F&Y2 Wave 7-8 NI: Chapter 8: Healthy eating

Introduction

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 depicts the UK Government recommendations by giving a visual representation of the types of foods and drinks we should consume and in what proportions to have a healthy, balanced diet.

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. 

The findings in this chapter are from Wave 7.

How healthy respondents think their diet is

When asked how healthy they thought their usual diet was, over half of respondents reported that what they usually eat is fairly healthy (55%), with a further 27% reporting that what they eat is neither healthy nor unhealthy. A minority reported that their diet was very healthy (8%), fairly unhealthy (7%), or very unhealthy (1%).  ^{(footnote 2)}

What types of foods do respondents eat?

Respondents were asked how many portions of vegetables and fruit, not including fruit juice or smoothies, they had eaten or drunk the previous day.

Around a quarter of respondents had eaten either one (23%) or two (23%) portions of fruit the previous day, whilst 16% had not eaten any. Approximately a quarter of respondents had eaten two (24%) or three (22%) portions of vegetables, whereas 12% 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 (9%) and vegetables (9%) they had eaten (Figure 21). ^{(footnote 3)}

In addition, respondents were asked if they had drunk a glass of fruit juice or smoothie the previous day. Around 2 in 10 (22%) respondents had drunk a small sized glass of fruit juice or smoothie and 14% reported that they had drunk a large glass of fruit juice or smoothie.  ^{(footnote 4)}

Source: Food and You 2: Wave 7

Respondents were asked how often they consumed certain types of food or drink. Most respondents (77%) reported that they ate fruit and vegetables every day or most days. However, 20% reported eating fruit and vegetables about once a week or 2 to 3 times a week, while 3% ate fruit and vegetables 2-3 times a month or less often.

Around half of respondents reported that they ate meat products (54%), sweets and chocolate (43%) and wholemeal or wholegrain bread (35%) every day or most days. Of the listed foods, respondents were least likely to report eating wholewheat pasta (46% reported “never”) and porridge (34% reported “never”) (Figure 22).  ^{(footnote 5)}

Source: Food and You 2: Wave 7

Perceptions of what contributes to a healthy diet

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 (81%), drinking plenty of water (77%), limiting food and drinks high in sugar (68%) and eating less salt (59%) 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)}

Source: Food and You 2: Wave 7

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 (92%), frozen vegetables (79%), and frozen fruit (69%) count towards someone’s daily fruit and vegetable intake. Many respondents correctly reported that tinned vegetables (67%), pure fruit juice (61%), tinned fruit (63%), dried fruit (58%), fruit smoothies (57%), baked beans (43%) and pulses (40%) 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 (47%), nuts and seeds (33%), rice (15%), pasta (12%) and jam (11%) (Figure 24).  ^{(footnote 7)}

Source: Food and You 2: Wave 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 (83%) or meat, fish, eggs, beans, pulses and other proteins (70%) should make up the largest part of a diet. However, only 20% identified both food groups correctly.  ^{(footnote 8)} Most respondents reported that foods high in fat, sugar and salt (86%) or oils and spreads (61%) should make up the smallest part of a diet, however only 3% of respondents identified both 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 and health experts recommend that people should eat every day. Most respondents (74%) reported that the UK Government recommend that people should eat at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables every day, while a minority (4%) of respondents reported at least 6 portions. However, 20% of respondents reported that people should eat between 1 and 4 portions.  ^{(footnote 10)}

Calories

The UK Government recommend that most adult females require on average 2,000 calories a day and that most adult males require on average 2,500 calories a day.

Respondents were asked how many calories they thought the UK Government and health experts recommend that an average adult female and average adult male should eat every day. In line with recommendations, 52% of respondents reported that an adult female should eat 2,000 calories a day. However, 39% incorrectly identified the recommended daily calorie intake for females, and 9% reported that they did not know. ^{(footnote 11)} In line with recommendations, 51% of respondents reported that an adult male should eat 2,500 calories a day. However, 39% incorrectly identified the recommended daily calorie intake for males, 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 and health experts recommend that an adult should not exceed each day. In line with recommendations, 19% of respondents reported that adults should not exceed 6 grams of salt a day. However, 34% of respondents reported that adults should not exceed 2 grams of salt a day, 23% of respondents reported that adults should not exceed 4 grams of salt a day, and 1% of respondents reported that adults should not exceed 8 grams of salt a day. 23% of respondents reported that they did not know.  ^{(footnote 13)}

Fibre

The UK Government recommends that adults should eat 30 grams of fibre each day.

