Fresh Vegetables Key to Tackling National Health Problems

22 September 2011

Fresh Vegetables Key to Tackling National Health Problems

Increasing intake of fresh vegetables will help New Zealanders tackle the rising obesity epidemic identified in a Ministry of Health report on adult nutrition, says vegetables.co.nz.

The report, A Focus on Nutrition, details the key findings of the Ministry of Health's 2008/09 Adult Nutrition Survey which reveals that obesity has surged over the past 12 years since the last survey in 1997 - rising from 17% to 28% in men and from 20.6% to 28% in women.

"The report identifies excessive intake of energy-dense foods, those high in fat and high in sugar, as a key part of the problem" says Food and Nutrition Consultant, Pip Duncan.

"New Zealanders should eat at least three servings of fresh vegetables per day. Fresh vegetables offer people healthy and tasty alternatives to fatty snack food.

"New Zealanders need to remember that fresh New Zealand grown vegetables, bought in season are easy on the food budget, for example: kumara, carrots and pumpkin are in abundance in September and can be a great base for any family meal," says Pip.

"But if New Zealand is serious about addressing its obesity problem, parents need to help encourage their children to make healthy food choices. Get your kids into the kitchen and teach them how to cook a yummy vegetable curry, bake a kumara or stir fry some crisp vegetables. Make them understand cooking tasty, healthy meals can be fun for the whole family."

For more information about vegetables and healthy recipes ideas visit www.vegetables.co.nz

ENDS

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