FAMILIES in Scotland are turning their backs on home cooking in favour of takeaways and ready meals because they think it is too expensive or too difficult to make healthy meals, according to a new survey.

A poll of 500 mothers across Scotland with at least one child under 16 found that more than four in ten (42 per cent) believed that it costs too much money to shop for and cook healthier family meals.

One third of those questioned said it takes too much time and they are too busy to create a home-cooked family meal from scratch. One quarter say that their children are too fussy.

The research, carried out by the Scottish Government at the end of last year, also found that more than a third (35 per cent) of families in Scotland are tucking into takeaway food at least once a week and around a third of families (32 per cent) are eating ready meals at least three times a week.

Fewer than half of the mothers surveyed said they were confident in the kitchen and would be happy to cook a meal using fresh or frozen ingredients, without referring to a recipe.

The research accompanies a new campaign launched by the Scottish Government yesterday[thu] which aims to support families with practical tips, advice and tools to help them make changes to how they shop, cook and eat.

Public Health Minister Maureen Watt was in Edinburgh yesterday (thur) to launch the Eat Better Feel Better campaign at Pilton Community Health Project - the first community health project in Scotland - which supports local people to eat more healthily through cooking skills, budgeting and meal planning.

Ms Watt said: "For many families across Scotland, buying, cooking and eating healthy food can be a real challenge. However, there are many quick and cheap changes that we can make which can lead to significant improvements in our daily diets. From dealing with fussy eaters and shopping on a budget to planning your meals and finding time to cook, Eat Better Feel Better aims to address the various challenges faced by families by providing lots of practical hints, tips and recipes to help families eat more healthily.

"We know that helping children to eat healthier from a young age can help them avoid major illnesses later in life. That's why we're working together with retailers and community groups from across the country in getting behind Scotland's families - to provide the support, encouragement and advice which will help them eat better and ultimately feel better."

Mother-of-one Kirsty Day, 21, from Edinburgh, was a big fast food fan but following the birth of her son Kelvin almost three years ago, she decided that she did not want him to be brought up with bad food habits. She was put in touch with Pilton Community Health Project.

Ms Day said: "I was eating a typical student diet, but as a mum I wanted to be able to set a good example for my son. The changes in my lifestyle over the past two years have been huge. I'm happier, I feel less tired and have more energy, and Kelvin is happier too.

"With my new knowledge of food and the cooking skills I have learned, I find it really easy to make healthy meals with fresh ingredients now. Over the course of the week it's affordable to eat and cook with fresh ingredients instead of pre-packed products and it definitely feels better eating fresh food. Some of my dishes actually work out cheaper than buying ready meal equivalents."

Campaigner Janice Clyne of the healthy eating group Nourished by Nature, said that there was no substitute for home-cooked meals.

She said: "The problem with a lot of ready-meal and takeaways is that they are full of salt, sugar and fats, and when people eat these things they just want them more and more.

"There is research that shows that sugar is more addictive than cocaine and it's not good for you at all. We hear all the time that it is too time consuming to cook or that it is too expensive, but that's not the case.

Ms Clyne, whose New Year diet plan is featured in The Herald Magazine health issue tomorrow (sat), added:"You can make good nutritional food easily, with healthy locally-sourced produce. People have lost the skill to make food in the kitchen but it's easy to learn how."

A new website - eatbetterfeelbetter.co.uk - will provide recipes, tips from parents and healthier offers available from Scotland's food retailers. The site will also host a series of cook-along videos to demonstrate how to make family favourites such as spaghetti bolognese, home-made burgers and chicken curry.