Heinz recently published a study that surveyed a sample of 2,000 parents and their children's eating habits.
The research found that more than half of British parents claim they are at "their wits end" about their child’s fussy eating habits.
Researchers surveyed 2000 parents about the eating habits of their kids, and revealed that a staggering 75 percent have worries or concerns about their diet - and a further 52 percent claim it is a major issue.
Overall, 46 percent of the parents polled say their child flat-out refuses to eat vegetables and salad, with cabbage emerging as the toughest obstacle (we get that, though.)
Spinach and broccoli were also among the main vegetables that parents struggle to feed their little ones, which did not come as a surprise to us.
According to the report, commissioned in conjunction with Heinz's Grow Your Own campaign, 66 percent of parents say trying to get their children to eat healthily is a stressful experience.
Mushrooms and beetroot were also revealed as foods kids are highly likely to refuse, while 13 percent said their kids would not eat any red meat. A further one in ten said their children will not even eat an apple.
A desperate 38 percent said the stress of mealtimes with their kids has led to disagreements and fights with their other half, with 59 percent saying they often feel at the wits end with the problem.
Heinz undertook the poll of 2,000 parents to mark the 5th anniversary of their "Grow Your Own" campaign which encourages children to learn more about where food comes from by growing their own Heinz tomatoes.
The research revealed one of the major reasons children are picky with food is because they don’t know where it comes from, with 64 percent of parents saying their children have never grown any kind of vegetable at home.
And of the 36 percent who said they had tried to grow their own food, 32 percent said it made their children more willing to try new foods.
A spokesperson said: "At Heinz, we understand that parents are increasingly conscious about what they feed their children, and we want to reassure them that Heinz Tomato Ketchup is bursting full of delicious tomatoes. Our Grow Your Own campaign – now in its fifth year – is hugely popular.
"With this campaign, families across the UK can get free Heinz tomato seeds online, and then enter to win a bottle of Heinz Ketchup made from their very own tomatoes.”
More than half of those who took part in the study said that they are embarrassed when at other people’s homes, because their children refuse to eat anything, while 64 percent admitted they have caved in and given their children something high in sugar, salt or fat – simply to avoid a scene.
The study also revealed 48 percent of parents say they feel pressure from other parents posting pics of their children eating adventurous foods on social media.
A further 60 percent say they find family mealtimes stressful and 47 percent say they avoid going to restaurants with their children because they know they won’t be able to find anything on the menu their kids will eat.
What do you think, mums? Are your kiddies picky eaters?
