Children are eating less dessert and candy but more fruit, cheese and meat, than they did two decades ago.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more


According to researchers in Bogalusa, Louisiana who looked at eating habits of 1,584 10-year-old children, the percentage of kids consuming fruit or pure fruit juice, sweetened beverages, cheese, mixed meats, and poultry, has significantly increased. During that time, consumption of fats/oils, vegetables, dessert, candy, condiments, eggs, milk, and beef has declined.


Consumption of salty snacks and beverages rose sharply, but the number of children eating them did not, possibly explained by larger quantities consumed and portions. This may shed light on increasing obesity levels among children. The study, published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, was part of a long-term study on children’s eating habits.

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact