Many of us learned early on that veggies are incredibly nutritious and that we should consume at least five serves daily.
However, according to the most recent Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) research, most adults do not eat the required amount of vegetables.
In reality, 96% of men and 87% of women do not consume enough veggies on a daily basis, which means that less than one in ten persons are consuming enough greens.
So why has it gotten so bad?
There are a number of reasons why people don’t eat enough veggies, and researchers think one of them is our hectic lifestyle.
According to Accredited Sports Dietitian Gaye Rutherford, “vegetables are not as much of a convenience food, if you are on the move or looking for very easy portable options, they don’t tend to be the first thing people grab for.”
“Eating meals or snacks with veggies might occasionally be difficult due to time restraints.”
Another reason why some people are giving up their healthy eating habits is the price of fresh produce; in other circumstances, it may be due to a lack of availability to fresh fruit or vegetables.
According to Emma Rowell of the community education organization Family Food Patch, “a lot of satellite villages only have fast food outlets, and there aren’t the supermarkets where they can buy the fresh produce from.”
Floods and extended wet weather in eastern Australia have caused the price of some crops, such iceberg lettuce, to jump, increasing the pressure on people’s ability to afford basic necessities.
That shouldn’t stop people from eating vegetables, according to industry experts, but it does make it more crucial than ever to buy what is in season.
The seasonality of some veggies used to prevent you from seeing them, according to Ben Johnson, manager of Best Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Wholesalers.
Because seasonality is always cheaper and fresher, the situation in eastern Australia has forced customers and hospitality establishments to reconsider their choices.
I’ve always loved vegetables, and I still turn to them frequently.
Non-profit organization encourages youngsters to try different meals
But one nonprofit organization in Tasmania has begun a new project to offer sit-down lunches to pupils in 15 schools throughout the state after realizing that not every child had the same opportunities.
According to Kirsty Grierson of School Food Matters, “it’s boosting the students’ self-assurance to try new foods and enables them to be conscious of what they’re consuming.”
Some pupils started off eating a cherry tomato, but now they’ll eat an entire salad, I’ve noticed a change in eating habits.
The manner the vegetables are prepared can also make a significant impact for parents who are attempting to urge their children to eat more vegetables.
Vegetables were always overcooked and pretty grey when I was first introduced to them, according to Julie Dunbabin of School Food Matters.
For kids to understand, “Cauliflower is a lovely vegetable if prepared properly, and cabbage is actually quite a brilliant green veggie.”
All of the garden’s produce at St Mary’s College in Hobart goes into the school canteen.
The neighborhood and school are currently fed by the vegetable garden, which has been there since the beginning of the pandemic.
“The whole idea of the school garden is forming those good habits of growing food, trying food and eating food at the source and hopefully, it will carry onto adulthood,” said Cafe Sustainability manager Phill Shanny.
