Funk food fueling our kids_英文原版

junk foods, such as potato chips, chocolate and lollies have become part of the staple diet of many australian children, new research reveals.

south australian health department data has shown that one in five children under the age of 12 now eat junk foods high in fat and sugar at least once a day.

worse still, one in three children also have soft drinks or cordial high in sugar and consume a treat like a muesli bar every day.

sa health minister john hill said the data showed that junk foods were becoming a regular part of many children's daily diets.

"as the nation grapples with the obesity epidemic and increasing childhood obesity rates, this is alarming data about the consumption habits of our children,'' mr hill said.

he said he was also concerned that the rise in junk food consumption had come at the expense of healthier foods like fruit and vegetables.

the health department data showed that while most young children were doing well with eating fruit they were falling short on the amount of vegetables they eat.

older teenagers were doing poorly on both counts.

only 20 per cent of children aged 12 to 18 were getting the recommended four to nine serves of vegetables each day.

only 16 per cent were eating the recommended three or more serves of fruit.

mr hill said it was clear most age groups were not eating enough fresh food.

"i'm concerned that junk food snacks, particularly for children, are replacing the healthier fruit and vegetable options,'' he said.

the new data followed figures released earlier this year which showed that 234,200 south australians were now considered to be obese.