Screen out sugar
Wednesday, April 4, 2001
I thought the feature 'Healthy bytes' (1 March), about a computer programme for childcarers, gave a very misleading impression. The booklet is excellent, although very dry, but you would never guess the computer programme was based on its advice. I would say the programme is a big step backwards. It has all the faults of old-fashioned school dinners, such as a daily pudding made with fat, white sugar and white flour, plus some 'modern' faults like recommending nuggets and fast foods. The photo to illustrate it was also misleading - oranges and leeks do not feature much in the programme, nor do fresh fruit and vegetables nearly as much as they should.
I would say the programme is a big step backwards. It has all the faults of old-fashioned school dinners, such as a daily pudding made with fat, white sugar and white flour, plus some 'modern' faults like recommending nuggets and fast foods. The photo to illustrate it was also misleading - oranges and leeks do not feature much in the programme, nor do fresh fruit and vegetables nearly as much as they should.
I am appalled that they recommend giving young children sugar several times a day. Every single dinner ends with something containing sugar. I thought that fresh fruit or cheese was considered the correct mealtime ending.
The article got one thing right - the programme is horribly difficult to use. I can only hope this will put people off using it. My guess is the feature's author only read the publicity, but it is irresponsible to recommend a seriously flawed product without a more knowledgeable and critical eye.
Marilyn Roe, East Dulwich, London
