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In 2015, 31.5% of Canadians aged 12 and older, roughly 9 million people, reported that they had consumed fruits and vegetables five or more times per day.Note 1Note 2 Females were more likely than males to report consuming fruits and vegetables five or more times per day. In 2015, 38.0% of females and 24.8% of males reported such consumptionNote 3.

Fruit and vegetable consumption provides an important source of vitamins, minerals and fiber, which may reduce the risk of heart disease and some types of cancerNote 4.

In 2015, fruit and vegetable consumption was higher among males aged 12 to 17 (30.3%) compared to older males (around 24% for all other age groups), while females aged 12 to 17 (32.3%) reported a lower consumption of fruits and vegetables than older females (around 38% in the other age groups).

Data table for Chart 1 Data table for Chart 1

Table summary

This table displays the results of Data table for Chart 1. The information is grouped by Age group (years) (appearing as row headers), Percent and Confidence Interval, calculated using Lower 95% and Upper 95% units of measure (appearing as column headers). Age group (years) Percent Confidence Interval Lower 95% Upper 95% Males Total (12 or older) 24.8 23.8 25.7 12 to 17 30.3 27.5 33.1 18 to 34 25.8 23.9 27.7 35 to 49 25.2 23.1 27.3 50 to 64 21.7 19.9 23.4 65 or older 24.9 23.1 26.7 Females Total (12 or older) 38.0 37.0 39.0 12 to 17 32.3 29.3 35.3 18 to 34 36.8 34.8 38.9 35 to 49 40.3 38.1 42.5 50 to 64 39.4 37.5 41.3 65 or older 36.9 35.0 38.8

The proportion of residents who reported eating fruits and vegetables at least five times daily was lower than the national average (31.5%) in:

Newfoundland and Labrador (22.5%)

Prince Edward Island (27.2%)

Nova Scotia (25.3%)

Ontario (28.7%)

British Columbia (29.9%)

The proportion of residents who reported eating fruits and vegetables at least five times daily was higher than the national average in Quebec (38.8%).

The proportion of residents who reported eating fruits and vegetables at least five times daily was about the same as the national average in the other provinces.

In 2015, fruit and vegetable consumption habits differed by the highest level of educationNote 5 attained by members of the household. When the highest level of education was below post-secondary, 24.3% of Canadians aged 12 and older ate fruits and vegetables five or more times per day. The proportion of people who consumed five or more fruits and vegetables per day was highest where post-secondary graduation was attained by a member of the household (33.4%). Fruit and vegetable consumption was also impacted by household income.Note 6 The percentage of Canadians aged 12 or older who consumed fruits and vegetables at least five times daily was lowest in households that fell within the lowest income quintile (27.4%). Consumption of fruits and vegetables among the other income quintiles did not differ from one another.

References

Garriguet, D. 2007. “Canadians’ eating habits.” Health Reports. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 82-003. Vol. 18, no. 2. (Accessed January 11th, 2017)

Pérez, C.E. 2002. “Fruit and vegetable consumption.” Health Reports. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 82-003. Vol. 13, no. 3. (Accessed January 11th, 2017)

Data

Additional data from the Canadian Community Health Survey are available from CANSIM table 105–0508.