Bronwyn Powell Mealtime A Battlefield For Australian Parents Interview

Bronwyn Powell Mealtime A Battlefield For Australian Parents Interview

New research has revealed that three out of four Australian parents, with children 2-12 years of age, struggle to get their kids to eat fruit and vegetables, with almost a quarter facing this meal time battle on a daily basis.

The SPC Sneaky Kids Survey has exposed the most common sneaky tricks that children employ to avoid eating their greens. These tactics include giving the food to another family member (21%), pretending it makes them physically ill (18%), hiding the food under plates and cutlery (7%), or even stashing it around the house (7%)! For those households curious as to why their furry friends are putting on weight, turns out nearly 1 in 10 kids are feeding their unwanted food to the family pet.

Parents can unite in the fact they are not suffering alone. Aussie kids are very vocal about their disdain for certain fruit and vegetables, with the most common methods of avoidance being begging or whinging (39%), throwing a tantrum (28%) or crying (28%). Brussels sprouts are the worst offenders in causing this nationwide meltdown amongst our kids, followed by mushrooms, spinach and broccoli, which are the most avoided vegetables.

While most Australian parents are teaching their children about the importance of eating fruit and vegetables, some are also turning to desperate measures to help them get the job done; 1 in 3 will threaten no dessert if vegetables aren't finished and 18% will bribe their children with rewards.

For quarter of parents, worrying about their children not eating enough fruit and vegetables is a major household stress, more so than a trip to the dentist or facing the tax man.

Bronwyn Powell, Marketing and Innovation Director SPC, said: 'With more than half of primary school children not eating the daily recommended amount of vegetables, this is a serious issue for many Australian parents. Whilst education is essential, Australian parents are busier than ever and they need some helpful solutions to manage this daily dinner table battleground. Australian based food companies have a responsibility to introduce products that will address this need.

'This month, we launch SPC Sneaky Veg; a range of baked beans and spaghetti which has more than one serve of vegetables which can't be seen in every can, and SPC My Daily Fruit; which contains a full serve of fruit in each tub, making it 100% of the recommended daily fruit intake for children aged 2-3. Our aim is to offer tasty, fun food that kids will love, whilst still getting the nutrition that they need."

Out-sneak your sneaky kids! The most common sneaky tactics Aussie kids employ to avoid eating fruit and vegetables are:
Begging or whinging (38.65%)
Throwing tantrums (28.19%)
Crying (27.19%)
Giving it to another family member (21.12%)
Pretending that their food makes them physically ill (17.83%)
Feeding it to a pet (9.76%)
Hiding food under the rim of their plate or cutlery (6.97%)
Hiding food around the house such as in pot plants or furniture (6.67%)

For more information about SPC visit www.happylittlehumanbeings.com.au

Interview with Bronwyn Powell, Marketing and Innovation Director at SPC

Question: What inspired the SPC Sneaky Kids Survey?

Bronwyn Powell: As a parent myself, I have experienced firsthand the struggle to get kids to eat their recommended daily intake of fruit and veg. We already knew that more than half of primary school children are not eating the daily recommended amount of vegetables, and this is a serious issue for many Australian parents. So the SPC Sneaky Kids Survey was a way to get a deeper understanding what actually goes on at the dinner table, so that we could find some helpful and convenient solutions for Aussie parents.


Question: What did you find from the SPC Sneaky Kids Survey?

Bronwyn Powell: The SPC Sneaky Kids Survey exposed the most common sneaky tricks that children employ to avoid eating their greens. These tactics include giving the food to another family member (21%), pretending it makes them physically ill (18%), hiding the food under plates and cutlery (7%), or even stashing it around the house (7%)! For those households curious as to why their furry friends are putting on weight, turns out nearly 1 in 10 kids are feeding their unwanted food to the family pet.


Question: Are you surprised that three out of four Australian parents with children 2-12 years of age, struggle to get their kids to eat fruit and vegetables?

Bronwyn Powell: From talking to family and friends, we knew that this struggle was a common experience, but we were still surprised by these findings. Even more surprising was the discovery that almost a quarter of Australian parents face this meal time battle on a daily basis! It must be so exhausting to have the same dinnertime fight day after day.


