Overall, this study found that 63% of children did not consume the World Health Organisation recommended amount of five portions a day.

Researchers from the University of Leeds examined the diets of more than 2,300 primary school children, attending 52 different schools across London.

Children in families who eat together every day have an average of one and a half more portions than those who never eat together.

The study of primary school children also suggests that if parents consume fruit and vegetables and cut up portions of these foods, this also boosted children's intake.

Children who always ate a family meal together at a table consumed 1.5 portions more fruit and vegetables on average than children who never ate with their families. Even those who reported eating together only once or twice a week consumed 1.2 portions more than those who never ate together.

In families where parents reported eating fruit and vegetables every day, children had on average one portion  more than children whose parents never or rarely ate fruit and vegetables.

Children whose parents always or sometimes cut up fruit and vegetables for them consumed, on average, half a portion and quarter of a portion more, respectively, than children of parents who never cut up their fruit and vegetables.

You can read the full British Medical Journal's Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health report here