Eight out of ten parents give their children junk food for 'an easier life'



Junk lunch: Eight out of ten parents have admitted they give their children unhealthy food

Eight out of 10 parents are putting unhealthy food such as crisps and chocolate in their children's lunchboxes, according to a survey.

But fruit is one of the most popular children's snacks with seven out of 10 children preferring it to sweets, fizzy drinks and biscuits, the research by children's cookery expert Annabel Karmel said.

Cheese, crisps and fruit were the top three snacks among children.

One in five parents said they gave their children sugary cereals instead of healthier options such as porridge or wholegrain cereal.

Ms Karmel said: 'More parents start out with good intentions but at busy times of the day, they may opt for an easier life and give in to their child even though that food isn't healthy.'

But nearly half of the 1,000 parents surveyed showed they are health-conscious as they tried to trick their children into eating healthy vegetables by hiding them in pasta dishes.

Other tricks parents used to feed their children vegetables included bribing them with sweet treat, offering finger food portions of vegetables and pureeing the vegetables.

Nearly a third of children said mushrooms were their least favourite vegetable, above spinach and broccoli.

Spaghetti bolognese is the top children's dish, with nearly half naming it their favourite.

Giving in: The survey found despite good intentions parents are often worn down by their children

But the Italian classic is more popular with children in the south east, with 52 per cent saying it was their favourite compared with 32 per cent in the north east.

The UK has the highest rate of childhood obesity in Europe with 25 per cent of young people being classed as obese or overweight. The Government's Foresight report suggests this will only get worse, with 40 per cent of Britons expected to be obese by 2025.