Question: What veggies did you find were the worst offenders?

Bronwyn Powell: Brussels sprouts are the worst offenders in causing this nationwide meltdown amongst our kids, followed by mushrooms, spinach and broccoli.


Question: Can you talk us through some of the battles parents have at mealtimes?
Bronwyn Powell: According to the SPC Sneaky Kids Survey, the most common methods of avoidance are begging or whinging, throwing a tantrum, or crying. Some parents are also turning to desperate measures to help them get the job done; 1 in 3 will threaten no dessert if vegetables aren't finished and 18% will bribe their children with rewards. Not only are these battles exhausting for both parents and kids, they are becoming a major household stress, with a quarter of parents more worried about their children not eating enough fruit and vegetables than a trip to the dentist or facing the tax man!


Question: What advice do you have for parents who struggle to feed their kids fruit and vegetables?

Bronwyn Powell: Firstly, I think education is essential. Everyone wants their kids to grow up with an understanding of the importance of nutrition and healthy eating, but obviously this won't always be successful! Sneaky Veg is an easy way for parents to ensure their kids eat at least 1-2 serves of veggies as a supplement to other fresh fruit and vegetables offered throughout the day.


Question: Did you try any of the listed tactics to not eat your fruit or vegetables as a child?

Bronwyn Powell: I absolutely hated peas as a kid, so I was often guilty of feeding my veggies to the dog or bribing my older brother to eat them for me!


Question: How can parents ease the stress of their children not eating enough fruit and vegetables?

Bronwyn Powell: I think this a tricky one, because you're never going to stop parents worrying about their kids! Australian parents are busier than ever and I think they need some helpful solutions to manage this daily dinner table battleground. Australian based food companies have a responsibility to introduce products that will address this need.


Question: What is the Sneaky Veg and My Daily Fruit range?

Bronwyn Powell: Specially formulated for kids, SPC Sneaky Veg and SPC My Daily Fruit are two new ranges that can help parents get even the fussiest children eating and enjoying fruit and vegetables. It's tasty, fun food that children love.

SPC Sneaky Veg is a range of baked beans, spaghetti and different fun Aussie pasta shapes. Aussie vegetables, including pumpkin, carrot, tomato and potato are cooked and blended into the sauce undetected so that snacking and mealtimes are delicious for even the fussiest kids.
Unlike other fruit purees, SPC My Daily Fruit has real pear pieces included. Not only does this create a texture that kids love, it gives them the chance to get used to chewing, making the transition from pureed food to solids easy, tasty and nutritious.


Question: Can you tell us more about the flavours and how many serves of fruit/veggies are in the Sneaky Veg and My Daily Fruit range?

Bronwyn Powell: SPC Sneaky Veg is a range of baked beans, spaghetti and different fun Aussie pasta shapes. Aussie vegetables, including pumpkin, carrot, tomato and potato are cooked and blended into the sauce undetected so that snacking and mealtimes are delicious for even the fussiest kids.

With 2.7 serves of vegetables in each can of SPC Sneaky Veg Baked Beans, and 1.3 serves of vegetables in the SPC Sneaky Veg Spaghetti and pasta shapes, parents can be assured their children are receiving the nutrition they need.

Lower in salt and low in sugar than standard SPC baked bean and spaghetti products, SPC Sneaky Veg is a source of protein and fibre.

SPC My Daily Fruit makes snacking fun for kids, with a range of delicious fruit flavours and combinations. Each tub contains a full serve of 100% Aussie grown fruit and has no added sugar, artificial flavours, colours or preservatives.

Unlike other fruit purees, SPC My Daily Fruit has real pear pieces included. Not only does this create a texture that kids love, it gives them the chance to get used to chewing, making the transition from pureed food to solids easy, tasty and nutritious. SPC My Daily Fruit provides 100% of the recommended daily fruit intake for children aged two to three and it's also a great way for older kids to enjoy a serve of fruit too.

It's available in three tasty flavours:
Apple, Banana and Strawberry puree with Pear pieces
Apple, Raspberry, Strawberry and Blueberry puree with Pear pieces
Apple, Banana and Mango puree with Pear pieces


Interview by Brooke Hunter