Scottish Health Survey 2012 - volume 1: main report

5. Diet

Shanna Dowling

Summary

• In 2012, adults consumed an average of 3.1 portions of fruit and vegetables per day (3.0 portions for men and 3.2 portions for women).
• One fifth of adults (19% of men and 21% of women) ate the recommended number of portions of fruit and vegetables, 5-a-day, in 2012. One in ten adults consumed no portions of fruit or vegetables.
• There has been very little change in fruit and vegetable consumption among adults since 2003.
• Fruit and vegetable consumption varied significantly by age. In general, older people tended to eat the most fruit and vegetables. Those aged 65-74 consumed an average of 3.4 portions per day, while those aged 16-24 consumed an average 2.8 portions per day.
• The age-related pattern in consumption levels was different for men and women. The pattern by age for women was comparable to that for all adults. Among men, mean consumption in the 16-44 age group was similar (between 2.8 and 2.9 portions), increasing to 3.0 at age 45-54. It continued to rise to 3.4 among those aged 65-74, before decreasing to 3.2 for the oldest age group.
• In 2012, children aged 2-15 consumed an average of 2.7 portions of fruit and vegetables per day. Just one in seven (13%) children aged 2-15 consumed the recommended 5 or more portions of fruit or vegetables per day.
• The proportion of children aged 5-15 meeting the 5-a-day target has not changed significantly since 2003 (12% in 2003 and 11% in 2012).
• Although mean portion consumption for children has remained steady since 2003 (fluctuating between 2.6 and 2.7), a decrease in boys' consumption (from 2.6 in 2003 to 2.4 in 2012) and an increase for girls (from 2.6 to 2.8 portions) resulted in a significant difference between boys and girls consumption in 2012.
• Younger children tended to eat more fruit and vegetables than older children in 2012. Children aged between 2 and 4 ate an average of 3.1 portions per day, compared with those aged 13-15 who consumed an average of 2.5 portions. Similarly, younger children were more likely to meet the 5-a-day target (17% of those aged 2-4, compared with 10%-13% of those in the older age groups).
• There have been few changes to adults' wider eating habits since 2008. The only significant change identified is a reduction in the proportion consuming red meat twice a week or more (from 61% in 2008 to 56% in 2012).

5.1 Introduction

A lack of fruit and vegetables in people's diet has been shown to be a risk factor in a range of serious health problems, such as heart disease, cancer, type II diabetes, hypertension and obesity. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends adults eat at least five varied portions - where a portion is defined as 80g - of fruit and vegetables a day^[83].

Scotland's unhealthy diet is widely cited as a factor in its poor health record^[84]. Previous research has shown that children and young people in Scotland follow a diet that falls short of national recommendations and is less healthy than that of children in other European countries^[85].

Each year, in addition to presenting the most up-to-date data on diet, the Scottish Health Survey (SHeS) annual report also provides a broad overview of recent policy initiatives and developments relating to diet. In addition to the ongoing committment to promote the WHO '5-a-day' recommendation, other recent policy initiatives and actions taken by the Scottish Government and NHS Scotland in relation to improving diet in the population have included:

• Eating for Health: A Scottish Diet Action Plan^[86], which outlined the Scottish dietary targets^[87]. (1996)
• The White Paper Towards a Healthier Scotland^[88].
• The Scottish Executive's Improving Health in Scotland - the Challenge paper^[89].
• The Hungry for Success initiative^[90].
• A framework for implementing the Diet Action Plan: Eating for Health - Meeting the Challenge^[91].
• The Scottish Government's Better Health, Better Care Action Plan^[92].
• Healthy Eating, Active Living: An action plan to improve diet, increase physical activity and tackle obesity (2008-2011)^[93].
• The Scottish Government's Obesity Route Map^[94], and associated Obesity Route Map Action Plan^[95].

Detailed measures of fruit and vegetable consumption were introduced to SHeS in 2003 and have been included annually since 2008. This chapter updates adult and child trends in fruit and vegetable consumption since 2003. The trend in adults' wider eating habits since 2008 is also explored.

