Only half of us eat our five-plus quota

By KATHERINE HOBY

Fifty per cent of New Zealanders are not doing what their mothers told them to do - eat their greens.

Research by Colmar Brunton, which surveyed 500 New Zealand households, reveals some disturbing figures.

About 50 per cent of adults do not eat the recommended five or more servings of fruit and vegetables a day, and less than half of all children (aged 5-14 years) eat five servings or more.

The research shows that many do not understand that canned and frozen fruit and vegetables also count.

Almost six out of 10 people surveyed do not count canned fruit or vegetables towards their five or more daily servings, and about three in 10 believe frozen products do not count.

Dietetic Association executive officer Amanda Wynne says dietitians advocate at least five servings a day - whether fresh, frozen, canned, dried or juiced.

Half of all those consumers surveyed who do not now eat five or more servings of fruit and vegetables every day said they would eat more canned or frozen product if they were aware of the benefits and knew it "counted".

Women (35 per cent) are much more likely to understand that a serving is the equivalent of a handful than men (19 per cent).

Fewer than half those surveyed were able to nominate the recommended number of daily servings of fruit and vegetables - five.

Some of the barriers to eating five a day that people listed were: lack of convenience, preparation time, cost, dislike of taste, and poor quality of fruit and vegetables.

Wattie's commissioned the research, and marketing general manager Mike Pretty says the company's packaging on canned and frozen fruits and vegetables will now include a count device symbol.

It will also show how many serves are in a packet, which should help to remind people to get their five serves a day, he says.

The Ministry of Health reports that too few fruits and vegetables in the diet contributed to 867 deaths in 1999.

Further reading
nzherald.co.nz/health