By Juliette Kellow

Thanks to Jamie Oliver we know more than ever about the right foods to feed our kids. But is there anything else you can do to get your children eating better? Our quiz helps you find out…

Fed up with being told what to feed your kids? Then you’re not alone! A new report has shown that two thirds of mums and dads are fed up with being portrayed as poor parents when it comes feeding their children, especially as many are taking big steps to ensure their kids eat healthily. In the Munch Bunch Childhood Wellbeing Survey, more than half of the families questioned rarely ate fast food and four out of 10 thought families should eat meals together to teach children about healthy eating and to develop their social skills.

It’s good news considering that what your children eat ultimately comes back to your lifestyle and the types of food you prepare and offer. The Munch Bunch survey identified four different types of parents based on how they feed their kids. So which type are you – and is there anything you can change to improve your child’s diet even more? Take our quiz to find out. Simply tick the most appropriate answer…

1. You’re asked to contribute a plate of food to your child’s end-of-term party. What do you take?
a) Homemade flapjack – it took an hour to make but you know what’s in it
b) Ready-made sausage rolls – you were so busy you forgot about it, so picked them up on the way to the party
c) Egg mayo and tomato sandwiches – it’s a good way of making sure kids get at least some veg
d) Vietnamese spring rolls with a chilli dipping sauce – your child loves them.

2. It’s your child’s birthday. What cake do you get them?
a) A homemade fruit cake you’ve iced yourself
b) A large chocolate cake from the supermarket
c) A jam and cream sponge cake you’ve had made in the shape of their favourite cartoon character
d) A carrot cake from your favourite deli.

3. You only have 20 minutes to cook dinner for the family. What do you serve up?
a) Griddled, line-caught tuna with buttered new potatoes and mange tout
b) Sausages, oven chips and baked beans
c) Pasta with tomato sauce, grated cheese and salad – although your kids will probably leave the salad
d) Tofu and vegetable stir fry with noodles

4. When you go out to eat as a family, where are you most likely to go?
a) A restaurant that only uses local produce and organic ingredients
b) McDonald’s – you can be in and out in 15 minutes
c) Pizza Express – there’s something on the menu for everyone
d) A Japanese restaurant with a sushi conveyer belt.

5. What foods does your child’s packed lunch typically contain?
a) A smoked salmon and cream cheese granary sandwich, a homemade muffin, organic cherries and carrot sticks and a bottle of spring water
b) A ham sandwich, packet of crisps, chocolate biscuit, apple and a juice drink
c) A chicken salad wrap, pot of yoghurt, banana, carton of fruit juice and a small bar of chocolate
d) Pitta bread and tzatziki, pepper sticks, packet of rice crackers, pot of soya yogurt and a blueberry smoothie.

6. You’re doing you’re weekly shop. What does your child pester you for most?
a) An expensive tub of luxury ice cream
b) A multipack of crisps
c) A large tub of mixed children’s sweets
d) A tub of hummus.

How to score…
Tot up the number of As, Bs, Cs and Ds you scored, then read the answer that matches your highest score.

Mostly A’s
You’re a ‘foodie’ parent
You love cooking and making dishes from scratch. You buy organic foods and local produce and get your meat, fish, fruit and veg from local shops or farmer’s markets. You scrutinise foods labels when you’re in the supermarket and buy healthier options. This is great news for your kids because it means they won’t have loads of additives or trans fats in their diet. Make it healthier You still need to make sure the meals you prepare don’t contain too much fat, sugar and salt. Homemade deserts and cakes can be packed with sugar – even if you use brown sugar or honey instead of the white stuff. Meanwhile, adding butter or crème fraiche to dishes will increase saturates. And organic chocolate, biscuits and crisps contain just as many calories and as much fat, sugar and salt as regular ones.

Mostly B’s
You’re a ‘juggling’ parent
You’re always juggling 101 tasks so cooking and mealtimes often take a back seat. You’d love the family to eat together but it's rare to find everyone in at the same time. Meanwhile, your kids fill up on crisps or chocolate while you’re ferrying them to and from music lessons, sports clubs and after school events. Because life is hectic, you don’t have time to cook, so often serve ready-prepared convenience foods. The result: your kids often have an unbalanced diet that’s low in fruit and veg. Make it healthier Healthy meals don’t have to take ages to cook. Wholewheat pasta with canned sweetcorn, tuna and tomato sauce or chicken stir fry with noodles can be whipped up in minutes. Start delegating, too – older children can help to prepare meals, while younger ones can lay the table. And stock up on healthier snacks for when your children are on the move – dried and fresh fruit, yoghurt, wholemeal sandwiches and smoothies are great alternatives to fatty, sugary snacks.

Mostly C’s
You’re a ‘flexible’ parent
You make an effort to ensure your family eats healthily but you still want your children to enjoy food. This means you often give in to their demands for fatty and sugary foods at mealtimes and as snacks – and let them get away with skipping fruit and veg. Unfortunately, being so lenient means your children’s diets probably aren’t as good as they could be. Make it healthier Look at ways to make their favourite foods healthier – if chips are a hit, make your own by brushing potato wedges with sunflower oil and baking them in the oven, or make your own burgers using extra-lean mince. Treats are fine, but limit them to one a day. A balanced diet should include starchy, fibre-rich foods with each meal, five fruit and veg (find ones they like), three servings of low-fat dairy products like milk, cheese or yoghurt, and a couple of servings of lean meat, chicken, fish or beans.

Mostly D’s You’re an ‘cool’ parent Having children hasn’t changed your lifestyle or diet that much. In fact, your children are used to trying all sorts of meals and are just as likely to eat sushi, hummus and Thai curry as they are cottage pie. This is great news as your children are prepared to try anything new and generally turn their noses up at nuggets and chips. Make it healthier It’s great to encourage children to try new foods but you need to make sure they’re having a healthy diet that contains enough protein, vitamins and minerals – soya yoghurt might be cool, but unless it’s fortified it may not contain as much calcium as regular yoghurt! Keep a watch on the fat, sugar and salt your kids are having, too. Dips, sushi and Japanese rice crackers can be loaded with salt, while honey-coated nuts are high in sugar.

For healthy recipes and healthy eating information, visit www.munchbunch.co.uk