Parents think that it costs more to eat healthy
Is your child's diet suffering because of you?
New research reveals that over a third of parents let their children snack on chocolate or crisps rather than fruit because they are more convenient - it's simply less hassle than resisting the kids' requests for unhealthier choices.
The survey also indicates that cost is another factor - as more than half of parents believe it's cheaper for their child to eat less healthy snack options.
A sample of 1,005 parents of school-aged children were asked to answer a series of questions about their children's diets.
The statistics follow claims by the Department of Health that over 500,000 children are putting the future health of their livers at risk because of their poor eating habits.
Yet, it seems that despite the severity of these warnings, parents are struggling to ensure their child eats a health, nutritious diet.
Emma Williams, a Nutrition Scientist at the British Nutrition Foundation says: "The statistics are a huge concern. It's the parent's responsibility to make sure that high fat, high sugary foods are eaten in moderation. As parents, we should be leading by example and providing our children with a healthy balanced diet."
The research, commissioned by South African fruit growers, was conducted to find out about the differences between children's eating habits when they are at home compared with school.
If you think that it costs too much to eat healthy, read this feature on the best ways to save money.