Almost no child hits the target

A survey of 2,000 UK parents by Regal Fish found 87% of children don't eat the NHS-recommended two portions of fish a week, including one oily portion.

One in five eat none

21% of children are eating no fish at all. Not a small amount, not the wrong kind, none.

Fussy eating tops the blockers

30% of parents said refusing to try new foods was the single biggest barrier to serving healthier family meals. Another 39% said quick family recipes would help.

Dads doubt the prep

20% of dads said they lack confidence preparing fresh fish, compared with 10% of mums. Skill gaps show up at the counter, not just the table.

Mums face the bargaining

29% of mums said serving fish involves active negotiation versus 21% of dads, and mums were nearly twice as likely to report outright refusal, 15% to 8%.

The link parents haven't heard

51% of parents didn't know about research tying low seafood intake in early childhood to weaker prosocial behaviour like sharing, empathy and cooperation.

“Our research highlights a clear gap between what children need for healthy cognitive and social development and what is actually reaching the dinner table.”

Five fixes that actually work

Swap fish into a dish they already love, keep portions tiny, stock frozen and tinned, plan leftovers into a second meal, and change the texture before giving up.

“Keep servings small and pressure-free, and celebrate little wins such as touching the food or trying a single bite.”

Texture, not taste

Rejection is usually about mouthfeel. Panko breadcrumbs, a herb crust or a light oven-baked batter give the crunch many children prefer.

“When children push fish away, it is rarely just about the taste.”

London leads, South West lags

Regional gaps are wide: 19% of London children hit the twice-weekly target against 9% in the South West, with most regions clustered around 11 to 14%.