5.2 Methods And Definitions

5.2.1 Measures of eating habits

Two different modules of questions were used to assess eating habits in the survey. The first module assessed fruit and vegetable consumption, and was designed with the aim of providing sufficient detail to monitor the 5-a-day policy effectively. This module has been asked of all adults since 2003 and children aged 2 and over annually since 2008. The second module, gathering information on eating habits more generally, is asked of children each year (since 2008), and a sub-sample of adults biennially (2008, 2010 and 2012). It uses a modified version of the Dietary Instrument of Nutrition Education (DINE) questionnaire. The DINE questionnaire was developed by the Imperial Cancer Research Fund's General Practice Research Group to assess usual intake of a wide range of nutrients, including protein, starch, fat and fibre^[96].

To determine the total number of portions that were consumed in the 24 hours preceding the interview, the fruit and vegetable module included questions about consumption of the following food types: vegetables (fresh, frozen or canned); salads; pulses; vegetables in composites (e.g. vegetable chilli); fruit (fresh, frozen or canned); dried fruit; and fruit in composites (e.g. apple pie). A portion was defined as the conventional 80g of a fruit or vegetable. As 80g is difficult to visualise, a 'portion' was described using more everyday terms, such as tablespoons, cereal bowls and slices. Examples were given in the questionnaire to aid the recall process, for instance, tablespoons of vegetables, cereal bowls full of salad, pieces of medium sized fruit (e.g. apples) or handfuls of small fruits (e.g. raspberries). In spite of this, there may be some variation between participants' interpretation of a portion. These everyday measures were converted back to 80g portions prior to analysis. The following table shows the definitions of the portion sizes used for each food item included in the survey:

Food item	Portion size
Vegetables (fresh, frozen or canned)	3 tablespoons
Pulses (dried)	3 tablespoons
Salad	1 cereal bowlful
Vegetables in composites, such as vegetable chilli	3 tablespoons
Very large fruit, such as melon	1 average slice
Large fruit, such as grapefruit	Half a fruit
Medium fruit, such as apples	1 fruit
Small fruit, such as plum	2 fruits
Very small fruit, such as blackberries	2 average handfuls
Dried fruit	1 tablespoon
Fruit in composites, such as stewed fruit in apple pie	3 tablespoons
Frozen fruit/canned fruit	3 tablespoons
Fruit juice	1 small glass (150 ml)

Since the 5-a-day policy stresses both volume and variety, the number of portions of fruit juice, pulses and dried fruit was capped so that no more than one portion could contribute to the total number of portions consumed. Interviewers recorded full or half portions, but nothing smaller.

5.3 Fruit And Vegetable Consumption

5.3.1 Trends in adult fruit and vegetable consumption since 2003

Data on adult (aged 16 and over) fruit and vegetable consumption from 2003 to 2012 are presented in Table 5.1. The proportion of adults who met or exceeded the recommended daily consumption guideline of at least five portions of fruit and vegetables is presented alongside the proportion failing to eat any. Figures for mean and median portion consumption are also presented in the table.

Average daily fruit and vegetable intake for adults has changed very little since 2003. There was a slight increase, from 3.1 portions in 2003, to 3.3 portions in both 2008 and 2009. By 2012, average mean portion consumption per person had returned to 2003 levels (3.1 portions). The trends in consumption were very similar for both men and women, with the average portions consumed in 2012 the same as in 2003 for both genders (3.0 portions in 2003 and 2012 for men and 3.2 for women in both years).

The proportion of adults consuming at least 5-a-day, the recommended daily intake, has also remained stable since 2003. In 2012, one in five adults ate at least five portions in the 24 hours prior to interview, similar to the level in 2003 (21%). There was a two percentage point decline between 2011 and 2012 but this was not statistically significant. The lack of change in adherence was evident among both men and women (in 2003 20% of men and 22% women met the target; the equivalent figures in 2012 were 19% and 21% respectively).

