Children need a balanced diet with a good variety of foods to ensure that all their requirements for growth and development are met. In addition, a healthy diet must be balanced with regular physical activity, matching energy intake with energy output.

The development of a healthy lifestyle in young children is very important as health related behaviours and attitudes to food are formed in childhood. The initial processes for some adult diseases such as cancer and heart disease may start in young children.

The Government's National Diet and Nutrition survey assesses the nutritional status of children and looks at their activity levels. This and other research shows that young children today are increasingly overweight and inactive. They would most benefit from increasing their daily intake of fruit and vegetables and becoming more physically active. The four key messages of Join the Activaters address just these issues.