Green | September 15, 2008 | 13 comments

Failure to eat healthy: seven in eight do not eat enough fruit and veg

source: http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Healthy-eating-drive-fails-as.4490667.jp

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Even though most people will be aware of the 'five-a-day' healthy eating target by now, the majority of Britons fail to eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, according to latest research.

A study of the consumer habits of the nation found that only 12 per cent of the population manage the five-a-day target, while another 12 per cent do not eat any portions of fruit and vegetables. Giles Quick, the managing director of TNS Worldpanel UK usage panels, said: "While the need for five-a-day seems to be common knowledge, the number of us who actually achieve this is shockingly low."

Interestingly, the study found significant differences between age groups, gender and social class. The most likely groups to meet the target are the most affluent and the over-45s, with children and the less affluent the most likely to consume no portions.

The five-a-day recommendation is based on a World Health Organisation report which showed that eating 400g of fruit and vegetables a day seemed to reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, obesity and diabetes.

The most recent study group also identified a rising trend towards large dress sizes among Britons as an indicator of the nation's obesity problems. There are variations across the country, with the proportion of clothes sold in size 18 or above increasing by more than 35 per cent in the last two years in south west England.

On a more positive note, there were also signs that healthy eating habits were gaining more followers. TNS said it valued the healthy food market at more than £11 billion a year, growing at almost 8 per cent in value each year. The number of younger consumers (under-34s) who said they cooked from scratch has grown by 14 per cent over the past two years, but is restricted to savoury foods.
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13 comments // Failure to eat healthy: seven in eight do not eat enough fruit and veg

  • patsarts
    • 0
      patsarts  

    • There would be so many LESS diabetics and people with heart disease if they'd replace their fries with a baked sweet potato or s salad. Think of fruit and veg as 'medicine' and it doesn't have to taste bad. Fresh blueberries, strawberries, carrots - yum!

    • 3 years ago
  • cantucwearebrothers
    • 0
      cantucwearebrothers  

    • I don't buy that it's too expensive. How many people drive through Starbucks and McFast Food in the same day. How much is that...$8 (to error on the side of caution). You could run into a super market for lunch, grab a couple pieces of fruit and a yogurt and be under $3.

      Now I know somebody is going to think..."that's not enough for lunch" Well it should be...maybe that's part of our problem!?

    • 3 years ago
  • blood77
  • Nettle
    • 0
      Nettle  

    • Hang on, why aren't people eating enough fruits and veggies?

      Snickers: $1

      Banana: $%&@*, especially if you live in a big city.

      And what if you're in college! Ramen is my best friend.

    • 3 years ago
  • dontipo
  • rigellianaire
  • purplefox
    • 0
      purplefox  

    • That's because fruit and veg keeps getting more expensive as supermarkets put offers on junk food and treats. And 5 pieces is no where near a properly healthy level anyway - apparently in Japan the advice is to eat 11.

      (That's a freaky picture btw - is it a young demonic looking boy or a scary girl??)

    • 3 years ago
  • iokua_2003
  • abitofeveryonescake
  • KefKef
  • LindseyIndigo
    • 0
      LindseyIndigo  

    • It's those mini bars of chocolate in the office, the numerous meetings you have to eat them in, and keeping them by the printer where you're sure to go at least a couple of times a day - killer! Quite literally I guess, if consumed with enough enthusiasm.

      I probably manage 2-3 portions of fruit and vegetables a day, depending on how whether I've got deadlines and whether I manage to cook, or just buy a big box of rice at lunchtime. It feels quite difficult to squeeze in 5 portions though. Maybe a fruit juice at breakfast, 2 kinds of vegetable (like some salad veg) at lunch and at least one vegetable with dinner, followed by some fruit? Ok, maybe it's not that difficult. But why is chocolate and takeaway food so much easier, dammit!?

    • 3 years ago
  • cantucwearebrothers
  • mattbrawn
    • 0
      mattbrawn  

    • I definitely don't eat enough fruit and veg, and that's probably the reason I'm sick right now. :(

      I blame it on Current having too many sweets in the office.

    • 3 years ago
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