Getting kids to eat their veggies can be a difficult challenge at the best of times and something that many parents struggle with on a daily basis. You may have tried every trick in the book to get your child eating their greens but new research reveals that some children are ‘Veg-A-Phobic’.
Parenting on Female First
Ragu Hidden Vegetables carried out the survey and found almost 73% of parents revealed that their kids hate eating their veggies, as many children dislike the taste.
Telling a couple of little white lies about the ‘special powers’ vegetables hold leaves parents feeling guilty, as 31% of parents admit to telling their children that carrots help them see in the dark, to encourage them to eat their veggies.
Children are being told that eating spinach will make them big and strong like Popeye, as 21% admit to telling a little fib to encourage children to eat more greens.
Parents have even gone as far as disguising veggies with 32% admitting to mixing them in with other foods. 26% mix in sauces and condiments to try and help disguise the taste for their kids, whilst nearly 19% sprinkle grated cheese over the top to help mask the taste!
When it comes to having a few tricks up their sleeves, children certainly have a few hidden gems themselves. 20% of parents revealed that their children have tried to disguise their veggies amongst other food on their plate, whilst 17% attempted to slyly palm their veggies off to the family dog!
Most popular veggies that UK children will always eat:
- Carrots- 42%
- Peas- 34%
- Cucumber- 23%
- Corn- 21%
- Broccoli- 19%
Least favourite veggies for UK children to eat:
- Brussels- 28%
- Cabbage- 23%
- Spinach- 21%
- Swede/turnip- 20%
With the government recommending that children consume at least five servings of fruit/veg per day, the new Ragu Hidden Vegetables range (incorporating five different vegetables in just one jar), provides the equivalent of 1 ½ of the daily five, which is fantastic news for parents searching for a secret weapon to get their little ones to eat their veggies!
Award-winning dietitian and TV nutritionist, Dr Carrie Ruxton, comments: “Parents face an everyday battle getting their kids to eat fruit and particularly vegetables – I’ve been there myself with my two children. Across the UK, the intake of fruit and vegetables, amongst children, has flatlined at less than 3 portions a day. Now, only 1 in ten children eat enough fruit and vegetables so the launch of Ragu Hidden Vegetables couldn’t be timelier.”
She added: “Obesity, affecting 31% of boys and 29% of girls aged two to 15 years, is also a major issue in the UK and is linked with a high consumption of high calorie foods and drinks. Switching to healthier options, such as fruit and veg, can help people of all ages to tackle their growing waistlines. As this new research shows, kids more than ever need to be encouraged to eat more vegetables.”
Nina Lumsden, Brand Manager for Ragu commented: “It seems that kids across the UK have an inherent dislike towards vegetables and parents will do anything to get their kids to eat even just a small amount. Not only does Ragu Hidden Vegetables contain 1 and ½ of their recommended five a day – we’ve blended five different types of vegetables into our delicious tomato sauce – making it a ‘time-easy’ solution for Mums and Dads to provide a nutritious and tasty meal for their family.”
Tagged in Parents children Brits vegetables