Half of kids don't eat veg each day

More than half of kids don't eat a single portion of vegetables a day, according to Newsround's food survey.

The government recommends that everyone should have at least five portions of fruit and veg a day.

But the survey shows 52 in every 100 kids don't have any veg, and 44 in 100 have no fruit on a daily basis.

What we're eating is a big issue at the moment because one in three kids in the UK is obese or overweight.

That figure has trebled in the last 25 years.

What did the survey find?

A third of kids (33%) said they eat unhealthy food more than three times a week.

Almost a quarter (22%) eat sweets or chocolate every day.

More than half (57%) say their diet is healthy including a fifth (21%) who say it's very healthy.

A further 23% have take away or fast food more than three times a week.

Fewer than half of kids (47%) have a home cooked meal each day and half (50%) sit down to eat as a family every day.

The survey was of 1,432 boys and girls, aged 7 to 12, across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It also showed that lots of kids are trying to make positive changes to their diet.

It suggested that eight in 10 children have made changes like drinking more water and eating more fruit and vegetables in the last years.

Why is veg important?

All this week Newsround will be looking at what different types of food do to your body and how to eat a healthy diet.

We've also called in food expert Dr Radha Modgil to explain why certain things are good and bad for you.

Dr Radha says: "It's important for kids to have a balanced diet. No one is saying that you can't have sweets or chocolate every now and again but if you're having those things every day it is going to affect your body."

"The body needs all kinds of things when you're growing up and it's so important for kids not to overload on sugary, fatty snacks."

Recipe ideas from BBC Dish Up

Get ideas for some simple, healthy and delicious things to cook for yourself, your family and your mates with BBC Dish Up.

Go to the BBC Dish Up website