Only 3% of Flemish people in their twenties and thirties eat enough vegetables every day, according to a survey. Of the 300 grams of vegetables that people should eat in a day, Flemish people do not even reach half of that on average, according to a survey of 500 people by the Flemish Centre for Agro- and Fishery Marketing (VLAM). Of all adults that were questioned, the millennial generation is doing worst of all.
On Monday, the centre is starting a social media campaign, 'Vegetables are the new sneakers', to promote vegetables among young people.
The centre created 21 short videos on YouTube and social media to show that eating vegetables does not have to be time-consuming, difficult or expensive.
"People are paying more attention to eating responsibly," said Liesbet Dejaegere, nutrition expert for Healthy Living. "However, there is a big difference between those that eat healthily and the larger group that does not," she added.
Nutrition expert Patrick Mullie (VUB) agreed and also doubted the campaign would reach the group who eat little or no vegetables. "The group that is already doing it, will go from 200 to 220 grams of vegetables a day, but I do not think it will make a difference for those who do not eat vegetables anyway."
Maïthé Chini
The Brussels Times
