Fruit and vegetable consumption among the young Polish population

Pomeranian J Life Sci. 2016;62(3):57-61. doi: 10.21164/pomjlifesci.184.

Abstract

Introduction: Vegetables and fruit are an essential part of a healthy and balanced diet. It has been shown that regular consumption of fruit and vegetables can reduce the risk of chronic diseases. However, in the past 8 years fruit and vegetable consumption among Polish youth has significantly decreased.

Materials and methods: Patients involved in the project were participants of the Woodstock Festival Poland 2014. During three days of the festival, 615 young adults (18–35 years) were enrolled in the study. The study participants had to fill in a questionnaire that included questions about the frequency of fruit and vegetable consumption, portion sizes, and knowledge of the recommended daily intake. We also measured basic anthropometric parameters.

Results: The data from our study showed that 97.6% of respondents consumed fewer than 4 servings of vegetables and fruit. In addition 39% of them ate 2 or fewer vegetable servings per day. We found that men ate significantly less fruit and fewer vegetables than women (p < 0.05). Additionally, almost 75% of men responded that proper consumption of fruit and vegetables should be at the level of 2–3 servings, and only 22.3% of them said that the proper level is 4–5 servings.

Conclusions: We need to keep in mind that only clear information about vegetables and fruit, as well as highlighting the importance of the principles of nutrition, can give effective results in the future. It also appears that nutritional education should be conducted not only at the early stages of development but also in adolescents.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Diet / statistics & numerical data*
  • Diet Surveys
  • Feeding Behavior*
  • Female
  • Fruit*
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Poland
  • Recommended Dietary Allowances
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Vegetables*
  • Young Adult