ubergine has bumped off sprouts as children's most hated vegetable, according to 2,300 kids polled by Heinz.

Based on survey results, some 39 percent dislike the dark vegetable. Eggplant has replaced the once most hated vegetable, which is now in second place - brussel sprouts, disliked by 37 percent of the children. The third most hated veggie is celeriac at 32 per cent, followed by cabbage (16 percent) and mangetout (12 percent).

Carrots, on the other hand, was voted by kids as the most favorite vegetable. This suggests that children prefer to eat green vegetables now unlike before.

Food giant Heinz also discovered the schemes that children use in order to avoid eating their veggies. Seven in ten kids hide veggies around the house and more than a third complain of a tummy-ache as an excuse not to eat veggies.