Fruit and vegetable consumption, 2010
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Fruit and vegetables are an important source of vitamins, minerals and fibre. A diet rich in fruit and vegetables may reduce the risk of heart disease and some types of cancer1.
Fruit and vegetable consumption data are based on a survey question that measures the number of times respondents reported that they consumed fruit and vegetables, rather than the actual quantity consumed.
In 2010, 43.3% of Canadians aged 12 and older reported that they consumed fruit and vegetables five or more times per day, down from 45.6% in 2009.
From 2001 to 2010, females were more likely than males to consume fruit and vegetables five or more times daily. In 2010, 49.9% of females consumed fruit and vegetables five or more times daily, compared to 36.4% of males (Chart 1).
Chart 1
Percentage reporting that they consumed fruit and vegetables at least five times daily, by sex, household population aged 12 or older, Canada, 2001 to 2010
Source: Canadian Community Health Survey, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010.
In 2010, about half of females in all age groups reported that they ate fruit and vegetables five or more times daily. A greater percentage of young males aged 12 to 19 (48.3%) consumed fruit and vegetables five or more times a day, compared to males aged 20 and older (Chart 2).
Chart 2
Percentage reporting that they consumed fruit and vegetables at least five times daily, by age group and sex, household population aged 12 or older, Canada, 2010
Source: Canadian Community Health Survey, 2010.
Quebec (50.4%) and Yukon (52.5%) were the only jurisdictions in which residents reported eating fruit and vegetables at least five times daily at a rate that was above the national average in 2010. Residents of Ontario (42.8%) and British Columbia (42.3%) reported consuming fruit and vegetables at least five times daily at about the same rate as the Canadian average. In all other provinces and territories the proportion of residents who consumed fruit and vegetables at least five times daily was lower than the national average.
End note
- Pérez, Claudio E. 2002. "Fruit and vegetable consumption." Health Reports. Vol. 13, no. 3. March. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 82-003. page 23. /studies-etudes/82-003/archive/2002/6103-eng.pdf (accessed May 10, 2010).
References
Garriguet, Didier. 2007. "Canadians' eating habits." Health Reports. Vol. 18, no. 2. May. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 82-003. pages 17–32. /pub/82-003-x/2006004/article/habit/9609-eng.pdf (accessed May 10, 2010).
Pérez, Claudio E. 2002. "Fruit and vegetable consumption." Health Reports. Vol. 13, no. 3. March. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 82-003. pages 23–31. /studies-etudes/82-003/archive/2002/6103-eng.pdf (accessed May 10, 2010).
Data
Additional data from the Canadian Community Health Survey are available from CANSIM table 105–0501 and summary tables Fruit and vegetable consumption, by age group and sex and Fruit and vegetable consumption, by sex, provinces and territories.
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