School meals 'help picky teens eat more healthily'
Having school dinners could help picky teenagers have a more varied and balanced diet, a new study suggests.The University of Bristol-led research analysed data from 5,300 children at pre-school age and then again at 13 to build a picture of how picky eating behaviours change over time.The findings, published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, suggest picky eaters at 13 were more likely than other children to avoid meat, fish and fruit in packed lunches but not in school dinners."Our results suggest that some picky eating behaviours persist while others may be modified in adolescents when they are away from direct familial influence," the study said.
"It is likely that family norms have a stronger influence over packed lunch content than over school dinner choices where the child has more autonomy and may be influenced by their peers."
Experts say that while most picky eaters are still getting enough to eat, having a balanced diet is important to living a healthy life and choices made at home or in education can have a big impact."Every child is different, and what works for some won't work for others," said Dr Caroline Taylor, lead researcher and associate professor in nutrition at the University of Bristol."We found that school dinners could be a good option to increase variety in the diets of picky teens, but there are plenty of other things parents can do to encourage a healthy diet."Whether that is enjoying family meals together, modelling a balanced diet yourself, or involving them in meal preparation, it all helps."It's important to encourage all children to eat enough nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables to help them grow and develop, whether that's at home or at school."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
17 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Coronation Street star Sue Cleaver shares update on 'misunderstood' health battle as she admits to feeling 'faint while filming' after bidding farewell to the ITV soap after 25 years
Sue Cleaver has shared a new health update after leaving Coronation Street following a 25 year stint on the show. The soap star, 61, known for playing Eileen Grimshaw since 2000, said goodbye to Weatherfield in an episode that aired earlier this month. But behind the cameras, the actress has been battling Type 2 diabetes for over 20 years, which at times caused her to feel faint while filming. Sue now credits the use of a continuous glucose monitor called Dexcom with helping her take back control of her health. In a new interview with The Sun, she said: 'I think there is a lot of misunderstanding around diabetes, people tell you can't eat chocolate or sugar - but where I struggle with my diabetes is when I'm about to go on stage or when I'm about to go on Loose Women or live shows. 'Before I go on I'd have to prick my finger and check if my sugar is stable enough to get me to the interval or do I need to eat.' Sue confessed that there were moments on set when she felt 'faint' during filming. She explained: 'If I'm about to go on stage or live shows and I don't know if I'm going to make it if my sugars aren't stable enough, and I don't have time to prick my finger, you tend to think 'let me eat this thing now' and then you tend to feel the effects of it later or the middle of the show.' It comes after Sue insisted that her 'body doesn't define her' as she opened up about her incredible three stone weight loss. The star also admitted she was still learning to battle 'negative thoughts' about her appearance after embracing a healthier lifestyle and regular work outs. Last year, she told Bella: 'My body is now who I am. My body will change, my size will go up and down and I don't define myself or get involved in any of those conversations around it'. 'What's more important is to do the work on the inside. I'm changing how I live, doing things differently, thats that I thought I didn't like, and changing myself'. Sue continued: 'The trouble is when you've got negative thoughts you hang onto them. So it's learning not to take those thoughts so seriously. In March 2024, Sue discussed her weight loss after participating in Dry January the year before (no alcohol for the month). She said: 'I lost 18lb [in 2022's I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here]. I'd already lost a stone and a half that year, because I gave up booze. I did Dry January and then I decided to carry on. 'I know it sounds ridiculous at my age, but I never really thought about how many calories I was consuming when I was having a glass of red wine while cooking dinner and then a couple more while eating it. 'If you're doing that four or five nights a week, that's a lot of calories.' Last year Sue revealed that since entering her 60s she feels that the world is now her 'oyster after years of alcohol dependency. Telling Prima: 'There are so many people my age who I speak to that are depressed about reaching 60. You feel like this is the end of the line, that everything goes down from here. And I absolutely don't feel that way. 'I just feel like the world really is my oyster now, and there's so much available out there. There's so much that you can do.' She also revealed in the candid interview how her reliance on alcohol has lessened as she gets older, explaining: 'I don't have any fear around alcohol any more, and that is really freeing.' 'I never imagined getting to that state. I thought I had a dependency. I thought I couldn't get by without having a glass of wine at night.' 'I thought life wouldn't be great without a glass of wine. It would be absolutely great without wine. I just thought it wouldn't. It's the thinking around it that is the problem.'
