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Dietary habits in Fiji remain a serious concern, with only 11 percent of the population consuming the recommended five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day.<\/p>\n
That figure has dropped from 15 percent recorded in 2011.<\/p>\n
Even more alarming, 15.9 percent of people say they do not eat any fruits or vegetables on a typical day \u2014 significantly increasing their risk of diet-related illnesses.<\/p>\n
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Head of Wellness Dr Devina Nand says changing individual behaviour alone will not fix the problem.<\/p>\n
She says Fiji must invest in community and communal gardens and support people to grow healthier food options, stressing that the issue is not just fiscal but structural.<\/p>\n
Dr Nand says the country also needs to examine the commercial determinants of health, including trade, financial and fiscal policies.<\/p>\n
She says the key question is how to make vegetables cheaper and more accessible than unhealthy processed foods.<\/p>\n
National Food and Nutrition Centre Acting Manager Kriti Chand says high prices are a major factor driving low fruit and vegetable consumption.<\/p>\n
She says many people are turning to processed foods high in salt, sugar and fat instead.<\/p>\n
Chand warns that poor dietary habits are a key contributor to the rising burden of non-communicable diseases in Fiji.<\/p>\n