Respondents were asked how much fibre they thought the UK Government and health experts 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, 37% reported other levels of fibre, (10g, 20g or 40g) and 34% of respondents reported that they did not know.  ^{(footnote 14)}

Vitamin and mineral consumption

Respondents were asked whether they are currently taking any vitamin and/or mineral supplements. Half of respondents (50%) reported that they were currently taking a vitamin and/or mineral supplements. ^{(footnote 15)}

The most common vitamin and/or mineral supplements respondents reported taking were a multi-vitamin or mineral (54%), Vitamin D (37%), fish oils or Omega 3 (27%) and Vitamin C (25%). Of the options listed, the vitamin/mineral which respondents reported taking least were vitamin B12 injections (5%) and folic acid (7%) (Figure 25).  ^{(footnote 16)}

Source: Food and You 2: Wave 7

Frequency of vitamin and/or mineral supplement use

Most respondents who took vitamin and/or mineral supplements reported taking them every day (65%). Around a quarter (27%) of respondents reported taking a vitamin and/or mineral supplement most days, and 6% take them less often.  ^{(footnote 17)}

Reasons for vitamin and/or mineral supplement use

The most common reason for taking vitamin and/or mineral supplements was for general health or wellbeing (71%). A fifth of respondents reported taking a supplement due to tiredness (20%) and due to age or getting older (20%). Respondents were least likely to report taking vitamin and/or mineral supplements to improve sports performance (6%) or for reasons related to pregnancy (4%).  ^{(footnote 18)}

Most respondents (73%) who reported taking a vitamin and/or mineral supplement had not been advised to take these supplements by a medical professional. Only around a quarter (26%) had been advised by a medical professional to take a vitamin and/or mineral supplement. ^{(footnote 19)}

Source: Food and You 2: Wave 7

Changes in eating habits

Over half (57%) of respondents reported they had made or attempted to make changes to what they had ate or drank in last 12 months. ^{(footnote 20)}

When prompted, the most common changes respondents attempted to make over the previous 12 months were consuming more fruit and/or vegetables (58%), less food or drink high in sugar (57%), fewer calories (46%) and smaller portions (46%) (Figure 27). ^{(footnote 21)}

When asked why they had made, or attempted to make, changes to what they ate or drank in the past 12 months, the most common reasons were to be healthier or to have a healthier lifestyle (78%) and to lose weight (65%).  ^{(footnote 22)}

Source: Food and You 2: Wave 7

Eating healthily 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 (86%) thought that the food they eat outside the home is less healthy (i.e. a bit less healthy or a lot less healthy). Only 7% stated that the food they eat out or take out is about the same as the food they eat at home and 4% stated it is healthier than the food they eat at home.  ^{(footnote 23)}

Respondents with high food security (91%) were more likely to report that the food they eat out or take away is less healthy than the food they eat at home, compared to those with low (80%) or very low food security (80%).

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 (62%) and restaurants (58%) to display more information about how healthy different options are. Around half (47%) reported that they would like fast food restaurants (e.g. McDonalds, Burger King) to display this information (Figure 28).  ^{(footnote 24)}

 Source: Food and You 2: Wave 7

Respondents were asked what nutritional information they would find useful on the menu to help inform their choices when eating out. Around half of respondents reported that they would find it useful if menus showed nutritional information about calorie information (55%), fat content (50%), and sugar content (47%). Around 4 in 10 (43%) respondents reported that it would be useful if menus showed information about salt content and 16% of respondents reported that none of these types of nutritional information would be useful.  ^{(footnote 25)}