New research by recipe box company Gousto has revealed that nearly nine in ten (87%) UK parents say they have at least one fussy eater at home.
The survey of 1,000 parents with children aged 3-16 revealed that over half (54%) of parents with fussy children feel it adds stress to their day. It’s no surprise either, almost a third (31%) of parents cook extra meals every day to feed fussy family members, spending on average an extra 19 minutes in the kitchen every dinnertime.
One in six (15%) parents have given up trying to incentivise their children to eat different foods, saying they let them eat what they want, whereas over two in five (43%) get children involved in preparing and cooking meals.
Other popular ways that parents use to encourage children to eat more varied diets include:
- Presenting meals in a fun way, for example in a special shape or design (38%)
- Blending or mashing veg in meals to hide it (31%)
- Incentivising them to eat different foods with the promise of dessert (30%)
- And purchasing novelty plates, dishes or cutlery for children (20%)
To help parents’ dinnertime dilemmas, Gousto is launching a new ‘Family Kitchen’ range, bursting with 20 adaptable recipes for the whole family’s needs, from £2.99 a portion. The collection is available to order from 25th July at gousto.co.uk, with delivery from 12th August.
Matt Pool, chef at Gousto, says: “Our customer research showed parents are looking for adaptable, healthy and convenient recipes. The recipes in the Family Kitchen range are designed to offer something for everyone around the dining table. Every recipe has easy-to-follow instructions, contains two of your 5-a-day and has some form of adaptability to make them child friendly. This could be an adaptable spice level, different toppings or maybe even hidden veg – a favourite fussy eater tactic among parents. The new recipes will be part of our ongoing menu, so children can request their favourites time and again, making mealtimes easier for time-pushed parents.”
Gousto has over 250 recipes to discover on the menu every month, and is the *UK’s best value recipe box, from just £2.99 per meal**. Head to Gousto.co.uk to find out more.
*Research commissioned by Gousto carried out by Mortar Research from 13th – 14th July 2023. 1,185 participants from the UK completed the survey on both mobile and desktop devices.
RECIPES:
Veggie Hoisin Noodle Stir-Fry With Spicy Cashew Crumb
Fish Goujons With Sweet Potato Fries, Peas And Curry Ketchup
Creamy Chicken & Tomato Pasta With Cheesy Garlic Breadcrumbs
Tomatoey Pork Meatball Sandwich With Chips
Mexican Veggie Wraps With Crispy Onion Cobettes
Chicken & Rice Bake With Smokey Garlic Sauce
Cheesy Baked Fish & Pea Greens With Parsley Butter
Creamy Sausage & Tenderstem Pasta With Roast Tomatoes
Spanish-Style Pork Meatballs With Tomato & Cannellini Bean Stew
Margherita Pizza With Chilli Oil And Rocket Salad
Sausage, Red Pepper & Potato Hash With Herby Chilli Dressing
Minced Beef Tacos With Charred Pepper & Coriander Salsa
Prawn & Pea Pesto Orzo With Chilli Oil
Honey Sesame Chicken Skewers With Chips
Creamy Tomato Gnocchi Bake With Tenderstem Broccoli
Homemade Cheesy Baked Beans & Jacket Potatoes
BBQ Chicken Burger With Fries And Pickled Cucumber
Beef & Sweetcorn Stir-Fry With Honey Pepper Peanuts
Sausage & Pepper Chilli Pasta Bake
Mild King Prawn Curry With Sultana Rice And Coconut Crumb
