‘Great white diet’ has potential to cause health problems in children

The rise of the “great white diet” has the potential to cause a raft of health problems in Queensland kids unless parents intervene, diet experts say.

THE rise of the “great white diet” in Queensland children has sparked a cry for parental intervention by the state’s top diet experts.

White cheese sandwiches, white toast with butter, plain noodles and pasta, white crackers and glasses of milk — these are the core foods for many fussy eaters who refuse to add any variety to their weekly meals, leaving parents tearing their hair out.

“There is no blame on the parents as habits can form over time but they should seek out professional help for food phobias or extreme fussiness as the lack of nutrients from all the food groups can make children unwell as well as cranky,” Brisbane dietitian Kate Di Prima told The Courier Mail.

Sofia Melo, 4, Levi Carter, 5 and Kydon Moane, 4, rarely tuck into a white bread sandwich. Picture: Nigel Hallett

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The warning comes as a teenager in the UK lost his sight due to eating only chips, crisps and fast food since he was a toddler.

“My core clientele these days are children who are stuck in the same rotation of foods. Many drinking a glass of milk rather than eating their dinner or preferring flavourless, blended soft food rather than something they have to chew. These are problems and should not be ignored. Bowel issues are common in children with this kind of white diet,” Ms Di Prima said.

Nutrition Australia’s Aloysa Hourigan says there is a growing number of children who eat foods without colour. In some cases chicken nuggets are the only source of protein.

PARENTS URGED TO MODEL HEALTHY EATING FOR CHILDREN WITH “BRAIN SNACK” OF FRUIT

“The boy losing his sight is obviously an extreme case but a lack of a balanced diet impacts a child’s growth, learning, sleep and moods,” she said.

Parents should try to persevere with giving young children a variety of foods with plenty of colourful vegetables, the expert warns.

“It’s not easy dealing with a child with food phobias and many are children who are on the spectrum. Food gets wasted and parents would rather their child would eat something rather than nothing,” Ms Hourigan said.

The boy who lost his sight was normal height and weight with no outward indication of being malnourished but even though he was consuming plenty of calories his restricted diet had no nutritional value.