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New data highlights the biggest lack of knowledge about food and nutrition among Brits
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Research shows that more than half of Brits do not know the recommended daily calorie intake for men or women, and close to half don’t know the recommended daily water intake
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Over a third of Brits wrongly identified ‘minerals’ as one of the five food groups, and almost 9 out of 10 Brits could not identify all five food groups
Despite increasing levels of media noise and public awareness about the importance of positive nutrition and wellness, new research reveals that over half of Brits are uninformed about basic nutritional guidelines, including daily calorie and water intake recommendations.
The brains behind the research are food box delivery provider, Green Chef, who want to use their platform to empower Brits with the tools, know-how and nutritious ingredients they need to make informed decisions about their nutritional intake.
The survey of 2,000 UK adults tested the nutritional knowledge of the British public and revealed that over half (53%) didn’t know that the recommended daily calorie intake for the average man is 2,500kcal and for the average woman is 2,000kcal.
Data shows that 35-44 year old Brits were the most clued up on calorie intake, with more than half (53%) answering correctly. Regionally, northern cities led the way in terms of nutritional knowledge, with over half of all Newcastle and Leeds residents answering this correctly.
When it comes to water intake, the NHS recommends that people should drink between 6-8 cups or glasses of water each day. Despite this guidance, close to half (44%) of Brits did not know what their recommended daily intake should be.
The research also showed that women are significantly more likely to know their recommended daily water intake than men, with shy of two thirds (62%) of women giving correct answers – versus less than half (48%) of men.
Regionally, it is again the northern UK cities with the highest levels of knowledge; Glaswegians are most knowledgeable about daily water intake, followed by Edinburgh.
The survey also asked the participants to identify the five food groups from an exclusive list. The research shows almost 9 in 10 (86%) Brits could not identify all five food groups correctly (fruits and vegetables, fats, carbohydrates, dairy and protein). In fact, more than a third (35%) of Brits identified minerals as one of the five food groups, and just shy of a quarter (24%) thought nuts and seeds were one of the five food groups. More than one in six (17%) claimed that oils were one of the five food groups.
Looking at results regionally, we can see that people in Norwich and Leeds are the most clued up about the food groups – with almost a quarter (22%) of those in both cities identifying all five food groups correctly.
UK Registered Nutritionist, Lily Keeling, commented: “The findings of this survey highlight that across the country, Brits are in need of a nutritional refresher. Helping to understand the fundamentals of nutrition is crucial for making healthier choices and promoting overall physical and mental health.
“It is extremely important for Brits to have a general understanding of food groups and other key nutritional areas, to ensure that their diet choices meet their body’s needs, giving them the best chance to support their overall wellbeing. Taking control over our individual intakes and helping others to do the same is a step towards a healthier and happier UK.”
For more information on food and nutrition, the benefits of specific diet plans, and helpful tools such as free, downloadable keto meal plans, see the Green Chef website.
