Kids Admit To Ditching Fruit & Veg From Their Lunchbox

School children are regularly ditching their fruit and veg at lunch time, despite knowing the importance of eating healthily, according to new research out today. A third of children say they usually throw out several items from their lunchboxes with 50% admitting they are most likely to bin the fruit, according to the research by new Capri-Sun 100% Juice.

However health messages are clearly getting through to children - 82% of children aged between four and ten say they believe it is important to eat healthy food at lunchtime. Nevertheless when it comes to eating their words, kids say they are embarrassed by the healthy things their mums give them and will either swap or throw out the things they don't want.

The research findings will be of concern to mums as they prepare to send their children back to school next week. The survey shows that many mums feel torn between the need to create nutritious healthy lunchboxes for their children, and making a packed lunch they believe their child will actually eat. 42% of mums say their most important concern is including food and drink they know their child will eat or drink, even if it isn't the healthiest option. It is perhaps for this reason that 43% of mums include just one or less portions of the recommended five-a-day portions of fruit and vegetables in their children's lunchboxes.

One in three mums also admit to feeling under pressure when it comes to making their child's lunchbox, saying they feel judged by other parents, teachers and the media about how they feed their child at school.

According to the Capri-Sun 100% Juice survey, kids often get a bout of 'lunchbox envy' with 53% of children saying they are jealous of their friends' lunches. Lunchbox contents are also a source of much teasing and embarrassment for kids with 30% saying they are teased about the food and drink their mum gives them.

The top five most embarrassing lunchbox items are:

1. Cut up vegetables
2. Tuna fish sandwiches
3. Hummus sandwiches
4. Egg mayonnaise sandwiches
5. Fruit

Commenting on the research, nutritionist Surinder Phull says, "Although children themselves are becoming increasingly aware of healthy eating messages, impressing their friends in the playground is clearly of greater importance. Children are clearly influenced by what their classmates eat so at school they may show preference over foods that have playground status or rebel against foods that are known to be "healthy". With the new school term about to begin, mums are likely to be feeling the stress of trying to get their children to eat healthily and not throw nutritious food away. While there is no easy answer to this dilemma, creativity is key. Presenting fruit and vegetables in an appealing way to children using inventive recipes can be really useful."

Capri-Sun 100% Juice is being launched to help solve lunchbox dilemmas. With one serving counting as one of the recommended five-a-day, mums can rest assure kids are eating healthily and kids can keep their playground kudos.

Healthy Lunchbox Menus from Surinder Phull