-  88% of family meals consist of takeaways rather than fresh fruit and vegetables

According to a new survey a staggering 88% of busy mums admit they have to opt for a ‘quick fix’ burger or pizza instead of preparing a meal with fresh fruit and vegetables. Half (53%) of time-pressed mums say home and work pressures leaves them little time to create home cooked meals research commissioned by Florida grapefruit reveals
 
Leeds parents and children have perfected the healthy lifestyle, as the region munches through the most fresh fruit. Londoners closely miss out with 67% stating they would eat more fruit and vegetables if they knew how to incorporate it into homemade dishes. Although health campaigns including Jamie Oliver’s school dinners and health4life have increased the national fruit and vegetable intake by 25% * in the last year school children in Manchester missed out on vital vitamins C as only 34% eat one portion of fruit a day to counterbalance an unhealthy lunch.

This week, The One Show reporter, Angellica Bell, is challenging mums across the country to share creative and easy tips to help fellow parents to include the five portions of fruit and vegetables within the family diet.  

Angellica says: “Every parent I know is always rushed off their feet and become overwhelmed at the thought of having to cook a family meal after a busy day. 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, hosted by the social networking site www.mumsnet.com, is available to all across the UK. Mums will be invited to enter the challenge by submitting their creative tips on how they encourage their children to eat fresh fruit and vegetables into a diet. The best entry will receive £400 to put towards cooking equipment for their home and their child’s school.