The message of healthy eating is still not getting across with new figures showing just under half of people in Kent still aren’t eating their five a day.

Research by Public Health England reveals only 53.6% of adults in the county get the recommended amount.

The figure is slightly above the national average, which has fallen across all age ranges every year since 2008.

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Swale, Dartford, Medway and Tunbridge Wells are all below average, with most people only getting two portions of fruit or vegetables on any ‘usual day’.

Meanwhile, Shepway came out as the healthiest district with around 60% of those surveyed sticking to the health guidelines.

The research also showed only one in 10 teenagers achieve the recommended intake and people are still eating too much sugar and fat.

It’s prompted fresh calls from health officials to educate more young people about the importance of eating healthily.

Paul Ashwell , from the Kent Community Health Foundation Trust’s Get Food Smart campaign, said it’s about educating people from an early age.

He added: “Unfortunately this research doesn’t come as a complete surprise. We know that not enough people are eating fruit and vegetables and we are trying to change it.

"It can sometimes be a struggle to fit it into everyday life" - Paul Ashwell

“It can sometimes be a struggle to fit it into everyday life, we become so reliant on convenience foods and it’s a lot easier to open a bag of crisps off the shelf than chop and prepare fruit and vegetables.

“I think when people understand the benefits of eating fruit as opposed to processed snacks, they’ll realise it’s worth putting in the extra effort.”

The Get Food Smart team works with schools and health groups to encourage more people to eat healthier.

Sessions are held across Kent and more details can be found at www.kentcht.nhs.uk/foodsmart.