0:00:04 > 0:00:06Fast food is everywhere.
0:00:08 > 0:00:09He likes KFC.
0:00:09 > 0:00:12Chicken nuggets, kebabs, fish and chips.
0:00:12 > 0:00:15Anything that's bad for you, he'll eat.
0:00:15 > 0:00:19Our kids just can't get enough of it.
0:00:20 > 0:00:22But he does love fizzy pop.
0:00:22 > 0:00:26A lot of cans, probably on average, say, six throughout the day.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29I've got no control over what he eats.
0:00:29 > 0:00:35Now we're rearing a nation of fast food babies.
0:00:35 > 0:00:41I see tooth decay, iron deficiency anaemia, rickets, even.
0:00:41 > 0:00:46It's a ticking time bomb of massive health problems.
0:00:46 > 0:00:51They are a recipe for heart disease, diabetes.
0:00:52 > 0:00:56We meet three families with three different fast food problems.
0:01:01 > 0:01:05A clan of take-away addicts whose diet is shared by even their tiniest tot.
0:01:08 > 0:01:13A 19-month-old whose mum and dad are frightened by his refusal to eat healthy food.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16Michael?
0:01:16 > 0:01:19Michael!
0:01:19 > 0:01:26And a three-year-old whose mum has never cooked him a healthy meal.
0:01:26 > 0:01:30Can I have a small doner meat with chips with cheese and mayonnaise please?
0:01:30 > 0:01:35All the families desperately want help.
0:01:35 > 0:01:41They're teaming up with experts to see if their babies can kick the habit.
0:01:41 > 0:01:46I just think maybe I just need to be reined back in and just start from scratch with him.
0:01:46 > 0:01:48If I've got an expert to help
0:01:48 > 0:01:53and I've got someone telling me what to do, then I'll be able to change it.
0:02:09 > 0:02:1419-month-old Cuba Fish from Cardiff is a fast food baby.
0:02:17 > 0:02:21He likes McDonalds, he likes KFC, he likes an Indian.
0:02:21 > 0:02:25He likes his pizzas, also his chips with plenty of salt, that's him.
0:02:25 > 0:02:29Cuba has one big problem...
0:02:29 > 0:02:33his whole family are take-away addicts.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35Most people have a Friday night take-away
0:02:35 > 0:02:38but we have Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday night take-away.
0:02:38 > 0:02:41- There you go darling.- Thank you. - You're welcome.
0:02:41 > 0:02:45They've been ordering for years, actually.
0:02:45 > 0:02:49Oh, chippies, Cuba.
0:02:50 > 0:02:55The take-aways are soaked in harmful saturated fat.
0:02:55 > 0:02:59- Cuba is consuming half a litre of oil a week. - So what you having then Chay?
0:02:59 > 0:03:02I'm having chicken, please.
0:03:04 > 0:03:06Construction assessor Simon
0:03:06 > 0:03:10could be a driving force behind this fast food feeding.
0:03:12 > 0:03:13Are we hungry still?
0:03:13 > 0:03:20- Yes.- Good. Guarantee that Friday and Saturday for me on the weekend, I'll take the kids to McDonalds.
0:03:20 > 0:03:25Simon's long working hours means he spoils Cuba rotten.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27It's hard to say no to him.
0:03:27 > 0:03:30You know, he's got a lovely big cute smile.
0:03:32 > 0:03:38If Cuba's mum Sam does cook a home meal, the reception is lukewarm.
0:03:38 > 0:03:41Sam, your pasta...
0:03:42 > 0:03:45Is nice?
0:03:45 > 0:03:49- Is half cooked.- Oh, do you know what, when you buy pasta from a shop, right,
0:03:49 > 0:03:52you know you get those chilled ones, when you eat it its hard, isn't it?
0:03:52 > 0:03:56Right there you are then, it's like shop bought pasta then.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59Nobody eats it and then they all run off and I'm left with just mess.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02Does anybody want this pasta?
0:04:02 > 0:04:04No thank you.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07Sam works two days a week as a banking consultant.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10The other five are spent cleaning her home...
0:04:10 > 0:04:12meticulously.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17Shall we put these back up?
0:04:17 > 0:04:20I'm just fed up of cleaning so if that means eating out avoids that
0:04:20 > 0:04:22than doing a lot of dishes... brilliant.
0:04:25 > 0:04:31Cuba and sisters Cleo and Chay also have free rein to plunder the sweetie cupboard.
0:04:33 > 0:04:37If I had to say a number I'd say at least 30 times throughout the day.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41He helps himself... I've got no control over what he eats.
0:04:44 > 0:04:48Whilst the girls have learned self-control, Cuba hasn't.
0:04:50 > 0:04:55The toddler knocks all the fast food back with an unbelievable amount of cola...
0:04:56 > 0:05:00up to six cans a day.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04It's out of control.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07Cuba can't sleep and Sam is now worried about his health.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10I'm totally conscious of it now.
0:05:10 > 0:05:14I just think maybe I just need to be reined back in and just start from scratch with him.
0:05:14 > 0:05:18I just don't know where to start, really, I think, with it.
0:05:18 > 0:05:20Sam is prepared up for change.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23But is Simon?
0:05:23 > 0:05:25I'm not too sure about the fast food.
0:05:25 > 0:05:29I quite enjoy that and I think he enjoys that so I won't like to stop too much of that.
0:05:33 > 0:05:40The person responsible for sorting out family health in the local community is Jane Imperato.
0:05:40 > 0:05:47She's a hugely experienced family health expert who's spent 20 years coaxing families onto healthy diets.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49I think that I am reasonably firm.
0:05:49 > 0:05:53I think I'm a good parent to my parents.
0:05:56 > 0:06:00Look what we've got here. Do you want to look at those?
0:06:00 > 0:06:02Wow, these are pretty, aren't they?
0:06:02 > 0:06:05Cuba has no choice in what he eats.
0:06:05 > 0:06:09To crack his problem, Jane will have to crack the whole family.
0:06:09 > 0:06:14Tell me all about what's been happening and what you feel your main issues are.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17We're just absolutely drained with him, to be honest with you, Jane.
0:06:17 > 0:06:21He's not eating properly, I'm totally aware that he's not.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24- How many take-aways do you have in a week?- At least five.
0:06:24 > 0:06:29At least five. You don't know what's in those take-aways and generally speaking,
0:06:29 > 0:06:33they are going to be high in fats and salts and sugar
0:06:33 > 0:06:39and basically they are a recipe for heart disease, diabetes.
0:06:39 > 0:06:43- OK.- Cancer.
0:06:43 > 0:06:47- OK. His diet at the moment, Sam... - Bad.
0:06:47 > 0:06:48Worse than bad, it's dreadful.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51- Oh, is it?- It is really bad, yes.
0:06:52 > 0:06:56Cuba is consuming 3,200 calories a day...
0:06:56 > 0:07:01700 more than is healthy for a grown man.
0:07:01 > 0:07:06There are long-term health risks but in his short 19-month life,
0:07:06 > 0:07:09Cuba's diet may already be taking its toll.
0:07:09 > 0:07:14My main concern is that he might be anaemic because he's not having an iron-rich diet.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17Right, OK. That's quite scary, really, isn't it?
0:07:17 > 0:07:20And it's been quite long term this diet's been as well, to be honest.
0:07:20 > 0:07:24How long has it been going on?
0:07:24 > 0:07:26For practically as long as he's been born.
0:07:28 > 0:07:32In the UK, one in eight toddlers are now iron deficient.
0:07:32 > 0:07:36This can, in the worst cases, slow a child's development.
0:07:36 > 0:07:41Cuba will need a blood test to see if he's anaemic.
0:07:41 > 0:07:46- Right now, Jane lays down the ground rules for the whole family.- We need to start cooking in this household.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49I want him on three meals a day.
0:07:49 > 0:07:51Sam... cooking!
0:07:51 > 0:07:53No, it's not all about Sam.
0:07:53 > 0:07:57I need you to back Sam up and when you're looking after the children,
0:07:57 > 0:07:59I need you to cook for them and maybe...
0:07:59 > 0:08:02- Are you listening to this? - Yes, are you?
0:08:02 > 0:08:03You can cook Si, you can cook.
0:08:03 > 0:08:07It's just getting the time obviously.
0:08:07 > 0:08:11And were you saying that you didn't like the mess involved in cooking?
0:08:11 > 0:08:14The mess he makes is irritating.
0:08:14 > 0:08:18I do the dishes and Sam is behind me cleaning everything up saying "Look at the mess you've made."
0:08:18 > 0:08:19I might slip and cut my head open.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22The thing is you've got to get your priorities straight.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25We need the mess, OK, unfortunately.
0:08:25 > 0:08:27Sorry about that, Sam.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30The sweetie cupboard, Simon, is going. It has to be gone.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33- Are you listening to this? - I'm serious, really serious.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35Seriously, it has to go.
0:08:35 > 0:08:40So just by getting rid of that, it means that Cuba's going to have to forage for more...
0:08:40 > 0:08:49- Stuff.- Oh, look at his face. - For more healthy foods. - More bananas.
0:08:49 > 0:08:54Losing the sweetie cupboard will be particularly tough for Cleo and Chay.
0:08:54 > 0:08:56We've got something to tell you.
0:08:56 > 0:09:00What we're going to do is, we're going to get rid of the sweetie cupboard.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03And you've got to be brave about this.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06It's not so much that you're the problem,
0:09:06 > 0:09:11- the problem is your little brother. You've got to set him a good example.- What do you think, Chay?
0:09:11 > 0:09:14- No.- What do you think, Cleo?
0:09:14 > 0:09:17- No.- Oh, well, OK... sorry, girls, it's happening.
0:09:17 > 0:09:19The grown-ups are in charge.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22We're taking control, me and Daddy are taking control back.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24Yes, Chay?
0:09:24 > 0:09:29I don't want it to go.
0:09:32 > 0:09:34Oh, dear.
0:09:34 > 0:09:38Don't let her pull on the old heartstrings. We're not being mean.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41We're being cruel to be kind.
0:09:41 > 0:09:48- All right, Chay?- For the sake of your little brother, really, because he is completely out of control.
0:09:48 > 0:09:53I've never come across a single family before that actually just
0:09:53 > 0:09:57lived on take-away food and just did no cooking whatsoever.
0:09:57 > 0:10:01It's to an extreme, it really is.
0:10:01 > 0:10:06Jane allows just one take-away a week as motivation.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09Their diet's been turned on its head.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12It's all easy to agree that we'll cook every night and make a plan.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15It sounds really good and I want it to work.
0:10:15 > 0:10:19I don't like it.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22Yeah, we feel really, really sad.
0:10:22 > 0:10:26I'm not cooking tonight, I'll have to start tomorrow.
0:10:36 > 0:10:41For Cara and Gareth's family in Surrey, it's not fast-food- eating parents that's the problem.
0:10:41 > 0:10:42Is that your lunch?
0:10:44 > 0:10:47Full-time mum Cara and sports event co-ordinator Gareth
0:10:47 > 0:10:53eat a balanced diet and prepare 19-month-old Michael healthy food for every meal.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55It's din dins.
0:10:57 > 0:11:03I actually love cooking and I'll cook dinners fresh from scratch.
0:11:03 > 0:11:07We eat pretty healthily, to be honest.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09Michael, don't spit.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14Yes, you have to eat.
0:11:15 > 0:11:17Yes... eat your dinner.
0:11:17 > 0:11:20Here you are. Michael.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23- Michael.- Eat, come on.
0:11:28 > 0:11:29It's yummy, it's nice.
0:11:29 > 0:11:34The trouble is, the more they try and control his eating,
0:11:34 > 0:11:37- the more Michael rebels.- Michael!
0:11:37 > 0:11:39- Has he thrown it on the floor?- Yes.
0:11:39 > 0:11:41That was very... no, you don't do that.
0:11:41 > 0:11:43You don't do that.
0:11:43 > 0:11:45Very naughty.
0:11:45 > 0:11:47Very naughty.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50It's naughty.
0:11:50 > 0:11:52This is what it's like every meal time.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58- He's not going to eat that, is he? - No.
0:11:58 > 0:12:00It's affecting Cara and Gareth's relationship.
0:12:00 > 0:12:04Me and Gareth will, you know, be stressed at each other
0:12:04 > 0:12:05because of what's going on
0:12:05 > 0:12:09'and having to clean up all the food.'
0:12:09 > 0:12:11Yeah, it's a stressful time.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14Michael, sit down please.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16Lunchtime.
0:12:16 > 0:12:20It's lunchtime, OK? Come on. Hey, hey, hey, hey.
0:12:20 > 0:12:21Every meal ends the same way -
0:12:21 > 0:12:25Cara and Gareth resort to fast-food feeding.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28It doesn't help that they live directly above a fish and chip shop.
0:12:29 > 0:12:33Hi, can I get a regular cod and small chips, please?
0:12:33 > 0:12:35'When I give him fast food,
0:12:35 > 0:12:37'I do feel like a bad parent, I really do,
0:12:37 > 0:12:42'but I just think to myself if he's eating something then, you know,'
0:12:42 > 0:12:44that's better than having nothing.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47Thank you very much, Steve. Bye.
0:12:47 > 0:12:48Bye.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51'We've got to feed him and if we can't give him the right things,'
0:12:51 > 0:12:53you've got to give him something, haven't you?
0:12:53 > 0:12:57The end result is that Michael is one toddler
0:12:57 > 0:13:00who knows how to get exactly what he wants.
0:13:00 > 0:13:05The shopping trolley always fills up with his favourite fast food.
0:13:06 > 0:13:09- There you go.- Do you want to put them in the trolley?- Put them in for us.
0:13:16 > 0:13:18On an average day, like Cuba in Cardiff,
0:13:18 > 0:13:22he's clocking up a whopping 3,000 calories.
0:13:25 > 0:13:29Michael's bad habits began after he became seriously ill.
0:13:29 > 0:13:33Michael came down with meningitis when he was six months old.
0:13:33 > 0:13:38The doctors were telling us that it was very, very serious, you know.
0:13:38 > 0:13:42We were sort of preparing ourselves and thinking the worst.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45When Michael had meningitis yeah, it was very stressful.
0:13:45 > 0:13:49They was talking about him nearly dying. Sorry...
0:13:49 > 0:13:52HE SNIFFS AND SOBS
0:13:52 > 0:13:56I can't even explain how terrible, I mean for any child,
0:13:56 > 0:14:00to go through that especially when it's yours, it's just heartbreaking.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03Eat up.
0:14:03 > 0:14:09'It's definitely affected how we behave with Michael because we give in to him.
0:14:09 > 0:14:16'We just like to spoil him a bit more than, you know, maybe we would if he hadn't had meningitis.'
0:14:17 > 0:14:23When most babies are starting to come off milk on to a normal diet, Michael was fighting for his life.
0:14:30 > 0:14:35For Cara twice a week it's a walk of shame into Michael's toddler group.
0:14:48 > 0:14:52All the other children have taken
0:14:52 > 0:14:56some fruit and vegetables out of the pots in the middle, put them on their plate
0:14:56 > 0:14:57and they're all eating them.
0:14:57 > 0:15:02I have to bring stuff with me or he won't eat what the other children are eating.
0:15:06 > 0:15:08Come and eat some fruit Michael.
0:15:08 > 0:15:10Come and sit down and eat your fruit.
0:15:13 > 0:15:15'I feel really embarrassed as a mum'
0:15:15 > 0:15:20giving my son like sweets and crisps and chocolate and stuff
0:15:20 > 0:15:23because I do want to give him healthy stuff,
0:15:23 > 0:15:28but it's just because he doesn't eat it I want to give him something
0:15:28 > 0:15:33rather than nothing. Yeah, I would say I am embarrassed, yes.
0:15:33 > 0:15:37Cara and Gareth are desperate for help...
0:15:37 > 0:15:40and are meeting Dr Catherine Dendy,
0:15:40 > 0:15:44ex-Head of Feeding at Great Ormond Street Children's hospital.
