Health experts have been using the same healthy eating guidelines for years; eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Unfortunately analysis of diets on both sides of the Atlantic suggests many families fail to meet this target.
A recent study in the UK indicated that only 12 percent of families achieve the 5-a-day target, while the bottom 12 per cent fails to eat any at all. The national average for the UK is 2.5 portions a day, with wide variations between age and economic groups.
It is probably quite predictable that both those in the more affluent groups and the over 45s are far more likely to meet the target, while the less well off and children are missing this target and often fall into the bottom 12 percent category with no fruit and vegetables being consumed at all.
A study carried out in the US also produced similar findings, with some poorer inner-city families adding very little fruit and vegetables to their diet. This was attributed to cost on a calorie to dollar basis and also cited the lack of availability in some areas.
In place of fruit and vegetables, lower cost or bargain ranges of foodstuffs are consumed that are invariable high in saturated fat, sugar and refined carbohydrate. The two-fold effect being a poorer quality diet is eaten, high in calories, but lacking fiber, vitamins and minerals essential to good health.
If you are failing to meet the healthy eating guidelines, maybe now is the time to seek advice.
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