Survey reveals 80 per cent of children not getting enough fruit and vegetables

10 May 2010 1 min read Gemma Spence Early Years Health

Four out of five children are still not eating enough fruit and vegetables, potentially increasing their risk of getting cancer later in life, according to the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF).

According to the latest Health Survey for England, on average, boys aged five to 15 eat just over three portions of fruit and vegetables a day while girls eat marginally more. On the day of the survey one in 14 boys and one in 25 girls hadn't had any fruit or vegetables at all.

Nathalie Winn, nutritionist for the WCRF, said the results were concerning and stressed the importance of encouraging children to adopt health eating habits as early as possible. "Scientific research shows that eating a plant-based diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables, wholegrains and pulses probably reduces the risk of a number of types of cancer later in life.

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