0:15:45 > 0:15:49- Hello, I'm Catherine. I've come to see Michael. - Hello, Catherine. Nice to meet you.
0:15:49 > 0:15:54As a clinical psychologist, she looks at the deep-seated reasons why children refuse healthy food.
0:15:54 > 0:16:00I've come along actually today to see Michael having a meal
0:16:00 > 0:16:03and just being able to experience with you what happens.
0:16:03 > 0:16:08And, as far as possible, if you could just do what you would normally do.
0:16:08 > 0:16:12Catherine sits back and observes a typical mealtime.
0:16:12 > 0:16:13Carrot.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18Potato.
0:16:23 > 0:16:27Stop playing with your food. Put it in your mouth - it's yummy.
0:16:31 > 0:16:33- Michael...- No, no.
0:16:33 > 0:16:37No, no. Come on,
0:16:37 > 0:16:42time to eat. Carrot... Please?
0:16:42 > 0:16:47As usual, Cara and Gareth end up giving in to Michael's demands and put him
0:16:47 > 0:16:49in his favourite spot on the sofa.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52- OK.- Right do you want to watch your programme?
0:16:52 > 0:16:54- Da.- And have some
0:16:54 > 0:16:57din-dins on your lap? Yeah?
0:16:58 > 0:17:04In her consultation, Catherine starts with the impact of Michael's meningitis.
0:17:04 > 0:17:10It seems to me that what's happened to Michael is that this really, really important stage of weaning
0:17:10 > 0:17:15and building up the new tastes and the new textures has been interrupted,
0:17:15 > 0:17:19and you've been feeling really, really anxious about it.
0:17:19 > 0:17:25- If he starts eating something, you say, "Great!" and you give him even more of it.- Yeah.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27And it's like a circle, isn't it?
0:17:27 > 0:17:35Even if he's like the slightest bit something's not right, just the very tiniest bit,
0:17:35 > 0:17:38I'm like, "There's something wrong with him."
0:17:38 > 0:17:39Yes, inside.
0:17:39 > 0:17:41It's natural though, isn't it?
0:17:41 > 0:17:43Perfectly natural.
0:17:43 > 0:17:47He is keen to put his hands into things and try them out,
0:17:47 > 0:17:54and you actually used a very interesting phrase, you said, "Don't play with your food Michael."
0:17:55 > 0:18:02And I know we're all brought up not to play with our food and I thought,
0:18:02 > 0:18:07actually what we want him to do is play with his food.
0:18:07 > 0:18:09His table manners will come later.
0:18:09 > 0:18:16What I would like you to do is to take him to some classes that are run for little children
0:18:16 > 0:18:20to help him get used to fruit and veg
0:18:20 > 0:18:25and actually end up popping them in his mouth and maybe even enjoying them.
0:18:25 > 0:18:30- Hopefully yes.- But done in a fun way. - That would be really good. - That would be great, wouldn't it?
0:18:30 > 0:18:36Catherine will be referring Michael to a children's feeding expert called Lucy Thomas
0:18:36 > 0:18:42for practical support, while she'll work with Cara and Gareth on the reasons behind their anxieties.
0:18:49 > 0:18:51How many pieces of garlic bread do you want?
0:18:51 > 0:18:55I'll give you two then to start off with just in case you want some more. Just one then.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58Harley Evans lives in Runcorn.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01There's no battle here over fruit and veg.
0:19:01 > 0:19:05He's reached the grand old age of three without his mum
0:19:05 > 0:19:06ever having cooked him a healthy meal.
0:19:06 > 0:19:12- A milk shake! And what colour is it? - It's yellow!
0:19:12 > 0:19:14- Banana!- Yeah!
0:19:14 > 0:19:17HE SCREAMS
0:19:17 > 0:19:19Each week he eats around two portions of doner meat,
0:19:19 > 0:19:24eight pieces of fried chicken, four portions of chips,
0:19:24 > 0:19:27two frozen pizzas and 20 frozen nuggets.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30Ah, smiley faces!
0:19:30 > 0:19:34Worst of all, he'll guzzle 24 glasses of fizzy drink.
0:19:34 > 0:19:36Every seven days, he's basically eating
0:19:36 > 0:19:43two half-kilo packets of sugar, and there's one big reason.
0:19:43 > 0:19:44He's eating what his mum eats.
0:19:44 > 0:19:48Yeah. Um, can I have a small doner meat with chips
0:19:48 > 0:19:51with cheese and mayonnaise, please?
0:19:51 > 0:19:54'I always have fast food. It's just quicker, easier.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56'Somebody's made it for you,'
0:19:56 > 0:19:59you don't have to stand around waiting for it to cook, and it tastes nice!
0:20:01 > 0:20:03Is there not a bottle of coke?
0:20:03 > 0:20:05I usually order a kebab every night.
0:20:05 > 0:20:09Sometimes it's not always a kebab, it's, like, KFC or something else,
0:20:09 > 0:20:11but mainly it is kebabs.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14Teen mum Taylor had Harley when she was just 15.
0:20:16 > 0:20:18Sister Tiana followed two years later,
0:20:18 > 0:20:22and she combines being a single mum with studying part-time.
0:20:22 > 0:20:24Be careful, you!
0:20:24 > 0:20:26Taylor is frazzled,
0:20:26 > 0:20:28and Harley is becoming more of a handful every day.
0:20:31 > 0:20:35Stop it. I said, "No!"
0:20:37 > 0:20:42Recently I've noticed that Harley is more hyperactive than he has been.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44It's probably due to the foods that he's eating.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49I can see the chocolate!
0:20:49 > 0:20:52Ooh, burgers. Shall we go and get some pizza?
0:20:52 > 0:20:55Do you want pepperoni or cheese? Chicken?
0:20:55 > 0:20:58- Can I get one of them? Pears. - Eurgh!
0:20:58 > 0:21:00- I like pears. - You've never tasted a pear.
0:21:00 > 0:21:04- Veg, Taylor.- What about it? I don't like veg.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07Taylor's mum, Mandy, helps out during the week,
0:21:07 > 0:21:11and has major concerns about what Taylor feeds Harley and herself.
0:21:11 > 0:21:15- You've missed all the good food out, Taylor.- It's all right.
0:21:16 > 0:21:18- Pasta.- No, I don't like it.
0:21:18 > 0:21:22It takes ages to make, so if you're going to buy pasta, buy a pasta pot.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25- Can I have some of your chocolate, please?- No.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28- A little bite.- No.
0:21:29 > 0:21:33Last time Taylor had a vegetable, it was from the kebab shop,
0:21:33 > 0:21:38deep fried, in the form of chips with cheese on top. If she carries on
0:21:38 > 0:21:41the way she is, she's going to end up obese.
0:21:41 > 0:21:43I'm never going to get fat.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46No, but if you carry on with your takeaways,
0:21:46 > 0:21:49that's how it's going to go.
0:21:49 > 0:21:50I exercise.
0:21:51 > 0:21:55How do you exercise? Walking to the shop?!
0:21:55 > 0:21:58- To buy a bottle of Lucozade! - And a packet of Wotsits, that's it.
0:21:58 > 0:21:59Yeah, it's exercise!
0:22:02 > 0:22:06Harley's diet really does need to change now.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09Because otherwise, he will think
0:22:09 > 0:22:12it's the norm to eat what Taylor's giving him.
0:22:12 > 0:22:14It's just not healthy.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20Taylor should know more than most
0:22:20 > 0:22:23about what her diet could be doing to Harley.
0:22:23 > 0:22:25Last year, she suffered a heart attack.
0:22:25 > 0:22:29They couldn't find any known explanation for it.
0:22:29 > 0:22:33They said the only thing they could put it down to was all the stress of pregnancy.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36I wouldn't ever, ever want to go through that ever again.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39It was the worst four days of my life.
0:22:42 > 0:22:46- MANDY:- I think even the doctors and everyone were shocked,
0:22:46 > 0:22:48with her age, with her being so young.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51You don't expect it to happen.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54Taylor has been told to change her diet
0:22:54 > 0:22:56to avoid any more stress to her heart.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58'If I carry on eating the way I am,'
0:22:58 > 0:23:01I probably won't be here in ten years' time.
