Promoting fruit and vegetable consumption among children

Promoting fruit and vegetable consumption among children

The Government will spend £2 million this year on schemes to promote fruit and vegetables to children. This follows a recent survey that few children eat the level of fruit and vegetables that experts recommend would protect them against heart disease and cancer. The schemes announced by Public Health Minister, Yvette Cooper, will include fruit tuck shops, breakfast clubs,creating new menus or recipes and incentives to encourage children to eat healthy foods. Children in low income households eat less fruit and vegetables than those on higher incomes. The National Diet and Nutrition Survey of 4- to 18-year-olds, jointly funded by the Department of Health and the Food Standard Agency found that one in five children ate no fruit in the week of the survey period and that three out of five ate no leafy green vegetables. Consumption of salt, saturated fat and sugar was also higher than recommended.