Parents set five-a-day challenge

Reassuringly for most parents, many of us struggle to get their child to consume the recommended five pieces of fruit and veg every day.

In fact, according to a recent poll, 59 per cent of parents are failing to get their child to eat their five portions.

Further research commissioned by Florida Grapefruit reveals a shocking 88 per cent of mums are too busy to prepare a meal with fresh fruit and veg, opting for burgers and pizza instead.

Time pressure from home and working commitments is the reason 53 per cent of mums gave for failing to enforce the five-a day-rule.

Now reporter from the popular TV programme The One Show’s Angellica Bell is working with Florida Grapefruit to get mums sharing tips on including fruit and veg portions in their children’s meals.

Angellica says: “ I am hoping this challenge will show how easy it can be to include fresh fruit and vegetables into a diet throughout the day whether it is a snack or a meal. ”

The ‘eat your five a day’ challenge, is being hosted by MumsNet.com, with the best tip receiving £400 to put towards cooking equipment for their home and their child’s school.

Spokesperson for Florida grapefruit Nancy Brown, has some tips for parents to help get their children on a healthy start:

Keep some bite-size sections of fruit in the fridge at eye level and ready for a quick snack

Squeeze Florida grapefruit juice onto your food to give it an added zing instead of using salt

Plant fruit and vegetable seeds in your garden with your child and let them take care of the plant while it grows

Take your family to picking farms at harvest time to pick your own fruit to include in your meals

Try cutting fruit and vegetables into different shapes and let your children make a picture before eating them