0:23:01 > 0:23:02'Obviously, I think'
0:23:02 > 0:23:06we have arguments, because I am concerned about Taylor.
0:23:06 > 0:23:11If she carries on, it could lead to another heart attack,
0:23:11 > 0:23:15and that could leave her children without a mum, basically.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20It's a tragedy that Mandy hopes can be avoided
0:23:20 > 0:23:23if Taylor takes action right now.
0:23:29 > 0:23:30DOORBELL RINGS
0:23:32 > 0:23:36- Hi, Taylor.- Hi.- I'm Hayley, the dietician.- Hello. Come in.
0:23:36 > 0:23:37I've come to see you!
0:23:37 > 0:23:39After talking to her mum,
0:23:39 > 0:23:43Taylor has agreed to see community dietician Hayley Kuter,
0:23:43 > 0:23:45who specialises in paediatric nutrition.
0:23:45 > 0:23:48Can you see that number? That shows you what a big boy you are.
0:23:48 > 0:23:54One in five children in the UK are now overweight by the age of five.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56A junk-food generation is a ticking time bomb
0:23:56 > 0:24:00for a really worrying amount of problems.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03I'm seeing a lot of overweight and obese children at the moment.
0:24:03 > 0:24:05I see tooth decay,
0:24:05 > 0:24:10'constipation, rickets, even, from lack of vitamin D.'
0:24:10 > 0:24:13These are all caused by an unbalanced diet.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17According to this BMI, he is above average,
0:24:17 > 0:24:21- and we're going to need to watch his food intake, really.- Yeah.
0:24:21 > 0:24:25These takeaways, is Harley having them as well?
0:24:25 > 0:24:30- Everything I've got, he wants.- OK, and if you say he can't have it?
0:24:30 > 0:24:34I don't think I've ever said he can't, I just give it him.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37- OK, do you think he copies you?- Yes.
0:24:38 > 0:24:42Hayley's most worried about the enormous about of sugary cola
0:24:42 > 0:24:44that Harley is consuming.
0:24:44 > 0:24:48- Can I have it all? - 'From this bowl of sugar,'
0:24:48 > 0:24:50you might be able to measure out
0:24:50 > 0:24:53how much YOU think would be in his daily diet.
0:24:54 > 0:24:56- Can I have a go?- A little bit more.
0:24:56 > 0:25:01- I'd say about that.- Can I have a go? - You'd say about that? Do you want to have a go?
0:25:01 > 0:25:03Because it's MORE than that, I'm afraid.
0:25:06 > 0:25:10- Harley knows!- Keep going!
0:25:10 > 0:25:14That is about how much sugar
0:25:14 > 0:25:20you, Mr Harley, are eating in one day.
0:25:21 > 0:25:25- About 150 grams there. - Can we eat that sugar?- No.
0:25:27 > 0:25:29Harley is having almost four times the amount of sugar
0:25:29 > 0:25:33that is recommended for his age.
0:25:33 > 0:25:37Not surprising, as diet-wise, he's just a mini version of his mum.
0:25:37 > 0:25:40Do you think your sugar intake would be more or less?
0:25:40 > 0:25:42I think mine would be more.
0:25:42 > 0:25:46Can you show me how much more you think you're having in a day?
0:25:48 > 0:25:51After this, I want a go again.
0:25:51 > 0:25:55- About that.- OK. I'm afraid you're having a bit more than that.
0:25:55 > 0:25:56- Shall we try again?- Yeah.
0:25:56 > 0:26:00- Is this a day?- This is in one day.
0:26:00 > 0:26:04- Do you want me to keep going? - Keep going.- Oh, my God!
0:26:04 > 0:26:05Yeah, that's it.
0:26:06 > 0:26:10That's 500 grams, Taylor, in one day.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13Taylor is having ten times the recommended daily amount
0:26:13 > 0:26:15for a grown woman.
0:26:15 > 0:26:19Sugary foods give us instant bursts of energy,
0:26:19 > 0:26:21and they push our blood-sugar levels up.
0:26:21 > 0:26:25We also crash, our blood-sugar levels go down,
0:26:25 > 0:26:28and we end up tired and grumpy
0:26:28 > 0:26:33and irritable and teary and mad!
0:26:33 > 0:26:38- Do you think this goes on in your house?- That describes me!- Yeah.
0:26:38 > 0:26:42Can you maybe explain to me why you think you eat like this?
0:26:42 > 0:26:45It's probably through laziness.
0:26:45 > 0:26:49Do you think maybe if I could show you how to eat healthily
0:26:49 > 0:26:52and it was cheaper, would that even interest you?
0:26:52 > 0:26:57Yeah, if I could save money and get more stuff for me.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59Hayley sets some clear guidelines
0:26:59 > 0:27:02for a healthy diet to start straight away.
0:27:02 > 0:27:06It is going to be hard, but I'll try me best.
0:27:06 > 0:27:10And with Harley as well, I'm just not going to buy any stuff in.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13I'm going to have to be really strict with myself.
0:27:13 > 0:27:18She's forgotten that food and health are connected,
0:27:18 > 0:27:20so she has no idea that the sugar,
0:27:20 > 0:27:23the fat, the saturated fats,
0:27:23 > 0:27:26the salt that she's putting in her body
0:27:26 > 0:27:30is having any affect whatsoever on her health.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36In Cardiff, Sam Fish is facing a huge struggle
0:27:36 > 0:27:39to get Cuba on the right nutritional track.
0:27:40 > 0:27:43His current diet is likely to cause anaemia,
0:27:43 > 0:27:47which in some cases can slow down a child's development.
0:27:47 > 0:27:49It's hitting home, the effect that his diet
0:27:49 > 0:27:52that we've allowed him to have is affecting him.
0:27:52 > 0:27:57He'll have a blood test. He could be anaemic. It's affecting his health.
0:27:57 > 0:27:59'It is making me feel a bit guilty.'
0:27:59 > 0:28:02Right, OK, we're just going to pop this little strap
0:28:02 > 0:28:06- on his arm. It doesn't hurt, it's just a bit of pressure, OK?- OK.
0:28:06 > 0:28:10We'll just pop this on a minute, mate. Pull it nice and tight, OK?
0:28:10 > 0:28:14There we are. There's a good boy. He shouldn't feel that, OK?
0:28:14 > 0:28:20OK. Good boy. Nice and still. Nice and still.
0:28:20 > 0:28:24- Nice and- still.- Nice and still, darling. Nice and still.- Sorry.
0:28:24 > 0:28:27- I'm sorry.- OK, OK, OK.- OK, darling.
0:28:27 > 0:28:35OK. What makes them so upset is because they're being pinned down, you know?
0:28:35 > 0:28:38- All right. - 'That did not go well at all.
0:28:38 > 0:28:41'It's traumatic for Cuba, it's traumatic for me.'
0:28:41 > 0:28:46It's just... I feel quite devastated now.
0:28:46 > 0:28:50Ssh, ssh, OK.
0:28:56 > 0:28:58The results will come through in a couple of weeks.
0:29:02 > 0:29:07Back at home, Sam is determined to start changing her family's diet.
0:29:08 > 0:29:12In here we have cereal, Weetabix, Cheerios.
0:29:12 > 0:29:17There's raisins, there's raisins covered in yoghurt,
0:29:17 > 0:29:19- there's breadsticks.- All boring food.
0:29:19 > 0:29:22Well, if you're hungry, that's what's there.
0:29:22 > 0:29:25There's one pack of biscuits, which are oat biscuits,
0:29:25 > 0:29:29so they're made of oats, and there's no chocolate on them.
0:29:29 > 0:29:31You should get chocolate digestives.
0:29:35 > 0:29:38Sam's also facing up to her fears of a messy kitchen,
0:29:38 > 0:29:42and has been cooking fresh meals for the last two evenings.
0:29:43 > 0:29:47The problem is, Simon is finding it hard to cut out the junk.
0:29:49 > 0:29:52Yesterday, he was in charge of the kids.
0:29:52 > 0:29:53You didn't make an effort.
0:29:53 > 0:29:56I was nearly in tears when I come home from work Friday.
0:29:56 > 0:29:59- I was really deflated with you. - That's the first time ever.
0:29:59 > 0:30:02- I think you knew how disappointed I was.- But I enjoy my takeaway.
0:30:02 > 0:30:05Yeah. I don't think it's realistic, to be honest with you,
0:30:05 > 0:30:07to get rid of everything.
0:30:07 > 0:30:09If he is anaemic, it's from his diet, really,
0:30:09 > 0:30:12so we've got to take responsibility for that, Si.
0:30:21 > 0:30:25Get me forks and knives while I cut up this. Here you are, Cubes.
0:30:31 > 0:30:36I can't believe he's eating it. Good boy, you are! Eh?
0:30:36 > 0:30:37Look at him, eating it.
0:30:37 > 0:30:39Sam's hard work is paying off.
0:30:39 > 0:30:42He's enjoying it, isn't he?
0:30:42 > 0:30:45Cuba's actually eating for the first time ever.
0:30:45 > 0:30:47It's not chips or pepperamis,
0:30:47 > 0:30:49and it's literally been, what, two days?
0:30:49 > 0:30:51I'm going for seconds. What's going on?
0:30:52 > 0:30:57- Am I allowed seconds?- Yeah, you're a growing man, aren't you?
0:30:57 > 0:30:58Just growing that way!
0:31:02 > 0:31:07In Runcorn, home-cooked meals are nowhere to be seen.
0:31:07 > 0:31:11The less time 19-year-old Taylor spends cooking for Harley,
0:31:11 > 0:31:16the more time she can spend being a teenager.
0:31:20 > 0:31:23How are you getting on with it?
0:31:23 > 0:31:25What's he eating now instead of dippers?
0:31:25 > 0:31:28He's still eating them, he's just not having all the crap in-between.
0:31:29 > 0:31:31That was his favourite word, "Cake!"
0:31:31 > 0:31:34Yeah, every time you used to take him out and that,
0:31:34 > 0:31:36he would be the first one to ask for a McDonald's.
0:31:36 > 0:31:39- "Can we go to Maccies?!" - And that's, like, "Aw!"
0:31:39 > 0:31:41To celebrate, we should go out and just get smashed!
0:31:41 > 0:31:45- Oh, yeah!- Oh, yeah.
0:31:45 > 0:31:47Same old places, same old faces!
0:31:58 > 0:32:03How many chicken dippers would you like? Three, like your smiley faces?
0:32:03 > 0:32:06One, two, three.
0:32:06 > 0:32:10Right, would you like to put them back for Mummy and shut the drawer?
0:32:10 > 0:32:13Three weeks into what's meant to be a new routine,
0:32:13 > 0:32:16three-year-old Harley is still on his fast-food diet.
0:32:16 > 0:32:21There you go. There's your smileys, your dippers and your sauce.
0:32:21 > 0:32:24- Cut these up. - So they're easier to eat?- Yeah.
0:32:24 > 0:32:27What about your smileys? Are you going to try some of them?
0:32:29 > 0:32:32I haven't really been able to achieve any of the goals that Hayley set
0:32:32 > 0:32:35because I've had things going on in me life
0:32:35 > 0:32:38and my mind's been preoccupied. When I first got them, I was like,
0:32:38 > 0:32:40"Yeah, I'm up for a challenge, I'll do this."
0:32:40 > 0:32:43In my head, "Yeah, I'll do this, I want to do this,"
0:32:43 > 0:32:47but then the reality of life didn't fit in with my lifestyle!
0:32:47 > 0:32:50With difficult clients, dietician Hayley Kuter will sometimes use
0:32:50 > 0:32:53a more dramatic approach to drive the dangers home,
0:32:53 > 0:32:58and with sugar-mad Harley, there's one immediate danger.
0:33:01 > 0:33:05- Has he been to the dentist before? - No, I'm scared of the dentist. - You're scared of the dentist?
0:33:05 > 0:33:08- Yeah, they scare me.- Let's go!
0:33:08 > 0:33:12- Let's go.- Let's go.- Let's go.
0:33:12 > 0:33:17Nearly 30,000 children under five are admitted to hospital
0:33:17 > 0:33:20every year with severe tooth decay.
0:33:20 > 0:33:23We just see on the side of this tooth down here,
0:33:23 > 0:33:26see that little mark just on the side of the tooth?
0:33:26 > 0:33:29What those little marks are are just very early signs
0:33:29 > 0:33:32of decay developing in the teeth.
0:33:32 > 0:33:37So all these sugary drinks and things are starting to actually have an impact on his teeth,
0:33:37 > 0:33:41OK? Well done, Harley. I've got some teeth over here you can have a little look at.
0:33:41 > 0:33:44The dentist wants to show what can go wrong
0:33:44 > 0:33:47if you continue to feed your children fast food.
0:33:47 > 0:33:50This is through drinks, because there's lots of...
0:33:50 > 0:33:52The sugar is washing over those front teeth.
0:33:52 > 0:33:55Can you see that little lump?
0:33:55 > 0:33:56- Yes.- At the top up there?
0:33:56 > 0:34:00That's a big lump full of pus, and an abscess on the tooth there.
0:34:00 > 0:34:04That would be extremely painful for this child.
0:34:05 > 0:34:08This six-year-old is at risk of blood poisoning,
0:34:08 > 0:34:10and will need at least six extractions.
0:34:11 > 0:34:14If he has to go to sleep to have his teeth removed,
0:34:14 > 0:34:17statistics are, children do die from having that procedure,
0:34:17 > 0:34:22so it is really important that we try and avoid that happening, you know?
0:34:26 > 0:34:28It's a massive jolt for Taylor,
0:34:28 > 0:34:31and a hard lesson about the harm she's doing to Harley.
0:34:31 > 0:34:36It shocked me, really, what the dentist said.
0:34:36 > 0:34:38I knew that it would be harming Harley's teeth,
0:34:38 > 0:34:42but I didn't realise how much it was affecting his teeth.
0:34:42 > 0:34:45But now I'm just going to cut drinks out altogether,
0:34:45 > 0:34:48other than water or milk. And the same for me, as well.
0:34:49 > 0:34:50That big enough?
0:34:51 > 0:34:54Taylor finally agrees to take expert advice on board
0:34:54 > 0:34:58and gets started on changing her and Harley's diet.
0:34:58 > 0:35:00She tells me that her mum
0:35:00 > 0:35:04and her friends and family are supporting her in this,
0:35:04 > 0:35:08and yet she's not fully able to do it at the moment by herself,
0:35:08 > 0:35:12so I do think a support group is going to be useful,
0:35:12 > 0:35:15even if it's just for some cooking
0:35:15 > 0:35:18or talking to other mums who are in a similar position.
0:35:20 > 0:35:23Taylor finally realises action is needed,
0:35:23 > 0:35:25and is inspired to attend Parent Power,
0:35:25 > 0:35:29a support group for young parents run by Action For Children
0:35:29 > 0:35:31at Halton Youth Service.
0:35:31 > 0:35:34We meet every Friday afternoon, we cook healthy alternatives
0:35:34 > 0:35:38to popular food like pizzas, kebabs, cakes.
0:35:38 > 0:35:43- Do you cook at home? - I've tried, but...- Tried? - Nearly set the house on fire.
0:35:43 > 0:35:47- I've got it into my head that I can't cook, but I probably could if I tried.- It's easy.
0:35:47 > 0:35:51We've done lots of different stuff - we've done spaghetti bolognaise,
0:35:51 > 0:35:54we've done roast dinners, healthy-option pizzas.
0:35:54 > 0:35:58It looks like I've gone out into my garden and decided to make a pizza with the grass!
0:35:58 > 0:36:04Taylor's freshly-prepared pizza contains around 470 calories,
0:36:04 > 0:36:06whilst Harley's usual delivered variety
0:36:06 > 0:36:10would tot up a massive 3,000.
