AUSSIES ARE BUYING FEWER VEGETABLES THAN EVER, BUT ENERGY DRINKS ARE SOARING
Australians are buying fewer vegetables than at any time in the past seven years, according to new figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
At the same time, our appetite for energy drinks has jumped by almost 18 per cent in a single year.
The data, released on 30 October, gives a fascinating snapshot of what's really going into our shopping trolleys.
The drop in vegetables
The ABS report, Apparent Consumption of Selected Foodstuffs, Australia, 2024-25, looks at food and drink bought from shops and supermarkets.
It found Australians bought about 181g of vegetables per person per day, down 1.7 per cent on the year before, the ABS said.
That's the lowest level since the series began, and well down on the 192g a day recorded in 2018-19.
The biggest falls were in avocados, down 12 per cent, pumpkin, down 8 per cent, and peas and beans, down 7 per cent.
Fruit is on the rise
There was some good news in the fruit bowl, with fruit purchases rising 1.4 per cent to about 138g per person per day.
The ABS's head of health and disability statistics, Julie Watkinson, said the rise was "driven mainly by oranges, kiwifruit and grapes".
Even so, we're still buying a little less fruit than we were in 2018-19.
Energy drinks surge
The most eye-catching change was in energy drinks.
Purchases rose 17.8 per cent to about 16mL per person per day, and they're up more than 80 per cent since 2018-19.
Bottled water also rose 5 per cent, to 148mL per person per day.
What else changed
Contrary to some reports, we actually bought less of several treat foods.
Sausages and processed meats fell 6.7 per cent, chocolate dipped 1.8 per cent and sweet biscuits fell 2.2 per cent, according to the full ABS release.
Regular bread and rolls fell 4.2 per cent.
Discretionary or sometimes foods still made up 37.5 per cent of the energy in the food we bought, about the same as the year before.
A few things to keep in mind
These figures only cover food and drink bought in shops, not meals from restaurants, cafes or takeaway outlets.
They also show what we buy, not exactly what each of us eats, as some food is wasted or shared.
Still, the trends give a useful picture of how our shopping habits are shifting.
Easy ways to eat more vegetables
If your crisper drawer could do with some love, small changes add up.
Add a handful of spinach or grated zucchini to pasta sauces, mince dishes and omelettes.
Keep frozen peas, corn and mixed vegetables in the freezer, as they're often cheaper and just as nutritious.
Buy what's in season, as it's usually better value and tastes better too.
Fill half your dinner plate with salad or vegetables before adding the rest.
Pre-cut carrots, capsicum and cucumber into sticks so they're ready to grab as an afternoon snack.
Try a meat-free night once a week built around lentils, beans or a big vegetable curry.
Getting the kids involved in choosing and washing vegetables can also make them more likely to eat them.
Think before you grab an energy drink
Energy drinks can be high in caffeine and sugar, so they're best kept as an occasional choice.
If you're reaching for them to get through the afternoon slump, try water, a walk outside or a healthy snack first.
The bottom line
The new figures are a timely reminder that our shopping habits are worth a second look.
With summer produce such as tomatoes, corn and stone fruit on the way, it's a great time to give your trolley a fresh, colourful makeover.
