The vast majority of children are not eating enough fruit and vegetables to support a balanced diet and give them the best start in life, experts have warned. Latest figures for England show only 29 percent of adults consume five or more portions of fresh, frozen, tinned, dried or juiced fruit and veg per day. And the figure plummets to just 12 per cent for children aged 11-18, leaving many lacking in fibre and essential nutrients.
Elaine Hindal, chief executive of the British Nutrition Foundation, said: "National dietary surveys show that children in this country are not eating the right balance of foods to give them the best start in life. “For example, in 11-18 year olds, only 12 per cent of children are getting their five-a-day, only four per cent meet the fibre recommendation and many have low intakes of essential nutrients such as iron, zinc, calcium and vitamin A. “These essential nutrients are important for all of us but particularly for children’s growth and development.
We need to improve children’s diets by making it easier for people to get healthier options such as vegetables, fruit, pulses, such as beans, chickpeas and lentils and wholegrains and have less of foods and drinks high in fat, salt and sugar.” The warning came as Tesco announced a major donation of £4million worth of fruit and vegetables to 400 schools in a bid to help more youngsters hit the crucial five-a-day target. READ MORE: Dietitian lists four 'healthy' foods that stop weight loss i.
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