Children’s nutrition plays a critical role in physical growth, learning outcomes, and overall well-being. According to a World Health Organization (WHO) multinational study, 25% of upper-elementary students worldwide are overweight or obese. However, the Child Welfare League Foundation (CWLF)’s latest survey reveals an even higher rate in Taiwan, reaching 30.2%.

At the press conference titled “When Snacks Take Over Childhood: Nutrition Warning Signs for Children”, CWLF Research Development and Organizational Development Department Director Yun-Hsuan Huang released the 2026 Taiwan Children’s Dietary Status Survey. Dietitian Min-Min Kao, along with upper-elementary students and parent representatives, was invited to help shed light on the hidden nutrition risks in Taiwanese children’s daily diets.

---

The survey found that junk food have become part of many children’s daily routines. Over 60% of students eat fast food or fried foods at least once a week, while more than half consume hand-shaken drinks weekly.

These dietary patterns are reflected in children’s daily meals. Imbalance often begins at breakfast: more than one in 10 children eat breakfast fewer than three days a week. At dinner, nearly one-quarter of children lack a fixed mealtime, and over 60% rely primarily on refined carbohydrates for dinner. Family mealtime interaction is also limited—nearly 20% of children eat with their families fewer than two days a week, and 30% report little conversation at the table.

Faced with irregular and unbalanced meals, many parents turn to dietary supplements. The survey shows that over half of children have taken nutritional supplements. Without careful attention to dosage and ingredients, supplements may unintentionally increase children’s intake of sugar and additives.

Water intake is another concern. One in five children drinks enough water fewer than two days a week, and these children are more likely to replace water with sugary beverages, increasing daily sugar consumption.

Clear links are emerging between unhealthy eating habits and children’s health. The survey found that 65% of children experienced at least one physical discomfort in the past two weeks, including insomnia, diarrhea, skin allergies, or constipation.

Family mealtime dynamics also matter. Children who are scolded or questioned about schoolwork during meals are nearly twice as likely to experience sleep difficulties compared to those who are not.

In response to these findings, CWLF urges families, schools, and policymakers to work together to improve children’s food environments and rebuild balanced, diverse, and supportive mealtime routines.

High-Sugar and High-Fat Foods Are Driving Childhood Obesity

Unbalanced Meals from Morning to Night Are Undermining Children's Nutrition

These dietary patterns are also reflected in the structure of children’s three daily meals, with nutrition problems beginning as early as the first meal of the day. The survey found that 11% of students eat breakfast fewer than three days a week and go to school on an empty stomach, while 11.9% have skipped breakfast due to time constraints. With nearly 70% of schools prohibiting eating in classrooms, children who miss breakfast often have no opportunity to make up for it, making family morning routines especially critical.

A student representative shared that there are only about 30 minutes between waking up and leaving home, resulting in breakfasts that are “eaten, but very rushed.” A parent representative added that some children throw away the breakfast prepared at home and instead purchase snacks from school stores, allowing sugar and fat to replace the nutritional value of proper meals.

Even when breakfast is consumed, its nutritional balance is often inadequate. The most common items include soy milk or dairy products (51.4%), bread (46.7%), and eggs (32.8%), while only 15.8% of children consume fruits or vegetables. More concerning, 18% drink sugary beverages at breakfast, and 12.4% eat fried foods such as hot dogs or chicken nuggets, indicating that high-sugar and high-fat foods have already become part of the day’s first meal.

Dinner shows similar patterns of irregularity and imbalance. Nearly one-quarter of children (24.2%) do not have a fixed dinner time. In terms of content, 63.2% rely primarily on refined carbohydrates, such as stir-fried noodles, rice dishes, pizza, or pasta, without adequate protein or vegetables. Among them, 7.9% consume no vegetables at dinner, 12.3% include fried foods, and more than one in ten drink hand-shaken or sugary beverages (11.1%).

Further analysis found that 37.5% of children mainly rely on takeout meals for dinner. These children are more likely to consume predominantly carbohydrates and have significantly higher intake of fried foods and sugary drinks, resulting in lower dietary diversity and nutrient density overall. A parent representative shared that frequent reliance on takeout or boxed meals creates a strong sense of psychological pressure and guilt, as preparing balanced dinners every day is often not feasible. Taken together, the findings show that children’s daily meals commonly face limited food variety, excessive intake of high-sugar and high-fat foods, and nutritional gaps associated with eating out.

More Supplements, Less Healthy? The Hidden Sugar Trap for Children

In addition to unbalanced meals, many parents purchase dietary supplements or energy gels in an effort to “make up” for nutritional gaps. However, under a so-called “health halo,” these products may place additional and often unnoticed burdens on children’s diets. The survey found that 51.1% of children have consumed dietary supplements, while 20% have eaten energy gels.

In terms of consumption frequency, 6.8% of students take dietary supplements more than once a day, exceeding commonly recommended usage levels. Among children who consume energy gels, 5.1% eat them more than once daily, and nearly three in ten (28.1%) consume them once a day.

Dietitian Min-Min Kao advised parents that supplement use should follow three core principles: “Prioritize balanced meals before considering supplements,” “supplements are insurance for nutritional gaps, not daily necessities,” and “children’s energy levels, emotional state, and sleep quality often reflect dietary problems earlier than body weight does.” If parents are uncertain about whether supplementation is necessary, she recommends consulting a physician or registered dietitian first.

