Canadians are eating more fruits and vegetables

http://www.torontosun.com/life/2010/05/27/14139916.html


Canadians are eating more fruits and vegetables and decreasing their daily caloric intake, according to new Statistics Canada data.

The total daily intake of calories per person fell to 2,357.8 in 2009, down 155.6 calories from 2001.

A record consumption of 40.7 kg of fresh vegetables per person in 2009 contributed to the calorie reduction. Cucumbers, peppers, eggplant, sweet potatoes and onions recorded the biggest percentage increase in annual consumption.

Canadians are also eating more fruit - about 39.3 kg per person last year.

The StatsCan data reflect the amount of food available in Canada in relation to the country's population.

Red meat consumption declined in 2009 to about 23.4 kg.

Consumption of dairy products also fell for the second year in a row to 16 kg per person - about 10 kg of that was cheese.

Canadians appear to be shifting "towards a diet which includes more fruit and vegetables, cereal products and nuts and beans," StatsCan reported.

Oil and fat consumption, which peaked in 1998, is also steadily declining, falling to 17.9 kg per person in 2009.

But the intake of maple syrup rose to 0.2 kg per person, the highest it's been since 1984.

Alcohol consumption for Canadians over 15 was about 99.44 litres in 2009, while coffee consumption was about 90 litres.