How to talk to your kids about marketing

Heart & Stroke Foundation

There’s a certain sugary cereal that markets itself as “for kids” — not silly rabbits. Sure, it’s just a slogan. But the message that unhealthy food is kids’ food is echoed in a Canadian study, where researchers asked more than 600 children in grades 1 through 9 to differentiate between ”kids’ food” and “adult food.”

Children identified junk food, sugar (or sugary cereals) and candy as “kids foods.” High sugar and low nutrient foods tend to be marketed to children and adolescents. These foods are promoted as fun and entertaining, says University of Calgary researcher Dr. Charlene Elliott, lead author of the study and CIHR Canada Research Chair in Food Marketing, Policy and Children’s Health. Read more.