This has emerged from research by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). For the new Food Consumption Survey, data was collected between 2019 and 2021 on the dietary pattern of 3,500 Dutch people. Compared to previous surveys, we have healthier eating and drinking habits.
For example, we eat significantly more fruit and vegetables; an average of 163 grams per day. In the period from 2012 to 2016, an adult ate an average of 135 grams of vegetables per day. The percentage of adults who now meet the guideline for eating 200 grams of vegetables per day has doubled to 29 percent. We also grab a banana, apple or pear more often: we eat about 129 grams of fruit per day.
Meat
It is also striking that we throw less and less red and processed meat into our shopping basket: compared to 2007 to 2010, a decrease of more than 20 percent can be seen. We also drink considerably less soft drinks with added sugar and less fruit juices: children drink an average of two small glasses of sugary drinks per day and adults almost one. We also drink water and tea more often.
The health improvements can be seen all over the country and higher educated people eat healthier than other groups. However, the (scientific) nutritional guidelines of the Health Council are not yet fully complied with. For example, we often eat too little unsalted nuts and the guideline to eat a fish once a week is also not achieved by many people. What we do succeed in is in eating wholemeal products: about half of adults eat 90 grams of wholemeal per day, as the guideline prescribes. After all, the Netherlands is not called a bread country for nothing.