There has been little change in the proportion of adults not eating any fruit and vegetables over the years. The proportion who ate no portions in the day prior to interview has consistently stayed at around 10% (ranging between 9% and 10%) since 2003 (10% in 2012). Table 5.1

5.3.2 Adult fruit and vegetable consumption, 2012, by age and sex

Adult fruit and vegetable consumption in 2012 is broken down by age and sex in Table 5.2. Average portion consumption did not vary significantly between men and women (3.0 portions and 3.2 portions respectively).

Average portion consumption did, however, vary significantly by age, typically increasing in line with age, up to age 65-74. The youngest age group (those aged 16-24) ate fewest portions (an average of 2.8 portions a day). Consumption was higher among those aged 25-54 (between 3.0 and 3.1 portions) and higher still among those aged 55-64 (3.3 portions) and 65-74 (3.4 portions). Those aged 75 and over ate an average of 3.0 portions a day.

Mean portion consumption patterns by age were slightly different for men and women (Figure 5A). For women, the association was similar to that seen for all adults. Consumption was lowest among the youngest age group (2.6 portions) and higher for all the remaining age groups (3.2 to 3.5 portions) with the exception of those aged 75 and over (2.9 portions). For men, average portion consumption among those under the age of 55 was very similar (ranging between 2.8 and 3.0 portions) while those aged 65-74 had the highest consumption levels (3.4 portions).

Figure 5A Proportions meeting or exceeding recommended daily fruit and vegetable consumption (5 portions per day), and mean portions of fruit and vegetables consumed, 2012, by age and sex

In 2012, there was no significant difference in the proportion of men and women meeting the 5-a-day target (19% and 21% respectively).

One in six (16%) 16-24 year olds ate at least five portions of fruit and vegetables in the day prior to interview. The equivalent figures for 25 to 74 ranged between 20% and 23%. Among the oldest age group, those aged 75 or over, 18% met the target. While the association with age was not significant for all adults, there were some interesting age-related patterns for men and women separately (See Figure 5A). For women, adherence followed a similar pattern to that seen for all adults. Those in the youngest and oldest age groups were least likely to meet the target (13% and 15% respectively) and those aged 45-54 were most likely to eat at least five portions a day (26%). For men, adherence to the target was very similar among those aged 16 to 54 (ranging between 17% and 18%). Men aged 55 and above were more likely than younger men to meet the target with those aged 65-74 most likely to do so (25%).

One in ten adults did not eat any fruit or vegetables in the day prior to interview (11% of men and 9% of women). As with the mean unit consumption pattern, the proportion failing to consume any fruit and vegetables varied significantly with age. Young people (aged 16-24) were most likely to eat no fruit or vegetables (14%) whereas between 5% and 8% of those aged 55 and over ate none. Figure 5A, Table 5.2

5.3.3 Trends in child fruit and vegetable consumption since 2003

Data on fruit and vegetable consumption for children are collected in the same way as for adults on the survey. Children aged 13-15 (or a parent if the child is aged between 2 and 12) are asked a series of questions to determine how many varied portions of fruit and vegetables they have eaten in the 24 hours prior to interview. Prior to 2008, information on fruit and vegetable consumption was not collected for children under the age of five. Therefore trends, since 2003, in proportions consuming the recommended daily amount of fruit and vegetables and mean consumption levels are shown for the 5 to 15 age group only (Table 5.3). Data for children aged 2-15 from 2008 onwards are also shown.

There was very little change in average daily portion consumption among those aged 5-15 between 2003 and 2012 (a mean of 2.6 portions per day in both 2003 and 2012). Since 2003, the average number of portions consumed by boys has declined by 0.2 portions, from 2.6 to 2.4 portions in 2012. For girls, the opposite occurred - an increase from 2.6 portions in 2003 to 2.8 portions in 2012. As a result, a significant difference between boys' and girls' mean portion consumption emerged for the first time in 2012 (see Section 5.3.4). Since 2008, the mean portions consumed by 2 to 15 year olds was typically around 0.1 portions higher than for those aged between 5 to 15 (ranging between 2.6 and 2.8 portions during this period).

