Beans are toast...today’s kids prefer broccoli!

GENERATIONS of children cheerfully grew up on them.

But traditional teatime favourites such as ham, egg and chips, tinned spaghetti on toast and even fish fingers have fallen out of fashion with today’s youngsters.

Boiled eggs with soldiers and baked beans on toast are also no longer cooked in many homes, a survey reveals. Hummus, risotto, olives and broccoli are more likely to be served.

Half the 1,500 parents surveyed for food delivery service V&Me said their children have a far more sophisticated and varied diet than they did at their age. Nearly a quarter have never served beans on toast for tea and a similar number do not cook bangers and mash, while for 18 per cent pizza is off the menu.

Youngsters are more likely to tuck into salmon with tenderstem broccoli (served by 49 per cent of parents) or risotto (29 per cent), and snack on hummus (44 per cent) or olives (31 per cent).

Two-thirds of parents say they always try to cook healthy food and more than half prefer their children not to have a fizzy drink with their dinner, while 39 per cent rarely serve sugary cereals for breakfast.

However, Dr Duane Mellor, a registered dietitian and lead for nutrition and evidence-based medicine at Aston University, said: ‘There is no need to abandon some of the less healthy traditional kids’ meals.

‘It’s important to remember that some contain good amounts of nutrients, like the protein, fibre and calcium in beans on toast.

‘Eggs and dippy soldiers are childfriendly to eat and eggs contain the key nutrients vitamin B12 and iron.

‘Just because something comes in a tin or is quick and easy to prepare doesn’t meant it’s unhealthy.’