Findings reveal misinformed parents make shocking nutritional choices

According to a recent survey on healthy eating, one in 20 UK parents are under the impression that a packet of crisps counts as one of their child's recommended five-a-day fruit and vegetable intake.

While 80% of the 1,000 parents polled in the survey admit that their child's diet is a cause for concern, they also admit that they don't understand the term five-a-day and answered incorrectly when asked what they understood by the recommendation.

Under the assumption that a potato counts as one of vital five-a-day, many parents realised that their knowledge on the subject required improvement.

While many parents may be under the impression that a potato, as a vegetable, can be included in the five-a-day count, the World Health Organisation who originally coined the term do not consider potatoes to be part of this group.

Perhaps most worryingly, 5% of parents included crisps in their child's diet as they assumed that the salty snack food counted in the five-a-day recommendation and 10% of those polled don't believe the consumption of fruit is good for you.

The five-a-day recommendation is backed by the British government, but it has been suggested that five is a conservative estimate and the public should be aiming to consume between and seven and 10 pieces of fruit and veg a day.