0:36:10 > 0:36:12Would you like to come to a group like this,
0:36:12 > 0:36:14or have you ever thought of coming to a group?
0:36:14 > 0:36:19I've been offered tons of groups, but I think people'll judge me for being a single mum.
0:36:19 > 0:36:23Before I'd come here, I used to just order out and put stuff in the...
0:36:23 > 0:36:24That's all I do.
0:36:24 > 0:36:26Then I started coming here
0:36:26 > 0:36:29and started eating, like, pasta and stuff like that.
0:36:29 > 0:36:34I would never have actually sat and thought, "Yeah, let's try this."
0:36:34 > 0:36:38I will definitely come again, make something I can take home. Me and Harley can do it.
0:36:38 > 0:36:42He can actually say, "Oh, I made my tea, I made this."
0:36:42 > 0:36:46And then that will bring us closer together, in a healthy way!
0:36:51 > 0:36:53CHILD GRIZZLES
0:36:53 > 0:36:55You have to eat some breakfast, OK?
0:36:55 > 0:36:59In Surrey, Cara and Gareth try and feed 19-month-old Michael
0:36:59 > 0:37:03healthy home-cooked food every day.
0:37:03 > 0:37:05He hasn't touched his toast.
0:37:06 > 0:37:08Since contracting meningitis a year ago,
0:37:08 > 0:37:11they're over-controlling at meal times, and Michael's rebelling.
0:37:11 > 0:37:16Look at this mess, look at this mess, Michael.
0:37:16 > 0:37:18I want you to eat some nana. Nana next.
0:37:22 > 0:37:25Michael's been referred to feeding expert Lucy Thomas
0:37:25 > 0:37:29to give Cara and Gareth some practical support.
0:37:29 > 0:37:33My classes are all about offering parents with young children
0:37:33 > 0:37:36the opportunity to come and explore and experiment
0:37:36 > 0:37:38with fruit and vegetables.
0:37:38 > 0:37:42Anyone who doesn't get to feel something and maybe smell it
0:37:42 > 0:37:45if you're not quite sure what it's like...
0:37:45 > 0:37:47You're not going to pick something up
0:37:47 > 0:37:48and put it straight in your mouth!
0:37:48 > 0:37:51So it's giving Michael those experiences in a fun way
0:37:51 > 0:37:53and making it really positive for him.
0:37:53 > 0:37:55Fantastic!
0:37:55 > 0:38:00Michael! Michael, do you want to come and pick a beetroot? Yes!
0:38:00 > 0:38:05Come on then, come and pick a beetroot, one for you and one for Daddy.
0:38:05 > 0:38:08One and another one, that's it.
0:38:08 > 0:38:11Take one for Daddy. Take it back to Daddy, Michael.
0:38:11 > 0:38:16That's it. Oh, we're going to have three, take it back to Daddy.
0:38:16 > 0:38:22Yeah, well done, Michael. I would like everybody to brush their teeth...
0:38:22 > 0:38:24Cheese!
0:38:24 > 0:38:30Without the stress and pressure of his usual mealtimes, Michael becomes adventurous with the fruit and veg.
0:38:30 > 0:38:36# Stir, stir the soup We stir it round and round
0:38:36 > 0:38:44# We stir, stir, we blow, we kiss We make the slurping sound. #
0:38:45 > 0:38:47Can I hear the slurping sound?
0:38:47 > 0:38:50Lovely soup slurping going on here today.
0:38:50 > 0:38:53- Has Michael had beetroot soup before?- No, never.
0:38:53 > 0:38:55Wow, fantastic.
0:38:55 > 0:38:57It's a mini triumph for Michael.
0:38:57 > 0:39:01He's touched his food, had a play and a little nibble.
0:39:01 > 0:39:04It was brilliant today. Really loved it, really enjoyed it.
0:39:04 > 0:39:07Michael really took to it very well, he's picked up a few things already,
0:39:07 > 0:39:10which I think we'll definitely do at home until next week.
0:39:10 > 0:39:12He'll be coming every week now.
0:39:15 > 0:39:21Over the next week, Gareth tries to take the classroom fun into the home.
0:39:23 > 0:39:26You going to eat it with Daddy now, yes?
0:39:27 > 0:39:29Come on.
0:39:29 > 0:39:33Are you going to come back and have some more?
0:39:33 > 0:39:35Come on, please, come on.
0:39:38 > 0:39:41You eat some, I'll eat some. Come on, you try some more?
0:39:41 > 0:39:45No?
0:39:45 > 0:39:48Will you brush your teeth?
0:39:49 > 0:39:51Do you not like any of it?
0:39:51 > 0:39:53You did the other day.
0:39:55 > 0:39:57You did the other day... Have a bite.
0:40:00 > 0:40:03Cara, this isn't going down well. Spitting nearly every bit out.
0:40:03 > 0:40:05Oh, you're joking!
0:40:07 > 0:40:11Michael's making small changes but his parents are not.
0:40:11 > 0:40:16The fruit and vegetables that we just tried there, I don't... I'm not keen on that anyway.
0:40:16 > 0:40:19It's just a matter of confidence for me doing it as well, I suppose.
0:40:22 > 0:40:27Cara and Gareth's relationship is still suffering and meal times are still chaos.
0:40:27 > 0:40:30BABY WAILS
0:40:30 > 0:40:33Do you want to go upstairs to bed? Do you want to go to bed?
0:40:33 > 0:40:35Well, then be a good boy, come on.
0:40:35 > 0:40:37Come on, be a good boy.
0:40:39 > 0:40:44Thankfully, their first consultation with Dr Catherine is scheduled.
0:40:44 > 0:40:47- What particularly is it that worries you?- I don't know, just that
0:40:47 > 0:40:51he's not going to reach his milestone and maybe miss out on things.
0:40:51 > 0:40:55- Be a bit slow.- I get really scared when he doesn't eat enough.
0:40:55 > 0:41:01I think he's like, he won't be able to tell us and he'll get thinner and
0:41:01 > 0:41:09thinner and I don't know, I just like I think he's going to get so hungry he's going to starve.
0:41:09 > 0:41:11It's silly but...
0:41:11 > 0:41:17And you're right with the sort of emotion that was around
0:41:17 > 0:41:20- when he was ill.- Yeah, you tend to think the worse, don't you?
0:41:20 > 0:41:22Yeah definitely.
0:41:22 > 0:41:25Is he unhappy?
0:41:25 > 0:41:28Does he look as though he's got energy?
0:41:28 > 0:41:30Yes.
0:41:30 > 0:41:33Is he reaching his milestones?
0:41:33 > 0:41:36See, we're silly because we know that all this...
0:41:36 > 0:41:38We know he's OK, like...
0:41:38 > 0:41:44I think we're too quick to get stressed, aren't we? And start fretting and you know...
0:41:44 > 0:41:51Children are naturally suspicious of food and use all their senses to work out what's OK to eat.
0:41:51 > 0:41:58We're going to play a game together and I hope it's going to be fun and it's about experiencing how Michael
0:41:58 > 0:42:03feels when he's presented with food that he has not a clue about.
0:42:03 > 0:42:08Hopefully what Cara and Gareth are going to do is feel what it's like for Michael.
0:42:08 > 0:42:12I just have to warn you that some of them are not edible.
0:42:12 > 0:42:16- It's a bit worrying when you say some of them aren't edible. - That smells like...
0:42:18 > 0:42:22- So would you eat that?- No. - No, I wouldn't eat that.
0:42:22 > 0:42:24It smells food-y but...
0:42:30 > 0:42:32It's not bad.
0:42:35 > 0:42:38Shall I put you out of your misery?
0:42:38 > 0:42:40It's an iron tonic.
0:42:40 > 0:42:43- Oh.- You know, a tonic kind of thing.
0:42:43 > 0:42:48Oh, because I was going to say it does smell irony and taste a bit irony.
0:42:48 > 0:42:54Now, if you're Michael and I've put some food in front of you and I say eat that, it's good for you...
0:42:54 > 0:42:56what's Michael going to do?
0:42:56 > 0:42:59Oh, my gosh, that's so true yes.