Parent representatives also shared that in settings such as dance classes or school bands, where children prepare for competitions or performances, they have heard of children being advised—or even required—to consume energy drinks or energy gels before events to maintain stamina and concentration. Energy gels are primarily composed of carbohydrates. Dietitian Min-Min Kao emphasized that children’s sugar intake does not come solely from sugary beverages, but from the cumulative effect of snacks, desserts, dietary supplements, and energy gels layered together, making sugar one of the easiest dietary risks to accumulate invisibly and yet most easily overlooked.

She further cautioned that “energy gels were originally designed for prolonged, high-intensity physical activity and are generally unnecessary for everyday schoolchildren. Overreliance may increase sugar intake, disrupt sleep, affect gastrointestinal health, or raise the risks of tooth decay and obesity. For children under six, there is also a choking hazard, requiring particular caution.”

How Do Family Mealtime Quality and Parental Control Affect Children’s Eating Habits?

Regarding family eating practices, the survey found that nearly one in five children (18.2%) eat with their families fewer than two days a week, lacking consistent family mealtime routines. While 74.9% of children believe that talking and chatting with their parents during meals helps improve their mood, 30.1% report that there is little or almost no conversation at the table. Additionally, 12.4% of children experience being scolded or questioned about schoolwork during meals, casting a shadow of stress over what should be a supportive time.

At the press conference, parents shared that children are often more willing to actively talk about their school life and emotions during meals, noting that “mealtime is not just about what is eaten, but about companionship and listening.” Student representatives echoed this sentiment, stating that eating and talking with parents helps them feel relaxed and cared for.

When responding to children’s eating challenges, many parents rely on authoritative control. On one hand, 75% of parents restrict snacks and sweets; on the other hand, 25.6% force children to eat foods they dislike. Both restriction and coercion represent forms of control, suggesting that many parents have not replaced one-way commands with nutrition education.

Notably, children whose parents strictly control snacks and sweets consumption show significantly higher rates of being overweight. This pattern suggests that parents may only begin dietary control after noticing weight gain, highlighting the importance of establishing healthy eating concepts and habits early, rather than reacting after problems emerge.

Diet Has Become a Key Risk Factor Affecting Children’s Health

Warning signs are already emerging in children’s health. The survey found that within the past two weeks, 48.4% of children had trouble sleeping, 27.4% had diarrhea, 25% reported skin allergies, and 15% experienced constipation. Overall, 65% of children reported at least one physical discomfort.

These symptoms may be influenced by multiple factors, including daily routines, stress levels, and individual constitution. However, in an environment where high-sugar, high-fat, and nutritionally imbalanced diets are widespread, diet has become a risk factor that cannot be ignored.

Regarding supplements, children who consume dietary supplements more than once daily are more likely to experience diarrhea, suggesting that excessive supplementation may increase digestive burden. Children who consume energy gels also report higher rates of insomnia, possibly related to high sugar content or inappropriate timing of stimulant-type products. Dietitian Min-Min Kao reminded parents that the effects of high-sugar and high-fat diets often appear not only in body weight, but earlier through emotional fluctuations, reduced concentration, and poorer sleep quality.

Family mealtime atmosphere is closely linked to children’s physical and mental well-being. Children who chat with family members during nearly every meal show lower rates of sleep difficulties, and those who believe that conversation is “helpful” also report better sleep. In contrast, children who are frequently scolded or questioned about schoolwork during meals report insomnia at a rate of 23.7%, nearly twice that of children who are not subjected to such pressure.

Overall, while children’s symptoms cannot be attributed solely to diet, the data show a clear association between dietary imbalance and health outcomes, making it a risk factor that should not be overlooked.

How Can We Rebuild a Healthier Food Environment for Children?

In response to dietary imbalance, inappropriate supplement use, excessive sugary drink consumption, and declining family mealtime quality, CWLF calls on parents, schools, and government agencies to work together to improve children’s food environments:

1. Use supplements with careful attention to frequency and dosage.
   When children consume dietary supplements or energy gels, parents should strictly follow recommended dosages and avoid overuse. Children under the age of 12 should not consume caffeine-containing energy drinks or jellies. Supplements are meant to supplement, not replace, regular meals; excessive use may increase digestive burden or disrupt sleep.
2. Build balanced diets through daily meals and family dining.
   Parents should help children establish regular, portion-appropriate eating habits and reduce intake of sugary drinks, fried foods, processed meats, and sweets. For picky eaters, encouragement should replace the force. Mealtimes should foster a relaxed atmosphere free from scolding or academic interrogation, as tense dining environments are clearly linked to poorer sleep.
3. Governments and schools must work together to create healthier food environments.
   Governments should strengthen food labeling regulations so parents can clearly understand sugar and additive content in foods commonly consumed by children. Schools should reinforce nutrition education to help children develop accurate knowledge and healthy attitudes toward food from an early age.

CWLF emphasizes that improving children’s nutrition cannot rest on parents alone. Only through coordinated efforts across families, education systems, and public policy can children truly enjoy healthy and balanced dietary lives.

---

◼ ︎Read more: 
• Event Highlights: Children's Online Safety Forum with Japan Internet Safety Promotion Association 1
• Event Highlights: Children's Online Safety Forum with Japan Internet Safety Promotion Association 2
• Event Highlights: School Bullying Prevention Forum with Japanese NPO Stop Bullying! Navi