One in five children think ketchup and strawberry milkshakes count towards their five-a-day, research finds

New research reveals children's surprising food myths as Lidl launches free summer cooking clubs.

A child grips a bottle of tomato ketchup with both hands and squeezes the sauce onto a burger. The scene is outside. The sun is shining while the boy enjoys eating al fresco.

Getty/Catherine Falls Commercial

Published: July 20, 2026 at 11:36 AM

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With school holidays bringing extra meal planning and grocery costs for many families, new research has uncovered some surprising misconceptions about healthy eating among primary school children.

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A survey commissioned by Lidl GB found that one in five children aged 8 to 11 believe strawberry milkshake and tomato ketchup count towards their five-a-day, while one in 10 think chips are a healthy food choice.

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The supermarket is responding by launching free summer cooking clubs in partnership with youth charity OnSide, alongside a voucher giveaway designed to help families buy fresh food over the holidays.

Children are confused about where healthy food comes from

The research, which surveyed 1,000 UK children aged 8 to 11 and their parents, found plenty of confusion around fruit, vegetables and healthy eating.

Some of the findings included:

The survey also found that many children are keen to learn more, with more than half saying they would like to learn how to cook. Around a third (32%) said they would be more willing to try healthy foods if they helped prepare meals themselves.

Summer holidays put pressure on family food budgets

The research also highlighted the financial challenge many parents face during the six-week break, when children are eating more meals at home.

According to the findings:

To help, Lidl is giving Lidl Plus members the opportunity to enter a prize draw to win £25 vouchers to spend on groceries during the summer holidays. Entries close before midnight on 28 July.

Free Lidl Foodies Summer Clubs launch in five cities

Lidl is also expanding its Lidl Foodies programme beyond schools by partnering with national youth charity OnSide to run free cooking clubs during the summer holidays.

The Lidl Foodies Summer Clubs are expected to reach around 1,000 children in:

Children attending the sessions will learn to prepare simple, healthy recipes they can recreate at home, and each participant will receive a free fruit coupon redeemable through the Lidl Plus app.

Georgina Hall, Director of Corporate Affairs at Lidl GB, said the initiative aims to make healthy eating more engaging for children during the school break.

"As busy families prepare for six weeks without the school routine, we know that providing healthy meals can feel challenging. While they might not have all the right answers, our research shows that kids really like learning about food, with more than half saying they'd love to learn how to cook. This summer we hope to give kids the tools to experiment with healthy dishes at our cooking clubs and at home," says Georgina.

OnSide says practical cooking skills can make a lasting difference

The programme is being delivered through OnSide's network of Youth Zones, which support young people across the UK.

Jamie Masraff, Chief Executive Officer of OnSide, said the clubs are designed to give children practical skills while providing a fun activity during the holidays.

"We know that the school holidays can be a challenging time for many families, with the loss of routine and additional financial pressures making it harder to access activities and healthy meals. That's why partnerships like this are so important. Through our network of Youth Zones, we're creating opportunities for around 1,000 young people to come together, learn practical cooking skills, build confidence and have fun in a safe, supportive environment. We're proud to be working with Lidl to help inspire healthier habits while giving young people experiences and skills that can make a lasting difference," Jamie says.

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Lidl said the Summer Clubs build on its existing Lidl Foodies programme, which has received a total investment of £775,000, including an additional £100,000 for the holiday initiative. According to the retailer, the programme is now active in more than a quarter of British primary schools and has reached around 640,000 children to date.

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