Marks & Spencer has introduced 40 new Eat Well for Kids* lines.

Breakfast, lunch, supper and snacks are now all catered for - helping parents ensure their children can eat a complete nutritionally balanced and healthy diet that avoids nasties'.

The new products are in addition to the 25 existing lines in the range.

Food in the Eat Well for Kids range is either naturally healthy, such as the Omega 3 Mild Cheddar Sticks and Organic Raisins, or in the case of prepared food, nutritionally balanced in line with Government guidelines for fat, calories, saturated fat, added sugar and salt. No artificial colours, flavours, sweeteners are used, there are no added preservatives or hydrogenated vegetable oils and the range is portion controlled.

Most of the main meals also provide at least one portion of vegetables to help towards 5-a-day.

Dishes within the range include ready meals such as Meaty Muir Den Pork Sausages and Mountains of Mash, and kids' favourites, Smoked Haddock Fishcakes and Mighty Meaty Aberdeen Angus Mince with Pasta.

To finish off mealtimes at home, there's a great selection of desserts including 2 Wobbly Jellies made with Freshly Squeezed Orange and Pressed Blackcurrant Juice and Organic Rice Pudding and Strawberry Sauce.

M&S also offers a range of portion controlled snacks designed to offer treats for children - all are less than 100 Kcals per portion such as Organic Mini Cheesy Mice Biscuits, Reduced-Fat Humous with Mini Rice Cakes and Fruit Buns; all ideal for popping into the kids' lunchboxes.

A great way to involve your kids in cooking are the three new baking kits; Be a Baker - make your own golden chewy flapjack slices, Calling All Chefs - sprinkle a little magic and make fairy cakes and Can You Cook It? - yes you can, with our cool chocolate crispy cake.

Recent research carried out by M&S showed that the quality of ingredients is a key factor for parents when choosing what to feed their children. As a result all chicken dishes now uses Marks & Spencer's exclusive Oakham chicken, sourced from known specially selected UK farms.

The pork dishes contain Muir Den pork which is produced from British outdoor bred pigs and is also an exclusive breed for M&S, and Scottish-reared Aberdeen Angus beef.

M&S developed the Kids Eat Well range with the help of leading independent nutritionists and children, using school classes to taste test recipes. The kids tried samples of cooked dishes and fed back on the products which they enjoyed the most.

Mini Scotch Pancakes proved particularly popular with the junior tasters and were added to the range. And the Animal Mischief Melon Fruit Salad with Green Melon Chicks - fresh fruit is normally the least favoured dessert for kids - was given the thumbs up.

Claire Hughes, M&S Nutritionist comments, "Children are renowned for being fussy eaters and it's often a battle for parents to know what to serve that's both tasty and nutritious. The aim of the M&S Eat Well for Kids range is to help parents feed their children a healthy and nutritionally balanced meal with food that kids enjoy."

"As part of Plan A**, our five year, £200m 100-point eco plan we want to encourage customers to choose healthier lifestyles. All our birthday cakes are free from artificial colourings and flavourings and all children's chocolates are organic" Claire adds.

3:57pm Thursday 24th January 2008

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