The Vegetable Conundrum: Are We Getting Enough?
It's a common struggle for many, but how hard is it to eat enough vegetables? Harder than you might think! New Zealand's health survey reveals a surprising statistic: only 6.8% of Kiwis meet the recommended daily vegetable intake. But is this really as dire as it sounds? Let's dive in and explore the world of vegetable consumption.
The recommended amount of fruit and vegetables has evolved over the years. You might recall the famous '5+ a day' campaign, but did you know that in 2020, the Ministry of Health upped the ante? They now suggest five to six servings of vegetables for men and five for women, plus two servings of fruit. That's a lot of veggies!
Shanti Mathias, a self-proclaimed vegetable enthusiast, decided to put her diet to the test. She tracked her vegetable intake for a week to see if she was meeting the recommended guidelines. The results were eye-opening.
Over the course of a week, Shanti's vegetable servings ranged from four to five, with an average of around four servings per day. She found that she often fell just short of the recommended five, but was still eating more vegetables than the average Kiwi.
But here's where it gets controversial... Shanti's experience highlights a gap in the data. The government's focus is on those who don't meet the five-a-day mark, but what about those who are 'just under'? Paula Dudley, from the charitable trust 5+ A Day, believes this group is significant. Independent research by the organization shows that while many don't eat enough vegetables, a large percentage (39%) consume more than four servings daily.
New Zealand's guidelines are among the highest globally, with the WHO recommending 400g of fruit and vegetables daily. The 5+ A Day charity has an important mission: to encourage more vegetable consumption, especially in schools. They provide 27 million servings of fresh produce annually, but the long-term impact on kids' diets is unclear.
Cost is a significant barrier to increasing vegetable intake. While buying seasonal produce can make vegetables more affordable, removing GST from fruits and vegetables has been criticized as economically unworkable. This policy, once a cornerstone for Labour, has since been abandoned.
And this is the part most people miss... It's unclear how many Kiwis are even aware of the Ministry of Health's vegetable guidelines. The health survey only started tracking fruit and vegetable servings in 2021, so the impact of raising the recommended amount is unknown.
So, how can we ensure we're getting enough vegetables? Paula Dudley suggests starting the day with vegetables. Shanti's experience supports this; the days she had vegetables for breakfast were the days she met the five-a-day goal.
Vegetables.co.nz, a non-profit organization, promotes the 'Add one more vegetable' campaign. Their tips include adding veggies to rice, blending them into smoothies, and grating them into cakes and muffins. It's a simple yet effective way to increase vegetable intake.
Eating more vegetables isn't just good for growers; it's a significant health boost. Just two servings a day can reduce the risk of heart disease by 19%. Inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption was estimated to cause 3.9 million deaths in 2017.
So, are you getting your daily dose of vegetables? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments! Is the recommended amount too high, or are we missing an opportunity to improve our health?
