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Written question asked by Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party) on Monday, 20 May 2019, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 22 May 2019. It was answered by Seema Kennedy (Conservative) on Wednesday, 29 May 2019 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Vegetables: Children

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to encourage children to eat green vegetables.

Answer

The Government recommends that children over the age of five years eat at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables a day as part of a healthy balanced diet. This advice is reflected in the United Kingdom’s national food model, the Eatwell Guide at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-eatwell-guide

Start4Life and Change4Life, Public Health England’s social marketing programmes, promote consumption of vegetables, including green vegetables, as part of 5 A Day fruit and vegetable messaging through: the Food Scanner app, Change4Life and Start4Life websites, the fruit and vegetables boost email programme, regular update emails to the Change4Life database of 340,000 families and a public information radio advert.

The school food standards for England state that one or more portions of vegetables or salad must be served every day. The Government’s School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme aims to ensure all children in Key Stage 1 in England receive a piece of fruit or vegetables every day.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
256416
Session
2017-19
Subjects
Children Consumption Vegetables
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk