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Do Jaffa Cakes make five-a-day?

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One in 10 parents think Jaffa Cakes, cola and chips all count towards their child's five-a-day target for fresh fruit and vegetables.

The new survey also revealed that spaghetti hoops, orange squash and fruit-flavoured sweets are commonly considered suitable foods to hit the daily target.

Only one in five families was found to make sure their children are eating the right amount of fruits and veggies every day, while one in 20 children eat no fruit and veg at all.

'It is both disappointing and concerning to see that the five-a-day message isn't getting through clearly enough to parents. Good eating habits start at home and British parents need to get their children into the habit of eating more vegetables and fruit,' said nutritionist Vanessa McConkey.

The poll of parents with under-14s – carried out for canned food company Green Giant – revealed that one in 20 parents did not believe oranges or bananas contributed, and 15 per cent of parents said it wasn't their job to teach their children about healthy eating!

They said grandparents, teachers, doctors and celebrity chefs were more qualified to do so.

The survey was released the same time as a study into the diet and exercise habits of nine and 10-year-olds.

Researchers from the University of East Anglia quizzed 2,000 children and found only half were eating fruit or veg every day.

The study also discovered that only one third were doing the recommended exercise level of 60 minutes a day.