Nutrition indicators

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Nutrition indicators

How to interpret results - tables

Table 9: Nutrition indicators

Indicator	Māori			non-Māori
Indicator	Males	Females	Total	Males	Females	Total
3 or more servings of vegetables per day (self-reported), 15+ years, 2006/7, percent ^{1,2 *}	54.1 (50.5–57.7)	65.0 (61.8–68.2)	60.0 (57.7–62.2)	58.2 (56.4–60.0)	70.6 (68.8–72.4)	64.6 (63.3–66.0)
2 or more servings of fruit per day (self-reported), 15+ years, 2006/07, percent^{1, 2}	46.5 (42.5–50.5)	62.9 (60.1–65.8)	55.3 (52.9–57.7)	51.1 (49.2–53.0)	69.6 (67.8–71.4)	60.7 (59.3–62.1)
3 or more servings of vegetables and 2 or more servings of fruit per day (self-reported), 15+ years, 2006/7, percent ^1,2	29.1 (25.7–32.5)	44.8 (41.6–48.0)	37.5 (35.6–39.5)	33.7 (31.9–35.5)	53.4 (51.4–55.5)	43.9 (42.5–45.4)

Source: 2006/7 New Zealand Health Survey

Notes:

Age standardised to 2001 Census total Māori population.
Prioritised Māori ethnic group – see ‘Ngā Tapuae me ngā Raraunga: Methods and Data Sources’ for further information.

It is recommended that New Zealanders eat at least three servings of vegetables and at least two servings of fruit per day (Ministry of Health 2003). Having consistent access to affordable foods of high nutritional value is a key determinant for whether such foods will be consumed (an indication of food security).

The table above shows that a substantial proportion of both Māori and non-Māori did not meet this minimum recommended vegetable and fruit intake. Māori adults were slightly less likely than non-Māori adults to meet the recommended daily intake of three or more servings of vegetables per day (RR 0.93, CI 0.89–0.97) and the recommended daily intake of two or more servings of fruit per day (RR 0.91, CI 0.87–0.95).

Māori females and non-Māori females were more likely than their male counterparts to eat the recommended number of vegetables and fruit servings.

Page last updated: 21 July 2010

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