Gifted kids reject schools' diet dictates but choose healthy eating

A poll of students at the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth found that 68.7%of the students questioned thought schools should not be able to dictate their diet and 100% of those asked said they would choose the healthy option and were aware of the hazards of a junk food diet. 770 students replied to the poll.

Some of the students who replied in the poll are this week attending a 'Don't Supersize Me: Medical Science' course at the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth's summer school at the University of Warwick. Comments from the students on that course included:

“If I was given the choice, since I know the facts about how sleepy junk food can make you, I would rather eat the healthy choice. I would rather eat something that would keep you going for the rest of the day than something that gives you a quick burst.” (Shaaji)

“I totally disagree that it should depend on the school on what we eat. Realistically they're beginning to control what we eat, which is absurd. ” (Hasan)

Students participating in the 'Don't Supersize Me: Medical Sciences Course' will spend the course learning about and evaluating the molecular biology basis and potential treatment rationale for a number of associated diseases with regard to obesity. Students (aged between 11-16) will investigate subjects normally only taught at PhD level.