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Kids' views

As part of the food promotion and children debate, we visited two north London schools to find out what children there think about food, fitness, and how to spend their pocket money.

Eight-year-old Freya goes to Rhodes Avenue Primary School in Muswell Hill. ‘I get pocket money for chores like laying the table so I get about £2.50. I save up for things I want to buy or sweets. At school I have a packed lunch to take to school and have sandwiches, crisps, fruit and a chocolate biscuit. I don’t like school lunch – it’s disgusting.'

Eleven-year-old Jake says: 'I know it's important to eat a healthy diet and fruit is good for growth and energy. I think you should eat mostly carbohydrates, fruit and veg, then dairy, then protein, and lastly fatty sugary stuff. Too much salt is bad 'cos it blocks your arteries, makes your blood thick and sticky and can cause strokes. I do a lot of exercise and I don't have a telly in my room 'cos my mum says it makes kids antisocial.'

Ten-year-old Iskander thinks that fat people are good at swimming. 'When we went to Alton Towers last year we saw a lady who was as fat as a wardrobe – I think she will probably die early. Fat people are really good at swimming though. I saw a TV programme where there was a fat man who was a good swimmer and a thin man who couldn't stay afloat.'

Nine-year-old Lewis says: ‘There are some fat kids in my class. They are not very sporty and eat too much. They hate sport and just swap Pokemon cards and eat. That’s all they do. I try to keep fit. I do fun runs and I play netball. Running about makes me feel good. I also go ice skating and play tennis and football. I am only allowed to watch one hour of TV on Saturday and Sunday. Sometimes I watch a video in the evening.’

Seven-year-old Alessandro has school lunch and hates it. 'It's always horrible food like powdered mashed potatoes. I try and eat mainly vegetables. Sometimes they have pizza but I don't like that very much. I like going out to eat and sometimes we get takeaways when we run out of food.'

Fourteen-year-old Sebastian from Park View Academy in Tottenham says: 'I work on a Sunday on a market stall and get about £25. I fritter it all away on chips and coke and just stuff. I know all about the obesity epidemic 'cos I've seen it on TV. There are a couple of obese kids in my class – they don't care though. They have tried to lose weight but are not bothered. Some kids who are fat get bullied but these kids are quite popular. I try to eat some healthy food but I watch quite a lot of TV. I like Eastenders but I like reading, too.'

Fourteen-year-old Dean does a leaflet round on a Friday and Saturday. 'I normally get around £30. I spend it on going out with my mates to the cinema mostly. At lunch times I eat in the café opposite school – usually burgers and chips. During the day I get stuff out of the vending machine too – usually crisps or coke and Fanta. I know it's not healthy but I don't think it matters 'cos I play a lot of football and burn off the calories.

'On Sundays I go round to my nan's house and she cooks a big roast dinner. I think adults go on about food too much when they drink too much alcohol and get drunk too often. They should cut down on the advertising of alcohol.'

Thirteen-year-old Joseph has a weekend job in a garage. 'I get paid around £20 and spend it all on food and snacks – usually chicken and chips and sweets – I love food. I do play football a lot, especially at the weekend. After a game I just buy loads more food. At home I watch TV – the comedy channel mainly – and play PlayStation games.

'I think grown-ups worry too much about us. We do get a lot of peer pressure at school and things but I would always do what I wanted to do, not because someone else told me to do something.'

Twelve-year-old Kara does not have to earn money. 'I get about £10 a week pocket money and put it away in a piggy bank. I save up to get things I like or to buy presents for birthdays and stuff. I like going to the cinema at Wood Green. We all hang out with our mates. Sometimes we go shopping at Wood Green Shopping City. We stop for a coffee at McDonalds.'

Thirteen-year-old Katie gets about £5 a week pocket money. 'I buy sweets and things. I don't think it matters what you eat. I don't know what a balanced diet is really but I have heard that vitamins and vegetables and a mixture of food is good. I don't think girls are necessarily under pressure to be thin 'cos there's one girl in our class who is fat and is a real bully. She likes being fat and is quite happy.'

Thirteen-year-old Mark saves all his money in a bank account. 'I'm not saving for anything in particular. I eat what I like – usually burger and chips – there's not much choice in the cafeteria at school. I get healthy food when I get home. I usually go up to my room and play about two hours of PlayStation and watch a bit of TV.'

To read some views of grown-ups, visit Have your say...