either saying 'thank you but no' or accepting saying that [my child] can have it after dinner"

Q7) Do you object if other adults give your child 'treat' foods without your permission when you are not there?
- Yes 54%
- No 36%
- I don't know 10%

Q8) Would you prefer for your child to be offered a non-food reward instead?
- Yes 92%
- No 6%
- I don't know 2%

Q9) Please provide some examples of where your child is being given extra ‘treat’ foods and by whom.

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May - Food Labelling Systems

Q1) How useful do you find the following labels when purchasing an unfamiliar food product? (respondents were asked to rate how often they use each label on a scale of 1 (Always) to 5 (Never), or "I don't refer to this")

Q2) Are you more likely to purchase a food product if it features any of the following nutrition claims?

Q4) If you answered 'Yes' in Question 2, do you also check the ingredients list or Nutrition Information Panel for further information?
Yes - 92%
No - 8%

Q5) Should the Government introduce a compulsory front of pack labelling system on all packaged foods?
Yes - 85%
No - 15%

Q6) A number of different labelling systems have been proposed. Which of the following systems would you prefer to see?

• Traffic Light Labelling - 53%
• % Daily Intake system - 9%
• Energy Intake vs Expenditure - 8%
• Overall Symbol system (Uses a single tick, green traffic light or smiley face to show if a food is healthy. Unhealthy food will not display the symbol) - 9%
• I don't know enough about food labelling issues to decide - 2%
• None - I am satisfied with the current labelling systems - 2%

Q7) If Other, please specify (top 3 responses)
1 - list ALL ingredients
2 - display the current food labels in larger font, more prominent on pack
3 - warning for additives

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August - Active Communities

Q1) Please rate the following features according to how prominent they are in your local community:
(1=Excellent, 2=Adequate or 3=Poor)

Q2) Overall, how would you rate your community's activity friendliness for children?

- Excellent 23%
- Adequate 56%
- Poor 21%

Q3) Do your children make good use of your community's outdoor physical activity amenities?

- Yes 71%
- No 29%

Q4) If you answered 'no', please explain why
(summary of responses)

Q5) What would you most like to see improved in your community to promote physical activity to children?

Q6) If 'other', please specify
(sample of responses)

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November - Australia: The Healthiest Country by 2020

We polled members' on issues of childhood overweight and obesity for our submission to the National Preventative Health Taskforce's Preventative Health Strategy, based on the content of the Taskforce's Australia: The Healthiest Country by 2020 discussion paper.

>Q1) How should the Taskforce engage and seek the views of key players in the preventative health strategy?

Q2) How could the Taskforce provide a ‘learning by doing' approach to overweight and obesity prevention?

Q3) Please rate the appropriateness of each of the Taskforce's suggested prorities for action:

Final ratings:

1. Embed healthy eating and physical activity into everyday life through school, community and workplace programs
2. Protect children from inappropriate marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages
3. Reshape urban environments towards healthy options through consistent town planning and building design that encourages greater levels of physical activity (eg walking, cycling, food supply, recreation)
4. Reshape industry supply and consumer demand towards healthier food products
5. Build the evidence base, monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of actions taken
6. Close the gap for disadvantaged communities through the development of targeted approaches to overweight and obesity
7. Strengthen, skill and support primary health care to support people in making healthy choices

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December - Healthy Menus, Healthy Venues

Q1) During the school holidays, approximately how often do your children eat out at cafes, restaurants, or entertainment venues?

- Rarely - 36%
- 1-2 times a week - 54%
- 3-4 times a week - 10%
- Everyday - 1%

Q2) Are you satisfied with the quality of food available for children when eating out?

- Always satisfied - 2%
- Mostly satisfied - 10%
- Satisfied half the time - 29%
- Mostly unsatisfied - 52%
- Always unsatisfied - 8%

Q3) Which are the worst offenders for providing unhealthy food for children?

Q4) Do you avoid taking your children to cafes, restaurants or entertainment venues that don’t offer healthy children’s food?

- Always - 11%
- Mostly - 37%
- Sometimes - 44%
- Never - 8%

Q5) What is most important to you when eating out with children at cafes and restaurants? (Top 3)

1. Healthy age-appropriate kids’ menu
2. Small cut-price serves of regular menu items
3. Playground/outside area/kids’ entertainment

Q6) What irritates you most when eating out with children at entertainment venues? (Top 3)

1. Lack of healthy or fresh made-to-order options
2. Cheap and unhealthy ‘value meals'
3. Cost of feeding family

Q7) Should state governments introduce catering guidelines for family entertainment and sporting venues?

- Yes - 75%
- No - 4%
- Unsure - 20%