ATLANTA - Ever hear this one? Kids just won't eat vegetables. According to a survey released by Produce for Kids (
» READ MORE: www.produceforkids.org
), maybe parents should ask their kids what fruits and veggies to toss into the grocery cart before making decisions about what to buy.
A survey conducted with about 1,500 mothers and children - either online or in the grocery store - revealed that kids voted broccoli as one of their three most-favorite vegetables, yet mothers did not rank it in their top five most-purchased.
Parents buy (in order of top-purchased vegetables per week) potatoes, baby carrots, tomatoes, lettuce/salads and corn. Spinach ranked last. When kids were asked their favorites, they ranked carrots, broccoli, corn, green beans and peas in their top five.
When it comes to fruit, moms and kids alike say bananas, apples, grapes, strawberries, and easy-to-peel citrus fruits (such as oranges and clementines) top both of their lists.
The survey also showed that dips are hip - 70 percent of kids like using salad dressings as dips for fruits and vegetables. One surprising finding is that cartoon characters might be lucrative tie-ins for fast food or processed foods like cereals or macaroni and cheese, but parents said they were less likely to buy fruit and vegetables if cartoon characters adorned the packaging.
Dave Grotto, registered dietitian and nutrition adviser for Produce for Kids and PBS Kids Advisory Board chairman, adds, "As parents, I believe we have a great opportunity to inspire our children to eat more fruits and vegetables. Seeing that kids actually like broccoli, bananas and other great-tasting produce items, we should give them a chance to try new things. Parents can create a fun family-bonding experience if they prepare meals at home with their children. Cooking with your kids is the new trend."