Stockport Council is encouraging parents to “Be Food Smart” and take control of their children’s diets. This follows shock findings from Public Health England which show that children consume half the daily recommended sugar intake before the morning school bell rings.

Public Health England’s new Change4Life campaign urges parents to ‘Be Food Smart’.  A new “Be Food Smart” app has been developed to highlight just how much sugar, saturated fat and salt can be found in everyday food and drink that their children consume.

The free app helps and encourages families to choose healthier options and works by scanning the barcode of products allowing parents to compare brands and features food detective activities for children and mini missions the whole family can enjoy.

Cllr Tom McGee, Stockport Council’s Executive Member for Health  said: “Our  latest child obesity figures indicate that over a fifth of 4-5 year olds are overweight or obese rising to nearly a third of all 10-11 years. Our kids might seem fine on the outside but too much sugar and saturated fat can lead to the build-up of harmful fat on the inside that we can’t see. This fat around their vital organs can cause weight gain and serious diseases in the future, such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. It’s therefore really important for families to know what their children are eating so they can make healthier choices. I would encourage families to download the free app and join the thousands of other Stockport families who have already registered with Change 4 Life.