Biggest barriers to healthy eating: water, fruit and vegetables

In addition, people try not to use semi-finished products from the market, reduce salt consumption and not eat before bedtime.

The biggest difficulties of people in their daily habits are sufficient water and consumption of vegetables and fruits.

In Latvia, half of respondents admit that they do not follow the recommendation to drink about two liters of water a day. However, 46% state that they continue this habit in general. Men and those who consider their daily diet to be generally healthy consume more fluids than the recommended amount per day.

Just over a third (39%) of the population eats the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables each day.

Lithuanians and Estonians do better by following this healthy eating advice (45% and 43%, respectively). Fruits and vegetables are eaten more often by women, the elderly (65-75 years old), those with higher incomes, and those who find their daily diets generally healthy.

“Drinking enough water on a daily basis and consuming plenty of fruits and vegetables are habits that nutritionists often remind us to follow. Rimi also tries to encourage buyers to make sensible choices and to explain what health benefits a balanced, valuable diet can bring. Fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain products, lean meat and fish, precious oils and other everyday products were also carefully considered in our product range, making them available to everyone living in Latvia,” says Inga Bite, Head of Public Relations at Rimi. Latvia.

Latvians are motivated to consume more fruits and vegetables with discounts or lower prices (55%) for fruits and vegetables in stores.

also, a similar situation can be observed in other Baltic countries. In addition, offering better quality fruits and vegetables on store shelves (44%) and taking care of your health or doctor’s recommendations (22%) are also sources of motivation. About one in ten people think they are eating enough fruit and vegetables already. In addition, more than half (53%) of respondents said that giving up fruit, vegetables or other healthy products is not a way to save money.

Certified nutritionist Olga Lubina says it’s advisable to eat three main meals, because the advice to eat often and in small portions is outdated and is more often recommended for people with health problems such as digestive system disorders: “Structured daily and meal regimen – three meals a day – in the body contributes to better glucose and fat metabolism, the person understands the feeling of satiety and hunger better.

When eating, it is preferable to adhere to the principle of plates, which consists of 50% of the volume of the plate from vegetables, 25% of products containing protein, and 25% of products containing carbohydrates.

On the other hand, the unfair and thoughtless exclusion of one product or several products from the diet can lead to a lack of nutrients, negative weight dynamics, weakening of immunity and the development of various diseases. That’s why you should eat in moderation and mindfulness, but if in doubt, consult a doctor or nutritionist.”

* The survey “Physical and emotional well-being of Baltic residents” was surveyed by the SKDS research center in March 2023 with 1,005 Latvian, 1,007 Estonian and 1,008 Lithuanian residents aged 18-75 years.