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Food and You 2: Northern Ireland Wave 3-4 Key Findings

FY2 Wave 3-4 NI: Chapter 8 Healthy eating

Northern Ireland specific

This chapter provides an overview of the types of foods respondents eat, perceptions of what contributes towards a healthy diet, respondents knowledge of UK Government recommendations and dietary changes respondents have made to their diet. 

Last updated: 5 December 2022
Last updated: 5 December 2022

The FSA is responsible for some areas of nutrition policy in Northern Ireland along with the Department of Health. The FSA provides information to consumers in Northern Ireland on how to achieve a healthier diet and supports food businesses to provide and promote healthier food and drink. The Eatwell Guide  (footnote 1) provides information to consumers on how they can get a balanced, healthier and more sustainable diet. The Eatwell Guide does this by providing a summary of the five main food groups, the proportions of different types of food consumers are recommended to eat, and information on fluid intake.  

How healthy respondents think their diet is

When asked how healthy they thought their usual diet was, most respondents reported that what they usually eat is fairly healthy (67%), with a further 20% reporting that what they eat is neither healthy or unhealthy. A minority reported that their diet was very healthy (8%), fairly unhealthy (5%), or very unhealthy (1%)  (footnote 2)

What types of foods do respondents eat?

Figure 21 Number of portions of fruit and vegetables consumed during the previous day.

A bar chart showing the number of portions of fruit and vegetables consumed during the previous day.
PORTIONS Fruit Vegetables
Don't know 8 11
0 15 9
1 25 15
2 26 27
3 16 23
4 5 8
5+ 5 7

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Source: Food and You 2: Wave 3 

Respondents were asked how many portions of vegetables and fruit, not including fruit juice or smoothies, they had eaten or drunk the previous day. The majority of respondents had eaten either one (25%) or two (26%) portions of fruit the previous day, whilst 15% of respondents had not eaten any. Approximately a quarter of respondents had eaten two (27%) or three (23%) portions of vegetables, whereas 9% respondents had not eaten any portions of vegetables the previous day. Around 1 in 10 respondents reported that they did not know how many portions of fruit (8%) and vegetables (8%) they had eaten (Figure 21) (footnote 3). In addition, respondents were asked if they had drunk some fruit juice or smoothie the previous day, around a third (34%) of respondents had drunk at least a small sized glass of fruit juice or smoothie (footnote 4).

Figure 22 How often respondents consumed certain types of food and drink.

A bar chart showing where respondents would like to see more information about how healthy different food and drink options are.
FOOD OR DRINK Never 2-3 times a month or less often About once a week or 2-3 times a week Every day or most days
Wholewheat pasta 42 29 23 3
Potatoes with the skins on 20 38 34 7
Chips and other fried foods 4 26 60 9
Porridge 33 24 20 22
High fibre cereal 24 21 26 27
Sugary fizzy drinks
and diluted squash" 20 18 27 34
Sweets and chocolate 2 11 48 38
Wholemeal or
wholegrain bread" 11 16 33 38
Meat products 5 10 43 43
Fruit and vegetables 1 2 17 79

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Source: Food and You 2: Wave 3 

Respondents were asked how often they consumed certain types of food or drink. Most respondents (79%) reported that they ate fruit and vegetables every day or most days. Around 4 in 10 respondents reported that they ate meat products (43%), wholemeal or wholegrain bread (38%) or sweets and chocolate (38%) every day or most days. Of the listed foods, respondents were least like to report eating wholewheat pasta (42%) and porridge (33%) (Figure 22) (footnote 5).

Perceptions of what contributes to a healthy diet

Figure 23 Factors which respondents considered as most important for a healthy diet.

A bar chart showing factors which respondents considered as most important for a healthy diet.
Contributing factors Percentage of respondents
Eating a vegan diet 1
Eating a high fat diet 1
Eating less dairy 5
Eating a plant-based diet 9
Eating less meat 12
Eating a low carbohydrate diet 16
Eating foods such as bread,
rice pasta and potatoes" 16
Eating food lower in calories 17
Eating a high protein diet 19
Eating a low fat diet 25
Limiting foods high in
fat and saturated fat" 39
Limiting food and
drinks high in sugar" 43
Eating fish, including oily fish 61
Eating less salt 61
Drinking plenty of water 70
Eating fruit and vegetables 94

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 Source: Food and You 2: Wave 3 

Respondents were asked what factors, from a given list, are the most important for people to do to have a healthy diet. Eating fruit and vegetables (94%), drinking plenty of water (70%), eating less salt (61%) and eating fish (61%) were considered the most important factors for people to have a healthy diet. Eating a vegan diet (1%), high fat diet (1%) and eating less dairy (5%) were considered the least important factors for people to have a healthy diet (Figure 23) (footnote 6).

