The industry is renewing its focus on boosting the variety of vegetables consumed following a report on Australian dietary habits.
Produced by the CSIRO and commissioned by Horticulture Innovation Australia, The Fruit, Vegetable and Diet Score report compiled the self-reported dietary habits of adults across Australia over an 18-month period.
It found Australian adults were continuing to under-consume vegetables, and report authors have suggested the industry focus its attention on increasing the overall variety of vegetables consumed.
“Australians who report eating a greater variety of vegetables also report eating more vegetables overall," AUSVEG national communications manager Shaun Lindhe said.
"If the industry can broaden consumers’ horizons and help them understand how to prepare and consume a greater range of veggies, this could have flow-on effects as they then begin to include vegetables more in their everyday diets."
The report highlights dinner as a key driver of Australians’ vegetable consumption, finding that adults who always have at least three types of vegetables with their evening or main meal are most likely to meet their recommended daily servings.
Previous research funded by the Australian vegetable industry also found that increasing potential snacking occasions for vegetables could make a significant difference to Australians’ overall consumption.
