Hot snacks

EVEN THOUGH children and teenagers know that junk food such as crisps and fish balls are 'bad', most would still opt for fast food over fruit or sandwiches when given a choice.

When choosing snacks, youngsters seem to be indifferent to health concerns.

'My favourite snack is crisps because they're salty and crispy,' says nine-year-old Medora Choi Ming-yee from Marymount Primary School. Ming-yee and her classmates usually huddle together during recess, sampling each other's snacks. The children bring their own from home because the school does not have a tuck shop.

Parents exercise little control over the snacks their children eat and senior form students can buy their desired delights with their own pocket money.

Ming-yee says she would ask to have some of her friends' crisps if her parents did not buy them for her.

Young people have their own tastes. Some students have a sweet tooth while others develop a penchant for savoury snacks.

Lan Man-ching, 16, likes chocolates, sweets and chocolate pretzels. During the summer holidays, she goes with her friends to enjoy Taiwanese milk tea. For 18-year-old Chan Tsz-yeung, crisps and bubble gum are his favourites. He also likes to cook instant noodles during the holidays.