One in eight Brits never eats any fruits or vegetables

London, Sept 15 : One in eight Britons does not eat any fruit and vegetables at all, according to a new research.

The study, titled 'Health of Britain - Perspective on Nutrition 2008, shows that only 12 per cent is meeting the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables per day target.

It found that a further 12 per cent do not eat any fruit and vegetables at all.

On average, Brits eat two-and-a-half portions a day, but the study found significant differences between age groups, gender and social class.

The research shows that the most likely groups to meet the target are the wealthy and the over 45s, with children and the poor more likely to consume none at all.

"While the need for 'five-a-day' seems to be common knowledge, the number of us who actually achieve this is shockingly low," the Telegraph quoted Giles Quick, of global market insight group TNS, who conducted the research, as saying.

However, the study suggests that there are positive moves being taken by people to eat more healthily.

Quick said that TNS values the healthy food market at more than 11 billion pounds a year, growing at almost 8 per cent in value each year.

The study found that a total of 8 billion pounds is spent on fresh produce.

According to the research, the number of young people who said they cooked from scratch has grown by 14 per cent over the past two years, but is restricted to savoury foods. The number of set meals families share has also risen.

The typical child's lunchbox now includes 16 per cent more fruit, 32 per cent more yoghurt and 25 per cent more vegetables than a year ago.

"The revival of savoury home cooking, increased parental control over children's lunches, the return to the table for the family dinner and the ever-increasing importance of healthy food choices are clear signs that Britain is - slowly but steadily - changing its attitude to food," Quick added.

ANI