0:42:59 > 0:43:04He's going to reach out, he's going to touch it and feel it and he might do some squishing.
0:43:04 > 0:43:11And that's really important, that's not bad manners, that's, "What is this?"
0:43:11 > 0:43:14Children, when they're presented with a new food,
0:43:14 > 0:43:20need on average 16 tastes of it, 16 times to actually get used to it.
0:43:20 > 0:43:25Wow. It's so strange to see it from Michael's point of view -
0:43:25 > 0:43:28new foods, tasting it, smelling, feeling.
0:43:28 > 0:43:31Quite funny as well.
0:43:36 > 0:43:41In Cardiff, mum Sam has been sticking to the new regime for a month,
0:43:41 > 0:43:44but today dad Simon is in charge of Cuba and the girls.
0:43:44 > 0:43:49What we're going to do, we're going to be a bit naughty now.
0:43:49 > 0:43:54I always treat my girls, especially on a Friday, we always sneak off to the cake shop,
0:43:54 > 0:43:59no matter where we are, and I will treat them to some cake.
0:43:59 > 0:44:02Simon is sneaking in snacks behind Sam's back.
0:44:02 > 0:44:07- But we don't tell Mummy, do we, girls?- No.
0:44:07 > 0:44:10Come on, then, what are we having?
0:44:11 > 0:44:13Oh, look at this.
0:44:13 > 0:44:16Which ones do you want? Got everything?
0:44:16 > 0:44:19Come on, then, let's go back to the car quick.
0:44:19 > 0:44:21Enjoying that?
0:44:21 > 0:44:29I got a chocolate cake with cream in it. OK, I'm weak.
0:44:29 > 0:44:36Can I change the chicken tikka for another lamb passanda, please?
0:44:36 > 0:44:42Back at home, the Fish family are about to tuck into the one take-away they're allowed a week.
0:44:42 > 0:44:47Right, let's get Cuba some more chips. He hasn't had chips all week.
0:44:47 > 0:44:50It's there as a reward for all the good work.
0:44:50 > 0:44:55We haven't had one of these for ages, have we, girls, since Jane's come along?
0:44:55 > 0:44:58Jane's banned our take-aways.
0:44:59 > 0:45:03Yeah, you look happy now, don't you, happy chappy.
0:45:03 > 0:45:05You got chippies?
0:45:05 > 0:45:10Are they nice? Yum, yum, yum in Cuba's tum.
0:45:10 > 0:45:13Have we missed our take-aways, girls?
0:45:13 > 0:45:17I have, I've been actually looking forward to this all day.
0:45:17 > 0:45:19Oh, Cuba's getting stuck in.
0:45:19 > 0:45:22Oh, Cuba!
0:45:22 > 0:45:29It should be a time for celebration, instead, the truth behind Simon's secret cake raid comes out.
0:45:29 > 0:45:33All right, Jane said we could have one treat, right, and then you buy three or four cakes each.
0:45:33 > 0:45:35- No, I didn't. - Yes, you did, Chay had like two
0:45:35 > 0:45:43Gingerbread men, she had chocolate flake, she had custard slice and she had one of those cherry biscuits.
0:45:43 > 0:45:45That's disgusting and actually she ate them all in one evening.
0:45:45 > 0:45:48Daddy's trying his best.
0:45:48 > 0:45:51There's still a huge amount to do.
0:45:51 > 0:45:57Health Visitor Jane is making her second visit to the family home.
0:45:57 > 0:46:00What are you most missing from your diet?
0:46:00 > 0:46:03Put it this way, I think if Sam wasn't here and she was in work I could have
0:46:03 > 0:46:08quite easily chucked all the kids in the car and gone to get some chicken quite easy.
0:46:08 > 0:46:10You'd have succumbed to temptation?
0:46:10 > 0:46:11Oh, yes.
0:46:11 > 0:46:15I've got a challenge for you, Simon.
0:46:15 > 0:46:17Oh...what is it?
0:46:17 > 0:46:23I'd like you to go and buy your most favourite fast food family take-away.
0:46:23 > 0:46:26- Oh, yes.- A fried chicken and chips.
0:46:26 > 0:46:28Do I get to eat it?
0:46:28 > 0:46:31Yes, and then what I'm going to try and do is to put you off it.
0:46:31 > 0:46:33Oh, like...
0:46:33 > 0:46:37As you're eating it I'm just going to tell you a few home truths about it.
0:46:37 > 0:46:39OK, good luck because I don't often get put off.
0:46:39 > 0:46:42- There's gristle in there. - I don't care to me.
0:46:42 > 0:46:43Pumped up chicken with water.
0:46:43 > 0:46:45On your way, then.
0:46:45 > 0:46:48Don't forget the beans, babe.
0:46:53 > 0:46:59Simon reunites himself with a supersize bucket of fried chicken in lightening quick time.
0:46:59 > 0:47:03I think it's going to be really hard giving up this.
0:47:03 > 0:47:08- You couldn't resist, could you? - No, I couldn't.- Does it still look appealing to you?
0:47:08 > 0:47:14- It does smell nice, though. - It doesn't smell nice to me, it smells very greasy, really.
0:47:16 > 0:47:20- There's more than eight pieces in there.- Yes, that's the spicy wing what comes in eight pieces.
0:47:20 > 0:47:26- So you had 16 pieces of chicken. - So would you normally have bought this amount of chicken?- Yeah.
0:47:26 > 0:47:29- That's quite a lot of chicken, isn't it, really?- Yes.
0:47:29 > 0:47:31Oh, gross.
0:47:31 > 0:47:34Look, you can actually squeeze it out.
0:47:34 > 0:47:36Look, it's all bubbling to the surface.
0:47:38 > 0:47:40It's pretty gross, isn't it?
0:47:40 > 0:47:42Eurgh.
0:47:42 > 0:47:47Rivers, rivers of grease running down my hand.
0:47:47 > 0:47:48How gross is that?
0:47:48 > 0:47:52This should not be your daily diet.
0:47:52 > 0:47:55This is food gorged in harmful fat.
0:47:55 > 0:47:58What exactly does that mean for Cuba?
0:48:00 > 0:48:02Gross, isn't it?
0:48:02 > 0:48:10So this is the amount of saturated fat that Cuba was getting in his diet every week.
0:48:10 > 0:48:14He should have been having about a fifth of that amount.
0:48:14 > 0:48:16OK, so it's really bad news.
0:48:16 > 0:48:19- This is heart attack diet.- Yes.
0:48:19 > 0:48:21We're storing up health problems for the future.
0:48:21 > 0:48:24We've had this three times in one week, haven't we?
0:48:24 > 0:48:27- Well, maybe more.- Plus we've had other take-aways on top of this.
0:48:27 > 0:48:30Don't look so tasty now, does it?
0:48:30 > 0:48:34Next, Jane wants to check that Cleo and Chay
0:48:34 > 0:48:38aren't hiding away any unhealthy snacks for a foraging Cuba.
0:48:38 > 0:48:41What other contraband have we got here?
0:48:45 > 0:48:47My goodness me.
0:48:47 > 0:48:49Is there anything under the pillow?
0:48:49 > 0:48:52And what's in the bin?
0:48:52 > 0:48:53Oh, my word,
0:48:55 > 0:48:58oh, look at this.
0:48:58 > 0:49:00Wave bye bye to your sweeties, then.
0:49:03 > 0:49:05Old habits are hard to break.
0:49:05 > 0:49:11It might seem tough on the girls, but Jane has Cuba and the whole family's future health in mind.
0:49:15 > 0:49:17In Surrey, contraband is nowhere to be seen.
0:49:17 > 0:49:22Now, what you can do, Gareth, is you can show Michael how you can break the broccoli.
0:49:22 > 0:49:26With the help of feeding expert Lucy Thomas, Michael has spent
0:49:26 > 0:49:29the last two weeks playing with healthy food in the home.
0:49:29 > 0:49:32Now when it comes to the table, it won't be just something that's
0:49:32 > 0:49:37- put down there and, oh, it's time to start eating.- Thanks.