Figure 24 Types of food or drink thought to count towards daily fruit and vegetable intake.

A bar chart showing which types of food or drink are thought to count towards daily fruit and vegetable intake.
Type of food or drink Percentage of respondents
None of these 1
Jam 12
Pasta 17
Rice 20
Nuts and seeds 32
Pulses 37
Baked beans 44
Potatoes 49
Fruit smoothies 52
Dried fruit 54
Tinned fruit 55
Pure fruit juice 58
Tinned vegetables 61
Frozen fruit 68
Frozen vegetables 76
Fresh vegetables 93
Fresh fruit 94

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Source: Food and You 2: Wave 3 

Respondents were asked which types of food or drink, from a given list, can count toward someone’s daily fruit and vegetable intake. In line with advice, most respondents reported that fresh fruit (94%), fresh vegetables (93%), frozen vegetables (76%), and frozen fruit (68%) count towards someone’s daily fruit and vegetable intake. Many respondents reported that tinned vegetables (61%), pure fruit juice (58%), tinned fruit (55%), dried fruit (54%), fruit smoothies (52%), baked beans (44%) and pulses (37%) count towards someone’s daily fruit and vegetable intake. However, some respondents reported some types of food can count towards someone’s daily fruit and vegetable intake which do not, such as, potatoes (49%), nuts and seeds (32%), rice (20%), pasta (17%) and jam (12%) (Figure 24) (footnote 7).

Knowledge of UK Government recommendations

Proportions of different types of foods

The UK Government recommends that potatoes, bread, rice, pasta and other starchy carbohydrates, and fruit and vegetables should make up the largest parts of a diet. It is recommended that foods high in fat, sugar and salt, and oils and spreads should make up the smallest parts of a diet.

Respondents were asked which two food groups they thought the UK Government recommends should make up the largest part and smallest part of a diet. Most respondents reported that fruit and vegetables (85%) or meat, fish, eggs, beans, pulses and other proteins (72%) should make up the largest part of a diet. However, fewer respondents (17%) identified both food groups correctly (footnote 8). Most respondents reported that foods high in fat, sugar and salt (84%) or oils and spreads (55%) should make up the smallest part of a diet. However, fewer respondents (3%) identified both food groups correctly (footnote 9).

Fruit and vegetables

The UK Government recommends that people should eat at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day.

Respondents were asked how many portions of fruit and vegetables they thought the UK Government recommend that people should eat every day. Most respondents (80%) reported that the UK Government recommend that people should eat 5 portions of fruit and vegetables every day and 5% of respondents reported 6 portions, however 13% of respondents reported that people should eat between 1 and 4 portions (footnote 10).

Calories

The UK Government recommends that most adult females require on average 2000 calories a day and that most adult males require on average 2500 calories a day.

Respondents were asked how many calories they thought the UK Government recommend that an average adult female and average adult male should eat every day. In line with recommendations, 45% of respondents reported that an adult female should eat 2000 calories every day. However, 1% reported that an adult female should eat 500 calories a day, 6% reported 1000 calories a day, 35% reported 1500 calories a day, 3% reported 2500 calories a day, and 10% reported that they did not know (footnote 11). In line with UK Government recommendations, 48% of respondents reported that an adult male should eat 2500 calories. However, 1% reported that an adult male should eat 500 calories a day, 1% reported 1000 calories a day, 29% reported 2000 calories, 6% reported 3000 calories a day and 10% reported that they did not know (footnote 12).

Salt

The UK government recommends that adults should have no more than 6 grams of salt per day. Respondents were asked how much salt they thought the UK Government recommend that an adult should not exceed each day. In line with recommendations, 16% of respondents reported that adults should not exceed 6 grams of salt a day. However, 35% of respondents reported that adults should not exceed 2 grams of salt a day, 24% of respondents reported that adults should not exceed 4 grams of salt a day, 1% of respondents reported that adults should not exceed 8 grams of salt a day, and 24% of respondents reported that they did not know (footnote 13).

Fibre

The UK Government recommend that an adult should eat 30 grams of fibre each day.