In 2012, 11% of 5 to 15 year olds consumed the recommended daily amount of at least five portions per day, similar to the level in 2003 (12%). The proportion of boys and girls meeting the 5-a-day target has not changed significantly over time. Since 2008 there has been similar stability to the proportion of 2 to 15 year olds meeting the 5-a-day recommendation (13% in both 2008 and 2012). Table 5.3

5.3.4 Child fruit and vegetable consumption, 2012, by age and sex

Fruit and vegetable consumption data for children aged 2-15 in 2012 are presented by age and gender in Table 5.4 showing consumption of an average of 2.7 portions of fruit and vegetables per day, considerably lower than the recommended five or more portions. There was a significant difference in average portion consumption for boys and girls, with girls consuming an average of 0.4 portions more per day than boys (2.9 compared with 2.5 portions). This is the first time, since the data have been collected, that a significant difference between boys' and girls' mean portion consumption has emerged. Data from future years will help confirm if this is part of a trend, or simply a one-off finding.

There was also a clear association between fruit and vegetable intake and age in 2012 (Figure 5B). Children aged between 2 and 4 consumed most portions (3.1 portions per day). Average consumption was lower among those aged 5-7 (2.7 portions) and 8-12 (between 2.6 and 2.7 portions). Intake was lowest among older children aged 13-15 (2.5 portions).

Figure 5B Proportion of children aged 2-15 eating five or more portions and no portions, and mean portions consumed per day, 2012, by age

In 2012, just 13% of children aged 2-15 consumed the daily recommended amount of fruit and vegetables (12% of boys and 14% of girls). In line with average portion intake, younger children (2-4 years old) were most likely to meet the 5-a-day target (17% compared with 10% to 13% for older age groups).

Looking at the other extreme - eating no fruit or vegetables - reinforces the suggestion that older children eat less fruit and vegetables than younger children. One in six (16%) children aged 13-15 did not eat any fruit or vegetables in the 24 hours prior to interview (18% of boys in this age group and 13% of girls). This was particularly striking among boys aged 13-15 who were twice as likely to eat no fruit and vegetables than meet the 5-a-day target (18% compared with 9%). Figure 5B, Table 5.4

5.4 Adult Eating Habits

5.4.1 Trends in adult eating habits since 2008

In addition to questions about fruit and vegetables, adults were also asked a series of questions about their consumption of a variety of other food and drink items. The module was based on the Dietary Instrument of Nutrition Education (DINE), developed by the Imperial Cancer Research Fund's General Practice Research Group^[96]. These questions have been asked of adults aged 16 and over biennially since 2008. Trends for consumption of a number of the food and drink items from the DINE questionnaire are presented in Table 5.5.

Sugary foods and snacks

Between 2008 and 2012 there was very little change in adult consumption of sugary foods and snacks. In 2012, consumption of sweets or chocolates (29%), biscuits (32%) and crisps (17%) once a day or more, ice cream once a week or more (26%), and cakes twice a week or more (35%) were all at similar levels to those recorded in 2008. There were no significant differences between male and female consumption of these items.

Adult consumption of non-diet soft drinks (once a day or more) did not change significantly between 2008 and 2012 (25% in 2012), but men were more likely than women to consume such items on a daily basis (28% versus 22%, in 2012).

Fibre and starch

In 2012, a third (32%) of adults reported that they ate high fibre/low sugar cereals at least five times a week, and four in ten (41%) said they consumed at least two slices of high fibre bread per day. These levels of consumption were very similar to those seen in 2008.

The apparent decrease in the consumption of potatoes, pasta and rice over this period from 55% consuming these starchy foods five times or more a week in 2008 to 51% in 2012 was not statistically significant. The proportion of adults eating chips at least twice a week (31%) has not changed since 2008, and men are still significantly more likely than women to eat chips this frequently (36% and 26% respectively in 2012).

Meat and fish

Levels of fish consumption did not change between 2008 and 2012 for men or women. In 2012, half of adults (51%) ate white fish, 26% consumed oily fish and 30% consumed tuna once a week or more. The observed difference in tuna consumption levels for men and women was not significant (29% and 32% respectively).

Adults' consumption of red meat has decreased since 2008. In 2012, 56% of adults ate red meat at least twice a week compared with 61% in 2008. This decline was observed among both men and women, although over the years, men have consistently consumed red meat more often than women (59% versus 53% in 2012).

