People aged over 65 eat the most healthily, adolescents the least

In 2023, new questions on nutrition were included in the Health Survey. These questions use indicators for healthy eating, such as consuming meat and fish, fruit, vegetables, drinks containing sugar, bread, and unhealthy snacks. Based on the answers to these questions and information on alcohol consumption (from the age of 12), a nutri-scorewas calculated for each indicator, as well as an overall score based on the individual indicators. These scores range from 0 to 10; a higher score indicates that the diet for this nutritional indicator is more in line with the recommendations of the Nutrition Centre.

Some recommendations are related to age. For instance, adults are advised to consume more vegetables and fruits than children, and young children are advised to avoid unhealthy snacks. This means that people of different ages can have the same score, even though they consume different amounts of a particular nutrient.

Adults eat healthier as they age

Age plays a role in making healthy food choices. Young children were found to eat more healthily than adolescents; toddlers (aged 1 to 3) had a total nutrition score of 7.1, while adolescents had a score of 5.9. The scores increased among people aged 18 and over; adults eat more healthily as they get older. People aged 65 and over ate the most healthily, and achieved an average overall score of 7.5.

Compared to younger people, older people drink far fewer drinks containing sugar, eat fewer unhealthy snacks, and are more likely to make healthy food choices. Toddlers and primary school pupils (aged 4 to 11) had high scores for eating fruits and vegetables.

People aged between 12 and 18 years old had the unhealthiest diet; they scored an average of 4 for the indicators unhealthy snacks, drinks containing sugar and fruits. For example, three-quarters of them said they ate more than three large unhealthy snacks a week, 31 percent consumed drinks containing sugar on a daily basis, and 86 percent did not eat two servings of fruit every day.

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Women made healthier food choices than men

Women generally ate more healthily than men; they had a higher average score for all the nutrition indicators studied. The largest difference was seen in drinks containing sugar.

People aged 25 and over with a degree from higher education ate the healthiest, but also had the highest alcohol consumption

Among those aged 25 or older with a degree from higher vocational education (HBO) or a university degree ate more healthily, on average, than their peers with different educational levels. They scored better on all the nutrition indicators studied, except for alcohol and unhealthy snacks. They had the same average scores on alcohol as those with a degree from HBO or university or those with a diploma from senior general secondary education (HAVO), pre-university education (VWO) or secondary vocational education (MBO), but they were less likely to adhere to the guideline for not drinking any alcohol at all, or a maximum of one glass a day. For example, 65 percent of them regularly drank more than one glass of alcohol in a day, compared to 59 percent of those with a degree from HBO or university.

Two-thirds of adults ate healthily, in their own opinion

According to the 2022 Perceptions Survey conducted by CBS, two-thirds of all 18-year-olds thought they generally eat a healthy diet. Women were more likely to have this opinion than men, and older people more often than younger people. People aged 45 or older were more likely than those younger than 45 to say their eating habits were influenced by the dietary guidelines on eating at least five portions of fruit and/or vegetables a day or advice from their GP, specialist or dietitian. Young people were more likely to consult food apps, social media or influencers.

Over one-third of adults (36 percent) said they would like to eat healthier foods. They wanted this primarily to reduce the risk of health problems or to feel fitter.

Same picture as in the Food Consumption Survey

The Health Survey/Lifestyle Monitor measures food consumption with a few targeted questions involving the research participants' own understanding and judgment. The RIVM’s Food Consumption Survey monitors the nutritional consumption of the Dutch population in detail. Participants in this study were asked what they had eaten and drunk in the past 24 hours and how much.

The Food Consumption Survey provides a more accurate picture of what people eat and drink, but is conducted less frequently. Both studies are part of the Lifestyle Monitor and provide complementary insights. The most recent Food Consumption Survey also shows that the youngest and oldest age groups are most likely to eat according to the recommendations on fruit and vegetable consumption.