Respondents were asked how much fibre they thought the UK Government recommend that an adult should eat each day. In line with recommendations, 29% of respondents reported that adults should eat 30 grams of fibre each day. However, 36% reported other levels of fibre, and 35% of respondents reported that they did not know  (footnote 14).

Changes in eating habits

Respondents were asked if they had made (or attempted to make) any changes to what they ate or drank in the previous 12 months. Over half (57%) of respondents reported that they had done this (footnote 15).

Figure 25 Ten most common changes or attempted changes to what respondents ate or drank in the previous 12 months.

A bar chart showing the ten most common changes or attempted changes to what respondents ate or drank in the previous 12 months.
Changes Percentage of respondents
A high protein diet 16
Less meat 20
More fish, including oily fish 27
Less salt 37
Less bread, rice, potatoes, pasta and other starchy foods 47
Less food high in
fat or saturated fat " 50
Fewer calories 53
Smaller portions 54
Less food or drink high in sugar 61
More fruit and / or vegetables 65

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Source: Food and You 2: Wave 3

Respondents who had made or attempted to make any changes, from a given list, to what they ate or drank in the previous 12 months, were asked what changes they had made or attempted to make. The most common changes respondents reported were consuming: more fruit and / or vegetables (65%); less food or drink high in sugar (61%); smaller portions (54%); and fewer calories (53%) (Figure 25) (footnote 16).

Respondents who had made or attempted to make any changes to what they ate or drank in the previous 12 months were asked why they had made or attempted to make these changes. The most common reasons given were to be more healthy or to have a healthier lifestyle (83%) and to lose weight (75%) (footnote 17).

Eating healthy outside the home

Respondents were asked how healthy they thought that the food they eat out or take out is compared to the food they eat at home. The majority (84%) of respondents thought that the food they eat outside the home is less healthy (i.e. a bit less healthy or a lot less healthy). Only 3% stated that the food they eat out or take out is healthier than the food they eat at home (footnote 18).

The prevalence of respondents reporting that the food they eat out or take out is less healthy compared to the food they eat at home varied in the following ways:

  • Gender: Women (89%) were more likely to report that the food they eat out or take out is less healthy than the food they eat at home compared to men (79%).
  • Annual household income: Respondents with a household income of £32,000-£63,999 (90%) were more likely to report that the food they eat out or take out is less healthy than the food they eat at home compared to respondents with an income below £19,000 (77%).
  • NS-SEC: respondents in managerial, administrative and professional occupations (87%) and intermediate occupations (87%) were more likely to report that the food they eat out or take out is less healthy than the food they eat at home compared to those in semi-routine and routine occupations (74%).
  • Responsibility for cooking: respondents who were responsible for cooking (85%) were more likely to report that the food they eat out or take out is less healthy than the food they eat at home compared to those who do not cook (75%).
  • NIMDM: respondents who lived in the least deprived areas (NIMDM 5) (89%) were more likely to report that the food they eat out or take out is less healthy than the food they eat at home compared to respondents who lived in the most deprived areas (NIMDM 1) (78%).

Figure 26 Where respondents would like to see more information about how healthy different food and drink options are.

A bar chart showing where respondents would like to see more information about how healthy different food and drink options are.
Business Type Percentage of respondents
Recreational centres (e.g. sports club/leisure centre) 20
Entertainment venues (e.g. cinema, bowling alley) 23
Canteens (e.g. at work, school, university or hospital) 28
Mobile food vans or stalls 30
Pubs/bars 34
Online food ordering and delivery companies (e.g. Just Eat, Deliveroo) 37
Cafes, coffee shops or sandwich shops 46
Fast food restaurants (e.g. McDonalds, Burger King) 51
Restaurants 60
Takeaways 63

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Respondents were asked to select from a given list in which places they would like to see more information displayed about how healthy different food and drink options are. Most commonly, respondents reported that they would like takeaways (63%) and restaurants (60%) to display more information about how healthy different options are. Around half (51%) reported that they would like fast food restaurants (e.g. McDonalds, Burger King) to display this information (footnote 19).

Respondents were asked what nutritional information they would find useful on the menu to help inform their choices when eating out. Over half (55%) of respondents reported that they would find it useful if menus showed calorie information, 49% of respondents reported information about fat content would be useful, 46% reported information about sugar content would be useful and 43% reported information about salt content would be useful. Only 16% reported that none of these would be useful.