Ireland consumes more sweets and chocolate per year per person than our European neighbours.
Children describes the feeling of eating some of their favourite sweet treats.
Mushy, melting, yum.
What are the health implications of eating sweets and chocolate?
In Ireland, every year, we spend about £250 million on confectionary and that is a lot of sweets and chocolate.
Nutritionist Kate Cunningham has studied Irish eating habits and explains some of the reason why we are such big eaters of sweets in Ireland.
I don't know if we have a sweet tooth as a nation but I'm not surprised that we spend all that money on chocolates.
A national survey found black bins full of chocolate and sweet wrappers in schools. Kate Cunningham is not happy to see people replacing meals with chocolate snacks. She says that many city children are eating these snacks on the way to school in place of breakfast. They are then eating on the way home from school which in turn spoils their appetite for their proper evening meal.
We're having trends emerging of high fat eating.
While there is nothing wrong with a bar of chocolate it should not be in place of a meal.
Kate Cunningham refutes claims that chocolate causes hyperactivity. Scientists have demonstrated that the connection only impacts a small number of children. The solution she believes is to plan meals properly and to start the day with a good breakfast.
This episode of 'Family Matters' was broadcast on 29 September 1993. The presenter is Caroline Murphy.
'Family Matters' was a TV magazine programme for and about families. It was presented by husband and wife team Sean O'Rourke and Caroline Murphy and looked at the changing face of Irish family life. The very first episode of 'Family Matters' was broadcast on 7 October 1992. It ran for three series on RTÉ Television until 12 April 1995.
