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British men eat less fruit and vegetables than their toddlers, a survey has revealed. While pre-school children consume an average of 12 different types of fruit and vegetables each week, the average man only eats half that number. In fact, the average man only eats a meagre 1.2 portions of fruit and vegetables a day. To carry out the research, mothers were asked about the vegetable consumption in their households. While 85 per cent said they regularly managed to give their children their five a day, most admitted the same could not be said for their partners. Also, 48 per cent of the women questioned admitted using �stealth health tactics� to trick their partners into eating more fruit and vegetables. The most popular tactics involved covering vegetables with cheese or cream, hiding them in soup, blending them into smoothies or simply lying about the contents of meals. The most hated were cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, aubergine and mushrooms. �Eating vegetables is an essential part of a healthy, balanced diet and if men aren�t prepared to tuck in, it�s no surprise that their partners are resorting to stealth techniques.