Fast Food Baby

Download Subtitles

Transcript

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