Danish consumers who believe they have healthy eating habits are not always right. A new study made by the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, shows that not knowing the official dietary guidelines partly explain this finding.
The participants in a new qualitative study undertaken by the National Food Institute for the Danish Agriculture and Food Council and the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration believe that in general it is important to eat healthy. However, in reality not everyone follows the official dietary guidelines.
The report resulting from this study includes the findings of two examinations about what Danes actually eat and their conception of how healthy their eating habits are. One finding is that only 15% of those men who believe to a considerable degree that they have healthy eating habits eat the amount of fruits and vegetables recommended. The corresponding percentage for women is 59.
Some of the 18 persons who participated in the qualitative study explain they find it difficult to follow the recommendations for a healthy diet. They conceive that there are many different recommendations besides the official dietary guidelines and that they are frequently changed. They get confused by these different messages and find it easier to use their common sense.
Read more
Download report: Danskernes faktiske kost og oplevelsen af sunde kostvaner (pdf, only in Danish).
Download the joint press release by the Danish Agriculture and Food Council and the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration: Danskerne er ikke så sunde, som de tror.