0:49:37 > 0:49:44I'll tell you what, what we can do here is Michael wants to keep a piece of the broccoli.
0:49:44 > 0:49:47Let's give Michael a piece of the broccoli to hold.
0:49:47 > 0:49:48Here we go, look, Michael,
0:49:50 > 0:49:52would you like to hold one? No, OK.
0:49:52 > 0:49:55Well, we're going to give it to Mummy
0:49:55 > 0:49:58to cook and also we're going to put some of these in, aren't we?
0:49:58 > 0:50:01Look, you shake them.
0:50:04 > 0:50:06What did you want the broccoli for?
0:50:06 > 0:50:08Is it because it's your broccoli?
0:50:08 > 0:50:11Is that what it is? Is it your broccoli?
0:50:11 > 0:50:13- Yes, because you did all the cutting.- Mummy.
0:50:13 > 0:50:16Thank you, you can have
0:50:16 > 0:50:20that bit. That's for Michael, that's for Michael, OK?
0:50:20 > 0:50:23Let's go and take it to your Daddy.
0:50:23 > 0:50:27Michael is making small changes every day.
0:50:27 > 0:50:31Cara and Gareth are much more relaxed with his progress.
0:50:45 > 0:50:49Seven weeks after her first visit, psychologist Dr Catherine Dendy
0:50:49 > 0:50:53is doing a final check on Michael.
0:50:53 > 0:50:54- Hello.- Dip, dip, dip.
0:51:01 > 0:51:03Watch Mummy. That's it. Good boy.
0:51:03 > 0:51:06Good boy.
0:51:06 > 0:51:08Does it crunch?
0:51:08 > 0:51:13He's just picked up the biggest bit of broccoli and put it in his mouth and he's munching away.
0:51:16 > 0:51:19He'll eat mounds of broccoli, I mean...
0:51:19 > 0:51:22- he'll delve right in.- He's like a different boy at the moment.
0:51:22 > 0:51:25So, it's such a big change.
0:51:25 > 0:51:30I think before when we talked about the memories of him being diagnosed
0:51:30 > 0:51:35and going into the hospital, this was understandably really upsetting.
0:51:35 > 0:51:38Yeah, we'd never really openly talked about
0:51:38 > 0:51:43his Meningitis before to anybody, but after we had done we actually
0:51:43 > 0:51:47went home and talked about it ourselves and...
0:51:47 > 0:51:50It's a big help just to get things out and...
0:51:50 > 0:51:51Yeah, definitely, and then...
0:51:51 > 0:51:55I think we were bottling it up too much. Just to see the way he is now.
0:51:55 > 0:51:58You know, he's obviously picked up on everything so
0:51:58 > 0:52:01far and I don't think he's going to have many problems, if at all.
0:52:01 > 0:52:04And you two together look much happier.
0:52:04 > 0:52:07Stressed all the time, weren't we?
0:52:07 > 0:52:11Definitely. Now we're relaxed with each other and don't argue as much.
0:52:11 > 0:52:13As much.
0:52:13 > 0:52:18- It helps because we're getting married.- Great.
0:52:18 > 0:52:21I think in the future you're going to need to be really
0:52:21 > 0:52:26firm, not only with Michael but actually with yourselves as well.
0:52:26 > 0:52:29- I think we've learnt a lot ourselves. - Definitely, yes.
0:52:29 > 0:52:32- I think we'll be able to do it. - We'll do it, yeah.
0:52:36 > 0:52:40In Runcorn, it's a week after the cooking class and Taylor
0:52:40 > 0:52:44is for the first time in her life, starting to cook at home.
0:52:44 > 0:52:46What are you doing?
0:52:46 > 0:52:50What am I doing? I'm cutting up tomatoes.
0:52:50 > 0:52:54It's healthier for her heart and healthier for Harley.
0:52:54 > 0:52:58They're to go on our super healthy pizzas.
0:52:58 > 0:53:02Wow, I'm shocked at your mum making her own pizzas like this.
0:53:02 > 0:53:05- Clever, aren't I? Do you want me to show you what to do now?- Yes.
0:53:05 > 0:53:08Right, you get this, and you squeeze some in the middle.
0:53:08 > 0:53:10Your turn.
0:53:10 > 0:53:13And then you get the spoon and spread it all over.
0:53:15 > 0:53:19Right, let's go and put these in the oven.
0:53:19 > 0:53:21I used to think that I couldn't cook
0:53:21 > 0:53:24but it's evidently clear that I can cook.
0:53:24 > 0:53:27I didn't ever think I'd be able to do this in my life.
0:53:27 > 0:53:30I deserve like a certificate or something, like a medal.
0:53:30 > 0:53:33Oh, they're done.
0:53:33 > 0:53:36How exciting. Yeah, let's get them all out first.
0:53:36 > 0:53:39Yeah.
0:53:39 > 0:53:41That's a bit hot.
0:53:41 > 0:53:49His diet still isn't perfect but he's cut down over half his sugar intake and is a much calmer child.
0:53:50 > 0:53:56He doesn't seem as bad as he was in the beginning, probably because he's not getting as much junk in him.
0:53:56 > 0:53:58I feel so proud of myself for making these.
0:53:58 > 0:54:01I understand now like why my mum was moaning at me.
0:54:01 > 0:54:06I need to start eating healthy because of my heart and if I just ignore the fact of what happened and
0:54:06 > 0:54:12carry on eating how I did, there's more chance that it will happen again and I don't want that for the kids.
0:54:12 > 0:54:19I've realised now that the problem is lack of motivation and just laziness really but now I've had people there
0:54:19 > 0:54:23telling me what to do, showing me how to do things and I've not just been left to me own devices
0:54:23 > 0:54:28and I know that I can do things, so then now I will carry on to do them.
0:54:28 > 0:54:31And my mum will probably still be there giving me a kick up the backside telling me
0:54:31 > 0:54:32I need to do these things.
0:54:32 > 0:54:35Harley, which pizza's nicer...
0:54:35 > 0:54:39that pizza or the pizza that comes with the kebabs?
0:54:39 > 0:54:41This one.
0:54:47 > 0:54:50Cuba. Come on, lovely.
0:54:52 > 0:54:57In Cardiff, Cuba's blood tests for anaemia have finally come through.
0:54:57 > 0:55:00He's borderline anaemic,
0:55:00 > 0:55:06which I sort of knew when the wake-up call, meeting Jane, going through everything, sort of brought
0:55:06 > 0:55:11home, so God knows how bad he would have been if we'd have carried on with the old diet.
0:55:11 > 0:55:15He would have been severely anaemic within another year, wouldn't he,
0:55:15 > 0:55:19so that's something that I'm glad we've nipped in the bud.
0:55:19 > 0:55:24The Fish family have totally changed their eating habits.
0:55:24 > 0:55:30Simon's curbed his fast food cravings and Sam is triumphing with her healthy home cooking.
0:55:30 > 0:55:35Watch your fingers. I'm cooking everyday now, to be honest with you, which is not too bad.
0:55:35 > 0:55:39Cuba's new diet is improving his sleep patterns
0:55:39 > 0:55:43and most importantly, he's now well on the way to beating his anaemia.
0:55:43 > 0:55:45Come on, hello. Whoa.
0:55:45 > 0:55:50What we were giving him before with the fried chicken and stuff like that
0:55:50 > 0:55:54was way too much for him and we didn't think it was affecting him as much as it was.
0:55:54 > 0:56:00When you actually see it for yourself, then you're going to change that.
0:56:02 > 0:56:08- Sam may never quite get over her messy kitchen.- Look at that. Is there any need to make that mess?
0:56:08 > 0:56:12Yes, but what I say to you, right...
0:56:12 > 0:56:19But ultimately the whole family, and of course Cuba, are on the path to a healthier future.
0:56:19 > 0:56:24Looking back at it all now, it was nothing to do with Cuba, absolutely nothing.
0:56:24 > 0:56:29The problem definitely laid with us, you know, we didn't take control of our baby, basically.
0:56:29 > 0:56:33He was controlling us, it was definitely, definitely with us.
0:56:42 > 0:56:46Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:56:46 > 0:56:50E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk