Less than a quarter of Brits know what a portion of fruit or veg should look like, according to new research commissioned by the National Charity Partnership.
The Partnership, made up of Tesco, the British Heart Foundation and Diabetes UK, found that just 23% of the 2,000 people it surveyed in August could correctly identify that a cupped handful makes up an approximate portion of fruit or veg.
More than half of survey respondents chose a different amount, while 26% admitted they didn’t know what a portion should look like.
The release of the figures coincides with the Partnership’s Hands on Healthy Eating campaign, which is touring the UK in a series of roadshows between October and November. It aims to raise awareness of correct portion sizes and provide inspiration on ways for people to incorporate more fruit and vegetables into their diets.
“We know we should aim for five portions of fruit and veg a day, but if we don’t know what a portion really is it’s difficult to achieve,” said prevention programme manager for the National Charity Partnership Katherine Hale.
“This project aims to engage and motivate young families to have healthier portion sizes using interactive activities, as Tesco Clubcard data showed that this demographic had some of the unhealthiest baskets.”
According to the charity, 4.2 million people are living with type 2 diabetes in the UK, with 11.9 million at “increased risk” of developing the condition, while an estimated seven million people have heart and circulatory diseases.
The Partnership aims to support people in reducing their risk of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease through initiatives such as its 8 Week Challenge. It also funds preventative measures and donates a portion of its proceeds to Diabetes UK and the British Heart Foundation.
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