Tesco to Double School Fruit and Veg Scheme as Research Highlights What Works for Children

By Health Correspondent

Only one in ten UK children eat their recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables on a typical school day, while more than a third refuse them altogether, according to research commissioned by Tesco.

However, the same study highlights what can help improve children’s diets.

Nearly three-quarters (73%) of parents and carers said their child is more likely to eat fruit and vegetables when they can choose them themselves, while the same proportion said making food fun or visually creative encourages them to try more.

In response, Tesco said it will double its Free Fruit & Veg for Schools programme from September, expanding it from 500 to more than 1,000 schools, with plans to double it again the following year.

The retailer said 94% of teachers involved in the scheme have reported improved behaviour among pupils.

The research also suggests many children stick to familiar foods, with fruit more commonly eaten than vegetables. More than two-thirds (68%) of parents said they had stopped buying certain fruit or vegetables after repeated refusal from their child.

DON'T MISS:

£10 Universal Credit Tickets at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm Launch

Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm launches £10 Universal Credit tickets this May, improving access to wildlife for families facing rising costs.

Good News Post - inspiring stories, hope, positivity, well-being, and a happier outlook on life.Good News Post

By contrast, children taking part in the scheme have collectively tried more than 100 varieties of fruit and vegetables, helping to broaden tastes and encourage healthier choices.

To support the expansion, Tesco is launching a nationwide “Giant Fruit & Veg Challenge”, inviting children to create their own fruit- and vegetable-based dishes.

The competition will be judged by JB Gill alongside a panel of experts and nutritionists, with the winning recipe set to feature on menus across the programme.

Tesco said the initiative is part of wider efforts to help more children access healthier food, including in-store schemes and community grants, with a longer-term aim of supporting one million schoolchildren across the UK.

For more information and to enter the Giant Fruit and Veg Challenge, visit www.tescoplc.com/fruitandvegchallenge

If you have a positive story or uplifting news to share, we’d love to hear from you!

Just email us at news@goodnewspost.co.uk. 

Whether it's a local hero, an act of kindness, or a personal win, your story could help spread joy and improve someone’s mental health. 

Let’s make the world a little brighter, one good news story at a time.