Times
an hour ago
- Times
A wander in the beeches is a religious experience
The nature reserve of Burnham Beeches, a couple of miles above Slough's trading estate, is justly famed for its numerous and titular Fagus sylvatica. George Orwell was an admirer; in Keep the Aspidistra Flying, 1936, Gordon and Rosemary, on a day out from their drearisome London life, fall into extravagant happiness seeking a suitable epithet for the beech trees there: 'Both agreed that beeches look more like sentient creatures than other trees. It is because of the smoothness of their bark, probably, and the curious limb-like way in which the boughs sprout from the trunk.' The historic pollarding — pruning at head height — of Burnham's beeches has produced admittedly animalesque trees, but sometimes of writhing agony. Burnham's beeches haunt the mind. They possess soul too, since to enter a summer beech wood is to step into a cathedral: the extraordinary estival density of the foliage produces a mystried gloom. The other way around, of course, since to enter a cathedral is to enter a beech grove; the Gothic architects of our great houses of prayer were inspired by the beech, with its numinousness and elegant ability to buttress the roof of the heavens. • Rain at last but age-old patterns are moving fast There are other wonders at Burnham, such as wood ants, of which the reserve has 500 colonies. Each domed metre-high nest possesses 250,000-plus inhabitants. If ants have a reputation for industry, their cleverness is insufficiently praised. Wood ants lay the grass-and-twig thatch roof on the formicarium in such a way that it acts as a solar panel. Temperature inside the domed abode is regulated by ants opening and closing tiny holes in the roof. Humans call this sun-utilisation 'sustainable eco-living'. There are six species of British wood ant, but only three are commonly encountered: the northern hairy, Scottish and southern. Burnham's ants are the latter sort, Formica rufa. Reddish, but with a jet-black abdomen. Workers reach 10mm in length, queens a stately 12mm. Their 'flying season' begins in late June, when winged males and queens emerge en masse and take to the air to mate and form yet more colonies. • How a plague of 'mirror bacteria' could destroy all life on Earth Common broomrape is a parasitic perennial, entirely lacking chlorophyll; on first poking through the ground it takes an unseemly mauve hue but soon turns brown, at which point it looks akin to an intricately carved stick. Orobanche minor rarely appears in the singular, coming in platoons. The veronica bush in our garden is hosting 80-plus broomrapes packed under its shade, with one specimen measuring 61cm. In the bush's twilight zone, the broomrapes present an unearthly spectacle: they have no proper dirt-seeking roots so they suck nutrients out of the veronica's uppermost roots via their 'haustoria', special penetrating tubes. When not invading gardens, common broomrape succours on clovers, although there are numerous sub-species, including maritima. This latter is vampiric on sea carrots. And the reason for the unattractive name of this unattractive plant? Gerard's Herbal of 1597 notes the plant, or another close member of the Orobanchaceae, growing 'unto the roots of broome', the gold-flowered shrub. The old country names of 'devil-root' and 'hell-root' for Orobanche minor indicates that its infestation of clover in the meadow is historically trying for farmers. Last week in the Charente, France, my 4km cycle rides to town to 'faire le shopping' were traffic-free, except for pine martens. On one occasion a pair ran along the other side of the road, keeping perfect lane discipline, but mostly the cat-sized mammal ran across the tarmac in front of the bike's wheels. This was in broad daylight. A member of the weasel family, Martes martes is weaselly recognisable: in addition to the sort of glossy chestnut hair one associates with shampoo adverts, it possesses a stand-out creamy-orange bib. The exact shape and extent of the bib is particular to each individual. In Britain, the pine marten is rare and restricted to the forests of Scotland, northern England, north Wales and small, partly reintroduced populations in southwest England. The mustelid's French cousin is seemingly carefree about the 'pine' designation, or indeed a definite affinity with woodland. The stretch of 'La France Profonde' for my shopping trips consisted of sunflowers and wheat fields. A sole line of shimmering poplar trees along the brook seems sufficient treeness to satisfy the marten's need to climb and nest above ground, thus beyond the jaws of a predator even bigger and badder than itself: Monsieur Renard. John Lewis-Stempel's latest book is The Curious Life of the Cuckoo
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
The best yoga mats and non-slip exercise mats tried and tested, from Lululemon to Yogi Bare
Given its transformative benefits for mind and body, the barrier for entry to yoga is low. You need very little specialised clothing or equipment – in fact, all you need is a mat, a pair of gym leggings and a water bottle. The best yoga mat will provide you with a stable, grippy surface on which to practice. There is nothing less zen than finding your hands are slipping forward in downward facing dog, or that your peaceful warrior pose isn't feeling all that peaceful because your mat won't stay in place. To maintain a consistent yoga practice, a decent mat is key. Unlike other fitness equipment such as rowing machines and treadmills, a yoga mat won't clean out your bank account – some mats are as little as £20. But not just any old mat will do – Emma Henry, an expert yoga teacher at Triyoga, says that investing in a decent model will pay dividends further down the line. 'There's nothing more frustrating in a fast-paced Vinyasa flow than slipping, so enough grip is key,' says Henry, who recommends the Liforme mat. 'There are cheaper ones available that are decent, but they might not last as long.' We've reviewed the best yoga mats in depth below and provided answers to some frequently asked questions. However, if you're finding yourself strapped for time, here's a quick summary: The best yoga mats: At a glance JUMP TO REVIEWS How to choose the best yoga mat When selecting the best yoga mat, thickness is paramount: a standard mat (around 3mm) provides a stable base for balance and flow, while thicker mats (up to 6mm) offer extra cushioning for sensitive joints or restorative sessions. The right thickness prevents discomfort and helps protect knees and wrists during prolonged poses. Material matters for both performance and sustainability. PVC mats are durable and provide excellent grip, but may not align with eco-friendly values. Natural alternatives like rubber, cork, or jute are increasingly popular, offering good traction and a lighter environmental footprint. Cork, in particular, is antimicrobial, which is ideal for hot or sweaty practices. You also need a textured and grippy material for safety, especially during dynamic or heated classes. Portability is worth considering if you travel or commute to classes; lighter, foldable mats are easier to carry but may sacrifice some comfort. Ultimately, the best yoga mat is one that balances support, grip, sustainability and convenience to suit your personal practice and values. How we test yoga mats Every mat on this list was tested through completing a series of yoga sessions and HIIT (high intenstity interval training) workouts. For the yoga sessions, I used videos by YouTube sensation, Yoga with Adriene. I took note of how thick and comfortable each mat was, which meant considering how comfortable my knees felt on the ground and how my joints felt after a heavy session. I also thought about the weight of each mat while carrying them to and from gym sessions. I looked for a soft but supportive material that wasn't slipper and, of course, a decent price. Why you can trust Telegraph Recommended Our thorough, real-world tests will always help you find the best product. No manufacturer ever sees Telegraph Recommended reviews before publication and we don't accept payment in exchange for favourable reviews, nor do we allow brands to pay for placement in our articles. From running shoes to exercise bikes, all reviews are based on independent expert opinion and our hands-on testing. Visit our Who We Are page to learn more. The best yoga mats of 2025 1. Best Buy Yoga Mat: Lululemon The Mat Top marks for this double-sided mat from Lululemon, which offers unparalleled grip, a stable surface and plenty of support. It's unnoticeable in the best way; I felt grounded and supported, and my hands and feet didn't budge. Lululemon offers