Nearly half of parents (40%) have concerns about the lack of variety in their children’s diets, but admit the rising cost of food is preventing them from introducing more variety into family mealtimes, reveals HelloFresh – the UK’s leading recipe box company.
To help tackle this issue, HelloFresh is introducing more premium ingredients to the core menu and at least two fruit or vegetables into every meal on its menu. And in partnership with food nutritionist, Rob Hobson, HelloFresh has also crafted a fun way to encourage more children to try new foods, with the target of trying 60 before you turn 10 years-old.
Alongside this new menu, HelloFresh today launches a new and improved box, recyclable cool box and limited edition in-box ‘Eat-N-Seek’ posters providing an interactive and engaging way to help families try more foods together.
Cost of living impacting accessibility to new foods
More than a third of parents (34%) say high costs are having a negative impact on the number of new foods or meals their family tries. As a consequence, nearly a quarter (24%) are having less meat, 23% are eating less fresh food and 20% are eating less fish.
To help families ensure rising costs do not mean a limited diet, HelloFresh has expanded its core menu range. Customers will now see premium protein ingredients, such as salmon, on the menu at no additional cost and all meals listed will include at least two fruit or vegetables, with new ingredients such as samphire, pomegranates and figs joining the core menu.
Food waste concerns put parents off
Nearly half (48%) of families are concerned about food waste if their ‘picky eaters’ don’t like new foods. Coupled with the limitations of in-store portion sizes, with 45% of families agreeing they found it hard to buy appropriate portions at supermarkets, it leads to more families being put off introducing new ingredients.
The expansion of fruit and veg in all HelloFresh meals will ensure families have enough for children to explore new foods together, but without the worry or guilt of excessive leftovers if some fussy diners aren’t fussed! HelloFresh is pleased to be offering customers exciting and more exotic ingredients to try including pomegranate seeds and mango.
Alix McCaffrey, Senior Director of Product at HelloFresh, said: “We are delighted to be making improvements at a time when families need it most. Mealtimes are typically known for being a source of contention with parents and children having different ideas on what they want to eat, but we know that only through trying and having access to new foods will fussy eaters become more open to the idea of a more varied diet.
“We hope our new boxes will be able to remove some of this stress, and instead bring back the enjoyment and interaction cooking brings to families. Our expanded selection of ingredients aims to make more premium products accessible to all our customers, and give children and parents the opportunity to try new, fresh foods at a time when other costs are rising.”
HelloFresh’s ‘Eat-N-Seek’ posters are available for families to download online here, where you can also find out more about the menu and box improvements: http://www.hellofresh.co.uk/
