UK-based fresh produce trade association the Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) has called on parents to ensure that school packed lunches help contribute to a healthy diet.
According to a recent report on the contents of school packed lunches in the UK, only 54 per cent included fresh fruit while just 19 per cent included vegetables.
'We must help parents encourage more children to eat fresh fruit and vegetables at school and the Fresh Produce Consortium's Eat In Colour campaign is well-placed to show how this can be easy and fun,' said Nigel Jenney, chief executive of the FPC.
An indication of the progress that can be made with children in encouraging healthy eating is the popularity of the healthy eating badge at Beaver Scout organisations, FPC said, where members must demonstrate that they understand the makeup of a healthy diet to earn the badge.
'Through the Beaver Scouts healthy eating badge, sponsored by Eat In Colour, over 42,000 Scouts have demonstrated that it can be child's play to put together a healthy, nutritious snack,' Mr Jenney added.
FPCnoted that while the Department of Health had achieved 'significant consumer awareness' of the 5-a-day campaign, it had not translated into a widespread adoption of a healthy diet and greater consumption of fresh produce.
'FPC has been lobbying the UK Government to expand the successful Schools Fruit and Vegetable Scheme which has proved that it can increase consumption of fresh produce and establish healthy eating habits among young children,' saidMr Jenney. 'Many UK fresh produce businesses are involved in the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme. We want more children to have the chance to eat fresh fruit and vegetables at school and to develop good eating habits at an early age.'
The UK'sSchool Fruit and Vegetable Scheme has contributed to a successful increase in consumption, witha September 2007 reportrevealing that five-a-day consumption among school children had risen from 32 per centin 2004 to 44 per centin 2006.
'Obesity and poor diet among childrenis a rising epidemic across Europe, and nearly one in three 10-11 year olds in the UKare overweight,' Mr Jenney added.'We need to tackle this public health issue in with an ambitious programme, and we urge the UK Government to build on the success of the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme.'
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