Overall, there was very little change in the proportions of adults consuming meat products twice a week or more (28% in both 2008 and 2012), although it has slightly decreased for men (39% to 36%) and slightly increased for women (18% to 21%).

Dairy products

In 2012, the proportion of adults drinking skimmed or semi-skimmed milk was the same as in 2008 (74%). Women remain more likely than men to drink these types of milk (77% compared with 71% in 2012). Table 5.5

Table list

Table 5.1 Adult fruit and vegetable consumption, 2003 to 2012

Table 5.2 Adult fruit and vegetable consumption, 2012, by age and sex

Table 5.3 Child fruit and vegetable consumption, 2003 to 2012

Table 5.4 Child fruit and vegetable consumption, 2012, by age and sex

Table 5.5 Summary of adult eating habits, 2008, 2010, 2012, by sex

Table 5.1 Adult fruit and vegetable consumption, 2003 to 2012

Aged 16 and over	2003 to 2012
Portions per day	2003	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012
	%	%	%	%	%	%
Men
None	11	10	11	12	10	11
5 portions or more	20	20	22	20	20	19
Mean	3.0	3.1	3.1	3.1	3.1	3.0
Standard error of the mean	0.06	0.07	0.05	0.06	0.05	0.08
Median	2.7	2.7	2.8	2.7	2.7	2.7
Women
None	8	7	7	9	8	9
5 portions or more	22	24	25	23	23	21
Mean	3.2	3.4	3.4	3.3	3.3	3.2
Standard error of the mean	0.05	0.06	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.05
Median	3.0	3.0	3.0	3.0	3.0	2.8
All adults
None	9	9	9	10	9	10
5 portions or more	21	22	23	22	22	20
Mean	3.1	3.3	3.3	3.2	3.2	3.1
Standard error of the mean	0.05	0.05	0.04	0.04	0.04	0.05
Median	2.7	3.0	3.0	3.0	3.0	2.7
Bases (weighted):
Men	3835	3087	3594	3465	3606	2309
Women	4279	3375	3926	3775	3931	2502
All adults	8114	6462	7520	7239	7537	4811
Bases (unweighted):
Men	3590	2840	3283	3112	3275	2126
Women	4526	3621	4241	4127	4260	2686
All adults	8116	6461	7524	7239	7535	4812

Table 5.2 Adult fruit and vegetable consumption, 2012, by age and sex

Aged 16 and over	2012
Portions per day	Age							Total
	16-24	25-34	35-44	45-54	55-64	65-74	75+
	%	%	%	%	%	%	%	%
Men
None	13	13	13	12	10	4	6	11
Less than 1 portion	6	5	5	4	5	4	4	5
1 portion or more but less than 2	23	21	22	22	19	17	18	21
2 portions or more but less than 3	15	22	18	17	18	20	22	18
3 portions or more but less than 4	16	12	13	16	14	18	15	15
4 portions or more but less than 5	10	9	12	11	12	13	12	11
5 portions or more	18	18	17	18	21	25	22	19
Mean	2.9	2.9	2.8	3.0	3.1	3.4	3.2	3.0
Standard error of the mean	0.24	0.22	0.14	0.13	0.14	0.12	0.15	0.08
Median	2.0	2.3	2.3	2.5	2.7	3.0	2.7	2.7
Women
None	14	11	9	9	6	6	6	9
Less than 1 portion	4	2	4	5	1	5	6	4
1 portion or more but less than 2	17	16	18	18	19	16	20	18
2 portions or more but less than 3	21	20	21	20	20	16	23	20
3 portions or more but less than 4	22	17	16	14	17	19	17	17
4 portions or more but less than 5	8	10	11	8	13	20	14	12
5 portions or more	13	24	22	26	24	18	15	21
Mean	2.6	3.2	3.2	3.3	3.5	3.4	2.9	3.2
Standard error of the mean	0.16	0.14	0.13	0.12	0.12	0.13	0.12	0.05
Median	2.3	3.0	2.7	2.7	3.0	3.3	2.7	2.8
All adults
None	14	12	11	10	8	5	6	10
Less than 1 portion	5	4	4	5	3	4	5	4
1 portion or more but less than 2	20	18	20	20	19	16	19	19
2 portions or more but less than 3	18	21	19	18	19	18	23	19
3 portions or more but less than 4	19	14	14	15	16	19	16	16
4 portions or more but less than 5	9	10	11	10	12	17	13	11
5 portions or more	16	21	20	22	23	21	18	20
Mean	2.8	3.1	3.0	3.1	3.3	3.4	3.0	3.1
Standard error of the mean	0.15	0.14	0.10	0.10	0.10	0.10	0.10	0.05
Median	2.3	2.7	2.7	2.7	3.0	3.0	2.7	2.7
Bases (weighted):
Men	339	383	380	420	362	251	173	2309
Women	324	376	414	455	383	287	263	2502
All adults	663	760	795	875	745	539	435	4811
Bases (unweighted):
Men	170	228	346	409	364	385	224	2126
Women	227	329	474	499	443	388	326	2686
All adults	397	557	820	908	807	773	550	4812

