Half of children not eating recommended number of vegetables

New figures from YouGov reveal that less than half of children in the UK are eating the recommended number of vegetables every day.

The Government suggests we eat 7 portions of fruit and vegetables a day, and within that vegetables should make up at least half.

But only 50% of children are getting enough of their daily intake.

Many schools are trying to combat the problem.

They know that lots of children will opt for a burger and chips rather than peas and broccoli so are trying to break down barriers that may make vegetables seem unappealing or boring.

Some schools have created their own vegetable patches in their grounds to show children where vegetables come from and how they’re grown.

Children here are trying out some different vegetables. Credit: ITV News

In an initiative called ‘From seed to plate’ Highbury Primary School does just that. Teachers there also run taste testing sessions to allow children in class to try out a number of different vegetables that that otherwise meant not get to taste.

ITV and Veg Power have launched a major initiative aimed at getting children to eat more healthily. A series of adverts will run on ITV which hopes to change the way people think and feel about vegetables.

The campaign, developed by ITV and Veg Power, has been funded by some supermarkets and brands that have donated to the 'Eat Them To Defeat Them' initiative. Credit: PA

And it’s being supported by some familiar ITV faces including Loose Women’s Stacey Solomon and This Morning’s Dr Ranj.

The campaign has backing from famous ITV faces. Credit: ITV News

It also has the support of writer and broadcaster Hugh Fernley-Whittingstall and Jamie Oliver.

ITV says it hopes this will help tackle childhood obesity and inspire kids to think differently about vegetables.

Ashna Hurynag has the full report: