Danish dietary habits, 2000-2001

The Danish diet has undergone many changes since 1995. Several of these have been changes in the right direction: for example energy intake has fallen, consumption of fruit and vegetables has risen and fat intake has fallen. However, these positive tendencies are counterbalanced by a drop in physical activity level, a high sugar intake and an energy percentage from fat that is still above the recommended level of 30 %. This means, that though Danes are eating less, more of them are becoming fat.

Fat
Fat intake is falling steadily, as it has done since the mid-80’s. The main reason for this is a drop in the consumption of margarine and butter. The decline in fat consumption is partially explained by the fact that the quantity of fat applied to bread has been reduced, and that fewer and fewer people are applying it at all. The content of fat in the Danish diet is nevertheless excessive in relation to the recommended level (a percentage of energy from fat of 35 as compared to the recommended 30). More than 17 % of the population has a diet in which fat makes up more than 40 % of the energy.

Falling activity level
Energy intake has fallen to some extent in both children and adults, however more and more of the adult Danish population is becoming overweight and indeed obese. These countervailing tendencies suggest that the general physical activity level has fallen even more than the intake of energy. To put it simply, Danes engage in to little exercise and eat too much fatty food.
The reasons for this include increased use of the motor car, more home computers connected to the Internet and the greater number of DVD players in the Danish homes, all of which combine to make the day-today life of much of the population more inactive.

More fruit and vegetables
Intake of vegetables has grown in both children and adults, while that of fruit has increased especially in adults. However, consumption of fruit and vegetables is still lower than the desirable level, since a mere 16 % of the adult population eats the recommended 600 grams of these daily. The growth in vegetable intake is primarily due to a greater consumption of salad vegetables such as tomato and cucumber, i.e. those vegetables with high water content. But in the period of 2000/01 to 2003/06 the intake of heavier vegetables has exceeded the lighter types of vegetables which is positive in regards to variation an intake of dietary fiber.

More milk with less fat
In the recent years there has been a growing emergence on the market of a wide range of dairy products with reduced fat content. And it would seem that these products are beginning to find a place on the Danish dining table. In 2001a new milk with only 0.5 % fat was launched. Consumers have shown a positive response to this type of milk. From 2001 to 2006 the intake of milk with reduced fat content has almost doubled.
 
A liter and a half of soft drinks a week
Children still consume far too much sugar. 12 % of their energy intake comes from sugar. One third of the sugar is due to high consumption of sugary soft drinks such as fizzy drinks and fruit juice. Intake of these drinks by children has grown since 1995. Today children aged 4-14 drink an average equivalent to almost half a liter of soft drinks every other day.

Wine and beer
Since 1995 adults have been drinking less beer. There is also a positive development in drinking habits, in that both children and adults have begun drinking more water since 1995.

Bread
From 1995 to 2001 the intake of rye bread children aged 4-14 had fallen, this tendency has changed and in 2006 it has passed the level of intake in 1995. However the intake of wheat bread has also risen. The same tendency is seen with adults.

Meat
From 2001-2006 the consumption of fish has dropped by almost 40 % both with children and adults. It seems that fish has been replaced mainly by meat, since that in the same time period the intake of meat has risen by almost 40 %. Both children and adults are consuming more fast food and ready meals.

Potatoes are still preferred
Potato consumption in the form of cooked potatoes is unchanged among both children and adults. The potato is therefore still the preferred accompaniment to meals with most Danes. Alternatives are mostly rice and pasta.