Table 5.3 Child fruit and vegetable consumption, 2003 to 2012

Aged 2-15	2003 to 2012
Portions per day	2003	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012
	%	%	%	%	%	%
Boys
Total 5 - 15
5 portions or more	12	14	13	11	12	11
Mean	2.6	2.6	2.6	2.5	2.6	2.4
Standard error of the mean	0.07	0.11	0.07	0.10	0.09	0.10
Median	2.0	2.0	2.3	2.3	2.3	2.0
Total 2 - 15
5 portions or more	n/a	14	14	12	13	12
Mean	n/a	2.7	2.7	2.6	2.7	2.5
Standard error of the mean	n/a	0.09	0.06	0.09	0.08	0.09
Median	n/a	2.3	2.3	2.3	2.5	2.2
Girls
Total 5 - 15
5 portions or more	13	14	15	12	11	12
Mean	2.6	2.8	2.8	2.6	2.7	2.8
Standard error of the mean	0.07	0.10	0.09	0.09	0.09	0.10
Median	2.0	2.5	2.4	2.5	2.5	2.7
Total 2 - 15
5 portions or more	n/a	13	16	13	12	14
Mean	n/a	2.9	2.9	2.7	2.8	2.9
Standard error of the mean	n/a	0.09	0.08	0.08	0.08	0.09
Median	n/a	2.7	2.7	2.5	2.5	2.7
All children
Total 5 - 15
5 portions or more	12	14	14	12	12	11
Mean	2.6	2.7	2.7	2.6	2.6	2.6
Standard error of the mean	0.05	0.08	0.06	0.07	0.07	0.08
Median	2.0	2.3	2.3	2.3	2.3	2.3
Total 2 - 15
5 portions or more	n/a	13	15	12	13	13
Mean	n/a	2.8	2.8	2.6	2.7	2.7
Standard error of the mean	n/a	0.07	0.05	0.07	0.06	0.07
Median	n/a	2.5	2.5	2.3	2.5	2.5
Bases (weighted):
Boys 5 - 15	1225	618	910	621	686	614
Boys 2 - 15	n/a	791	1153	792	881	800
Girls 5 - 15	1166	591	867	591	652	588
Girls 2 - 15	n/a	736	1108	759	835	759
All children 5 - 15	2391	1209	1777	1212	1338	1202
All children 2 - 15	n/a	1527	2261	1551	1716	1559
Bases (unweighted):
Boys 5 - 15	1152	591	923	629	649	580
Boys 2 - 15	n/a	764	1153	821	855	761
Girls 5 - 15	1170	597	837	532	619	602
Girls 2 - 15	n/a	752	1100	708	833	784
All children 5 - 15	2322	1188	1760	1161	1268	1182
All children 2 - 15	n/a	1516	2253	1529	1688	1545

