KEY POINTS:
Most people think schools should sell only healthy foods to students but want to be able to access junk food in their workplaces.
In a classic parental tale of "do as I say but not as I do", a Herald summer poll has found people think adults should
be allowed easy access to chips, chocolate and cans of coke but children should be spared such temptations and delivered a diet of wholegrain salad sandwiches and fresh fruit.
That is unless the harried parents are packing the school lunch box themselves, in which case most feel they are entitled to chuck in a range of convenience foods such as high-fat muesli bars and oily crisps.
The poll showed 82 per cent of those surveyed believed schools should only sell healthy foods while support for healthy fare in lunch boxes was half that, just 41 per cent in favour.
Similarly only 40 per cent believed the Government should make sure only healthy food was sold from workplace-vending machines and cafeterias.
Celia Murphy, Obesity Action Coalition executive director, said schools were much more responsive to healthy eating standards than parents.
She said it was important school canteens not go against what was being taught in the classroom about good nutrition.
However, she could understand why parents might object to being told what not to put in school lunchboxes as they might feel it was reasonable to include things such as a slice of birthday cake.
But parents should take more seriously what they were giving their children for lunch. "Treats are going into lunchboxes on a regular basis. They can't afford to do that."
Ms Murphy said it was important treats be the exception rather than the rule. Many of the popular high-sugar and high-fat foods were party foods.
"We have lost perspective ... it has become everyday consumption."
It was a shame more effort was not made in workplaces to encourage healthy eating habits.
"They don't realise if you look after staff and provide them with healthy food you will get better results. People feel better."
Dr Robyn Toomath, spokeswoman for Fight the Obesity Epidemic, said it was not just about food.
"Workplaces need to make it easier for people to exercise - like making showers available."
The higher profit margins in junk food led to some resistance in providing healthier options.
Stephanie Horrocks, lifestyle balance co-ordinator at Provender Snack and Drink Vending, said choice was important in vending machines but people needed to limit their treats.
She said Provender had developed a range of healthy options, including low-fat and low-sugar snacks and those using natural ingredients such as nuts, seeds and dried fruit.
It was also providing smaller sized portions to reduce total energy intake as well as using good messaging on products like "half now, half later" informing people they did not have to eat them all at once.
Such options allowed people to have healthy snacks while still spoiling themselves with a treat once or twice a week.
