Editor�s Note

I read something a little disturbing when I was surfing the Internet today. A report in a British newspaper revealed that despite campaigns to educate youngsters about eating well, teens are under pressure to eat fast food in order to appear cool.

Apparently, peer pressure and bullying are stopping kids from eating salads and preventing them from taking home-cooked food to school. A �healthy� lunch of salad, fruit and milk is regarded as �goody-goody� and most youngsters couldn�t imagine life without burgers, fries and a fizzy drink.

This is something I can relate to. When I was at school, I was much the same (showing how little attitudes have changed in 25 years and also the fact that the newspaper could have paid me for the study). As much as my mom pushed me towards healthy options, I wanted salty snacks and chocolate bars. Almost certainly, boys didn�t eat salads or fruit. It wasn�t the �manly� thing to eat.

I�m glad to say that from my personal experience, Thais are much more open to healthy eating, despite the national trend towards over-eating and fast food. But if you do worry about not being �cool� and eating an apple and not a bag of potato chips, I say this: Dare to be different and don�t pay too much attention to what other people think. It would be a dull old world if we all said the same, did the same and looked the same.

Happy reading.

Matt Leppard, Editor
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