A fit choice?

A fit choiceOur new report exposes the unhealthy food options available where kids exercise.

It's great that children and young people are having fun and getting active at places like leisure venues, bowling alleys and ice rinks. But we think that all this good work is being undermined by the huge range of unhealthy foods they're being offered through vending machines and junk food meal deals.

Did you know an average seven year old needs to swim for 88 minutes to use up 203 calories? That's the average calorie content of the snacks most often found in vending machines in leisure centres, according to our new report.

Published in support of our ongoing Food4Thought campaign it reveals a snapshot of just how this is happening. It found that:

  • Vending machines dominate venues, stocking snacks that can't be advertised on children's TV or sold in school vending machines
  • Junk food meal deals rule children's menus
  • There's little nutritional information to help kids and parents understand what the healthiest option is.

To find out more download and read the full report.

How can I help?

If you're a student, or work in a school, send us an email to find out how you can get involved in the campaign and help us to survey food options avaliable in local leisure centres.