Table 5.4 Child fruit and vegetable consumption, 2012, by age and sex

Aged 2-15	2012
Portions per day	Age					Total 2 - 15
	2-4	5-7	8-10	11-12	13-15
	%	%	%	%	%	%
Boys
None	9	12	11	12	18	12
Less than 1 portion	6	4	4	6	7	6
1 portion or more but less than 2	21	19	22	19	25	22
2 portions or more but less than 3	20	28	27	25	18	23
3 portions or more but less than 4	17	18	18	15	15	17
4 portions or more but less than 5	11	10	6	8	7	9
5 portions or more	16	9	12	14	9	12
Mean	2.8	2.4	2.6	2.6	2.2	2.5
Standard error of the mean	0.17	0.15	0.18	0.18	0.19	0.09
Median	2.5	2.3	2.3	2.3	1.8	2.2
Girls
None	4	7	13	10	13	9
Less than 1 portion	1	3	2	4	2	2
1 portion or more but less than 2	13	20	18	20	27	19
2 portions or more but less than 3	29	21	22	29	16	23
3 portions or more but less than 4	24	19	18	14	14	18
4 portions or more but less than 5	13	16	16	12	17	15
5 portions or more	18	14	11	12	12	14
Mean	3.3	3.0	2.7	2.7	2.8	2.9
Standard error of the mean	0.15	0.15	0.15	0.20	0.19	0.09
Median	3.0	2.8	2.7	2.5	2.5	2.7
All children
None	6	9	12	11	16	11
Less than 1 portion	3	4	3	5	5	4
1 portion or more but less than 2	17	20	20	19	26	21
2 portions or more but less than 3	24	24	25	27	17	23
3 portions or more but less than 4	20	19	18	14	14	17
4 portions or more but less than 5	12	13	11	10	12	12
5 portions or more	17	12	11	13	10	13
Mean	3.1	2.7	2.6	2.7	2.5	2.7
Standard error of the mean	0.13	0.11	0.12	0.14	0.15	0.07
Median	2.8	2.5	2.5	2.3	2.0	2.5
Bases (weighted):
Boys	186	168	159	110	177	800
Girls	171	170	137	132	149	759
All children	357	338	296	243	326	1559
Bases (unweighted):
Boys	181	158	153	104	165	761
Girls	182	181	142	125	154	784
All children	363	339	295	229	319	1545

Table 5.5 Summary of adult eating habits, 2008, 2010, 2012, by sex

Aged 16 and over	2008, 2010, 2012
Food type and frequency	Men			Women			All adults
	2008	2010	2012	2008	2010	2012	2008	2010	2012
	%	%	%	%	%	%	%	%	%
Oily fish once a week or more	23	24	25	26	24	26	25	24	26
White fish once a week or more	50	51	52	52	49	50	51	50	51
Tuna fish once a week or more	27	29	29	33	32	32	30	30	30
Red meata 2+ times a week	64	63	59	59	53	53	61	58	56
Meat productsb 2+ times a week	39	34	36	18	17	21	28	25	28
Drinks skimmed/semi-skimmed milk	70	73	71	77	77	77	74	75	74
Sweets or chocolates once a day or more	28	26	28	28	24	29	28	25	29
Biscuits once a day or more	36	35	33	33	28	32	34	31	32
Cakes 2+ times a week	36	36	36	33	36	33	34	36	35
Ice-cream once a week or more	29	24	28	28	24	25	28	24	26
Non-diet soft drinks once a day or more	26	29	28	21	23	22	23	26	25
Crisps once a day or more	19	17	18	16	14	16	17	15	17
Chips 2+ times a week	36	35	36	26	24	26	31	29	31
Potatoes, pasta, rice 5+ times a week	55	53	52	54	53	51	55	53	51
At least 2-3 slices of high fibre bread a day	42	41	43	42	43	40	42	42	41
High fibre/low sugar cereal at least 5-6 times a week	29	24	31	31	28	33	30	26	32
Bases (weighted):	1086	1142	1252	1188	1242	1359	2274	2384	2611
Bases (unweighted):	986	1013	1151	1286	1371	1459	2272	2384	2610
a for example beef, lamb or pork
b for example sausages, meat pies, bridies, corned beef, or burgers