Allure of takeaways too strong for many

New Zealanders overwhelmingly agree fruit and vegies are good for them but many are not putting their mouths where their minds are.

A new survey shows nearly half of New Zealand women ate their recommended daily quota of at least five servings of fruit or vegies, but men had only 3.7 servings a day, Maori 3.6 and Pacific Islanders 3.5.

The Research International study, which was commissioned by the produce industry's "5 + A Day" campaign, also found Maori and Pacific Islanders were heavy consumers of takeaway food and instant meals.

The survey's 500 respondents overwhelmingly agreed fruit and vegetables added variety to meals, provided most of the minerals, vitamins and fibre needed, led to a longer and healthier life and made them feel healthier. Just over half said they had fruit or vegetables with every meal.

Respondents blamed inconvenience, taste preference, the need for planning and children's reluctance for lapses in their fruit and vegetable intake.

Almost half believed they could also keep healthy by taking dietary supplements.

Researchers found 6 per cent of Pakeha respondents had eaten deep-fried food five times or more in the past week. For Maori the figure was 20 per cent and for Pacific Islanders it was 23 per cent.

Maori and Pacific Islanders also favoured instant foods like potato and corn chips, instant pasta and frozen TV dinners.

Nine per cent of Pakeha had eaten instant food five times the previous week, compared with 34 per cent of Pacific Islanders and 19 per cent of Maori.

Most respondents were well aware of the health dangers of regularly eating junk food, with three-quarters agreeing this heightened the risk of heart disease or diabetes, but two-thirds thought a once-a-week treat was all right.

In fact, 25 per cent of Maori and Pacific Island people believed that their long term health was a matter of genetics, or luck rather than diet.

- NZPA