Risk and Protective Factors

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Risk and Protective Factors > Nutrition

Table 9: Nutrition indicators

How to interpret results - tables

Indicator	Māori			non-Māori
Indicator	Males	Females	Total	Males	Females	Total
3 or more servings of vegetables and 2 or more servings of fruit per day (self-reported), 5-14 years, 2002, percent ^{1,2 *}	27.5 (23.5-31.5)	28.7 (22.5-34.8)	28.0 (24.1-31.9)	30.0 (26.6-33.4)	34.5 (30.6-38.5)	32.2 (29.5-34.9)
3 or more servings of vegetables and 2 or more servings of fruit per day (self-reported), 15+ years, 2002/03, percent ^{1,2 **}	24.6 (19.9-29.3)	41.2 (36.5-45.8)	34.0 (30.7-37.2)	29.8 (27.3-32.3)	48.4 (46.1-50.7)	39.3 (37.6-41.1)

Sources: ^* 2002 Children's Nutrition Survey, ^** 2002/2003 New Zealand Health Survey

The prevalence of eating the recommended number of vegetables and fruit was similar for both Māori and non-Māori children. Among adults, Māori were slightly less likely than non-Māori to meet the recommended daily intake (RR 0.9, CI 0.8–1.0). For adults, females of both ethnic groups were signiﬁcantly more likely than males to eat the recommended number of vegetables and fruit. This gender disparity was not observed for children.

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). A substantial proportion of both Māori and non-Māori did not meet this minimum recommended vegetable and fruit intake.

Having consistent access to affordable foods of high nutritional value is a key determinant for whether such foods will be consumed (food security).

Notes:
¹ Age standardised to 2001 Census total Māori population.
² Prioritised Maori ethnic group - see Methods and Data Sources section for further information.

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