Children eating differently to parents at mealtimes

THE generation gap has spread to the dinner table, with increasing numbers of children eating different meals from their parents every day.

According to a survey, one-in-four children now eat child-pleasing foods like pizza, burgers and chips for their evening meal, while their parents dine on more traditional fare such as meat, fish, stews and vegetables.

The meal-time divide is all the more noticeable in urban families, where almost one-in-three children are given an alternative menu to their mothers and fathers. By contrast, only one-in-six children in rural areas are served up a different dish.