Many reject life or death food advice

Fruit and vegetables are essential to health, but many New Zealanders believe otherwise. KATHERINE HOBY reports.

An apple a day might keep the funeral director away.

More than 800 New Zealanders die every year after following a diet not rich enough in fruit and vegetables, a Ministry of Health study shows.

Medical research has consistently pointed to the benefits of eating a diet high in fruit and vegetables.

Eating them daily from childhood is said to reduce the chances of heart disease, stroke, obesity, diabetes and some cancers.

The ministry's report, Our Health, Our Future: the Health of New Zealanders, shows a surprisingly high number of deaths related to inadequate diet.

Twice as many males as females will die from diseases, such as cancer, linked to insufficient intake of fruit and vegetables.

About 650 cancer deaths a year are attributed to people not eating enough of them.

Yet research by the 5+ A Day Programme shows many New Zealanders are still unaware of the importance of eating fruit and vegetables every day.

Dietitians recommend five servings a day, preferably made up of at least two pieces of fruit and three servings of vegetables.

Research International studied a sample of 18 New Zealand families last month, including some who ate five servings a day.

One finding was that traditional reasons for not eating five servings a day, such as cost and convenience, were excuses.

Previous research had identified reasons for a diet low in fruit and vegetables as perceived cost barriers, convenience, storage issues, and preference for other food, like snack foods.

The study showed that the average New Zealander was looking for meal solutions to make life easier. Even though as a nation we were changing our tastes and eating habits, meat remained a strong focus.

"For most New Zealanders the role of fresh fruit and vegetables in their diet is not a priority over other types of food groups - meat and carbohydrates. Nor is eating 5+ fruit and veges a day felt to be significant in keeping one's health," it said.

"Coupled with this misconception, lifestyle and the abundance of convenience food choices in today's market are beginning to squeeze the traditional place of vegetables out of our diets."

Some consumers felt the 5+ A Day message was too "heavy-handed".

The research showed that a large proportion of the population did not understand the benefits of eating five servings a day, let alone the consequences of not doing so.

"They do not realise ... that rather than being an 'ideal' or 'suggestion', it is the minimum amount needed to maintain health and wellbeing."

One of the comments from those surveyed was: "What happens if I don't eat five plus a day - nothing? I still look and feel the same."

nzherald.co.nz/health