several thicknesses of mat, but I would opt for the 5mm for joint support. This mat is reversible and comes in a wide range of colours and designs. One side is smooth and the other is slightly textured, but both are made from natural rubber. It's the perfect size – a touch longer and wider than most standard yoga mats, at 180cm x 66cm. This means it offers plenty of space to stretch out. Thanks to its slightly thicker construction, I found it also makes the perfect partner to HIIT and strength workouts. Despite being thicker than most others, it's not unduly heavy, at 2.4kg. That's the upper end of what I'd consider to be an easy weight to carry, but it means that this mat excels both at home and in class. The only downside is that it doesn't come with a carry strap or bag – but that really is nitpicking. Put simply, it's a brilliant all-rounder that is more than worth the investment. Key specifications 2. Best Value Yoga Mat: Manduka Prolite Yoga and Pilates Mat The Manduka Prolite is wonderfully durable. It's favoured by The Telegraph's Boudicca Fox-Leonard, a part-time yoga instructor. Fox-Leonard says: 'For the yogi looking to find a mat that will be able to follow them on their practice journey without flaking, Manduka mats are hard to beat on quality and simplicity. They also have ethical credentials: they're non-toxic and 100 per cent latex free, with an emissions-free manufacturing process. 'While Manduka's range is overwhelming, opt for the Manduka Prolite. You'll get a mat light enough to carry (it weighs 1.8kg) without compromising on cushioning. It might prove slippy for those first few practices, but then you and your mat will be stuck to each other for life.' Manduka promises its mats are made for life, and they come with lifetime guarantees. The most durable option you can find. Key specifications Material: PVC Measurements: 80cm x 61cm Thickness: 4.7mm Weight: 3.08kg 3. Best Non-slip Yoga Mat: Liforme Original Yoga Mat Yoga teacher Emma Henry's favoured mat is the Liforme original. There's no getting around the fact that it's expensive, but this is a mat that will last for years and years. It has a uniquely smooth surface whilst still offering unparalleled grip. It is also one of only a handful to be printed with a handy alignment guide. At 185 x 68cm and 4mm thick, it's slightly larger than average, so perfect for practicing at home – however, given it weighs 2.5kg, it's not the easiest to lug to a yoga class. If you're looking for a mat to use on the move, Henry also recommends the Liforme travel mat (£99.95, Amazon). Liforme also has impressive eco credentials; their mats are made from natural rubber and eco-friendly polyurethane and are biodegradable. Key specifications Material: Rubber Measurements: 185cm x 68cm Thickness: 4.2mm Weight: 2.5kg 4. Best Yoga Mat for Allergies: Gaiam Sol Studio Select Dry-Grip Yoga Mat If you have a latex or rubber allergy, this Gaiam Dry-Grip Yoga Mat is for you – it's made out of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a type of plastic. PVC isn't as sustainable as the natural rubber used by other mats on this list but it has a low carbon footprint and is highly durable, so you won't need to replace your mat in a hurry. The 5mm thick mat had a good amount of cushioning and I found it soft on my joints both for yoga and HIIT workouts. The smooth top layer wicked away sweat from my palms and feet. More impressively the grippy underside stuck to the shiny fake hardwood floor in my flat which is usually slippery, without budging. At 2.1kg it's completely manageable to carry if you tend to take your yoga mat to the gym though you'll have to buy a separate bag or straps. I also love the design – the mandala in the middle of the mat is an excellent point of focus for trickier yoga positions. Key specifications 5. Best Ethical Yoga Mat: Yogi Bare Wild Forest Ever Grip Paws Yoga Mat I loved testing this mat – primarily because it's refreshingly lightweight and transportable when paired with Yogi Bare's Carry Bag (£20), and it's also easy to store as a result. Where it truly shines is its patented Ever Grip technology, which means the surface is extra grippy, durable and stain-free, while remaining as eco-conscious as ever. Having tested this mat over several weeks during both yoga and HIIT workouts, I can attest to the excellent grip and lack of marking – it still looks as good as it did out of the box. At 4mm thick, it's certainly on the thinner end of the spectrum, but I still find it supportive enough for my joints. That said, my wrists, where I have a particular weakness as a result of previous injury, would have preferred a little more cushioning. It measures 180cm x 66cm, so it's a touch narrower than the Liforme mat, but I found it to be more than spacious enough. For reference, I could easily still squat while facing sideways. Living in a small London flat, I actually appreciated the narrow form and it was plenty long enough for my 174cm height. Other small but appreciated features include the alignment and orientation guides to keep you on track during different movement types, and notes of affirmation which depend on the colour you choose – my 'desert sand' colourway told me 'you belong here', which was reassuring during a particularly gruelling ab workout. As for the sustainability credentials, Yogi Bare uses natural rubber, plant-based dyes and recycled packaging. The mats themselves are biodegradable and recyclable, with discounts on new mats offered if you recycle directly with Yogi Bare. Key specifications 6. Best Travel Yoga Mat: Yogamatters Sticky Yoga Mat This budget-friendly mat is available in all the colours of the rainbow, and you can't fault the grip – it's as sticky as its name suggests. I like the distinctive textured design and how light it is to carry (it weighs just 1.2kg). However, I found it slightly too sticky – it feels as if it leaves a slight residue on your hands. It also doesn't come with a strap, but given the texture, it's more than sticky enough to simply roll up and store. This would be an excellent mat for taking to a class or using on the move, but for home practices I would choose something with a smoother surface and a bigger footprint. Key specifications Yoga mat FAQs What to look for in a yoga mat You want a good grip, a thick base and high-quality material like natural rubber for support, and a light enough weight that it can be carried to and from a gym. Visual alignment markers, to help with the placing of hands and feet are also useful. There are other factors to consider, too: texture and size. 'I like a big, heavy mat for home practice, but when you're travelling you need it to be lighter,' says Emma Henry, yoga teacher at Triyoga, who uses a Liforme travel mat or Lululemon '(Un)mat' when she's on the move. She also considers the ethics of a company: 'what they're doing to support yoga teachers and what they're doing environmentally.' Consider too the style of yoga you practice – hot yoga, in which you're likely to sweat a lot, will require a mat that offers plenty of grip and is easy to clean, whereas a slower restorative or yin yoga class might require a mat that's thicker and more supportive. How to clean a yoga mat To stay on top of keeping your yoga mat clean, you should try to disinfect it before and after each session with equal parts water and white vinegar, and a dash of tea tree oil. For bigger cleans, every couple of weeks, or more or less depending on your usage, put your yoga mat in a bath or shower and give it a good scrub with water and dish soap, leave it to dry, then roll it up. Most yoga mats cannot be put in the washing machine, but check the individual instructions. How thick should a yoga mat be? As a general rule of thumb, stick to yoga mats between 4mm and 6mm. Bear in mind a thinner mat will be more portable, while a thicker mat will be easier on the joints. If you're doing more floorwork yoga, you might choose a thicker mat as well for the extra cushioning. That said, too much thickness can affect the flow of movement so it's all about finding the balance. How long does a yoga mat typically last? A yoga mat typically lasts between six months and two years, but it can depend on how often you use it and care for it. What is the best material for a yoga mat? Most standard yoga mats are made from polyvinyl chloride. Newer, more eco-friendly options include natural and recycled rubber, jute, and cotton. Can yoga mats be recycled? Polyvinyl chloride mats are the most difficult to recycle as they may contain plasticisers, UV retarders, dyes, and dirt. Rubber yoga mats and biodegradable mats are much easier to recycle. It is always worth checking with the manufacturer to be sure.
