A statistical report: Vegetable and Fruit consumption in the Timiskaming
Health Unit area
Released December 2013
Introduction
This report presents the proportion of Timiskaming residents aged 12
years and older who reported eating vegetables and fruit five or more
times daily. Vegetables and fruit are excellent sources of vitamins,
minerals, and dietary fibre, and tend to be naturally low in fat and
calories. Research shows that a diet rich in vegetables and fruit may
help to prevent cardiovascular disease, certain cancers and help
maintain a healthy weight. 1
Vegetables and fruit make up the largest and most emphasized food
group in Eating Well with Canada's Food Guide. For those aged 12 and
over, the recommended number of food guide servings of vegetables
and fruit per day ranges from 6 to 10, depending on age and sex.
Timiskaming highlights for
vegetable and fruit
consumption
Only two out every five
Timiskaming residents ate five or
more vegetables and fruit per day.
More females ate vegetables and
fruit five or more times per day
compared to males.
Data Notes
This report used self-reported data from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS). 2 Survey respondents
were asked how many times per day, week, or month they consumed vegetables or fruit (excluding french fries,
fried potatoes and potato chips). Daily vegetable and fruit consumption was split into two categories and used
throughout this report: 1) five or more times per day, and 2) less than five times per day. It is important to note
that data do not translate to number of servings per day. Evidence suggests that this health indicator is a
reasonable indication of good eating habits. 3
Since the CCHS only surveys a small proportion of the population, some of these analyses combined several
years of data to increase sample sizes and gain accuracy. Instances where sample sizes remained small were
noted with an E, which means these data must be interpreted with caution. When sample sizes were too small
for the results to be released it was indicated with an F. A statistical difference means that the results were most
likely not due to chance, more specifically, that there is only a one in 20 chance that the results are not true. It is
not a statement about the size or magnitude of the differences between groups.
Reference to Timiskaming means the Timiskaming Health Unit area, which includes the district of Timiskaming
and the Municipality of Temagami. Northeastern Ontario includes the following health unit catchment areas:
Algoma, North Bay-Parry Sound, Porcupine, Sudbury and District and Timiskaming.
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Approximately the same percentage of people in
Timiskaming (39.9%) ate vegetables and fruit five
or more times per day as Northeastern Ontario
(38.3%) and Ontario (38.9%). A slightly lower
percentage of people in Northeastern Ontario
ate vegetables and fruit five or more times per
day compared to Ontario (Figure 1).
Figure 1: Percentage of people aged 12 years and
older, who consumed vegetables and fruit five or
more times per day, 2011-2012.
Percentage
Eating vegetables and fruit five or
more times daily
Source: CCHS
2011/12 Statistics
Canada, Share
File, MOHLTC.
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
39.9
38.3*
Timiskaming Northeastern
Ontario
38.9
Ontario
*Statistically different from Ontario
Vegetable and Fruit consumption over time
Figure 2 shows the percentage of people who consumed vegetables and fruit five or more times per day
from 2003 to 2011/12. There were no statistical differences in rates over time for both Timiskaming and
Northeastern Ontario. However, Ontario’s rate in 2011/12 was lower than 2009/10 and 2009/10 was
higher than 2007/08.
For Timiskaming, the percentage of residents who consumed vegetables and fruit five or more times
daily was lower than Ontario in 2003, and again in 2009/2010. Furthermore, fewer people in
Northeastern Ontario ate vegetables and fruit five or more times per day in 2003 compared to Ontario.
Figure 2: Percentage of people aged 12 years and older, who consumed vegetables and fruit five or
more times per day over time, 2003 to 2011-2012.
Timiskaming
Northeastern Ontario
Ontario
60
Percentage
50
40
30
*
*
*
*
20
10
0
2003
2005
2007/08
2009/10
2011/12
*Statistically different from Ontario
Source: CCHS 2003, 2007/08, 2010/11 & 2011/12 Statistics Canada, Share File, MOHLTC.
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Vegetable and fruit consumption by northern health units
Figure 3 compares vegetable and fruit consumption for Timiskaming with other Northern Ontario health
units and Ontario. There were no statistical differences between the rates for any of the northern health
units and Ontario.
Figure 3: Percentage of people aged 12 years and older, who consumed vegetables and fruit five or
more times per day, by northern health unit, 2011-2012.
Timiskaming Health Unit
39.9
North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit
38.9
Sudbury and District Health Unit
38.6
District of Algoma Health Unit
38.6
Porcupine Health Unit
35.5
Northwestern Health Unit
35.3
Thunder Bay District Health Unit
34.5
Ontario
38.9
0
20
40
60
Percentage
Source: CCHS 2011/12 Statistics Canada, Share File, MOHLTC.
Vegetable and f ruit consumption by sex
There were no statistical differences when
comparing males by location or females
by location.
Source: CCHS 2011/12
Statistics Canada, Share File,
MOHLTC.
Figure 4: Percentage of people aged 12 years and older who
consumed vegetables and fruit five or more times per day, by
sex, 2011-2012.
Male
Percentage
In Timiskaming, Northeastern Ontario
and Ontario, more females ate
vegetables and fruit five or more times
per day compared to males (Figure 4).
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Female
52.0*
27.2
Timiskaming
44.9*
31.4
Northeastern
Ontario
*Statistically higher than males
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44.6*
32.9
Ontario
Vegetable and fruit consumption by age
The percentage of Timiskaming residents who consumed vegetables and fruit five or more times daily
did not vary by age group for Timiskaming (interpret most ages with caution) or Northeastern Ontario
(Figure 5). However, for Ontario, more youth and seniors ate vegetables and fruit five or more times per
day than the other age groups (20 to 34, 35 to 44 and 45 to 64 years of age).
There were no statistical differences found when each age group was compared by location.
Figure 5: Percentage of people who consumed vegetables and fruit five or more times per day, by age, 20092012.
Timiskaming
Northeastern Ontario
Ontario
60
50
Percentage
40
42.3E
44.2 44.3*
40.6 40.0
40.8 39.2
33.5E
30
36.6
39.7 38.6
43.8*
42.9
39.7
25.0E
20
10
0
12 to 19
20 to 34
35 to 44
45 to 64
Age in years
Small sample size: use with caution
* For Ontario, statistically higher than 20 to 34, 35 to 44 and 45 to 64 age groups
E
Source: CCHS 2009/10, 2011/12 Statistics Canada, Share File, MOHLTC.
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65 & over
Vegetable and fruit consumption by education
Education in this analysis is broken up into four categories of highest level of education attained, less
than high school, high school degree, some post secondary education, and a post-secondary degree. A
post secondary degree can be a trade certificate, or a college or university certificate, diploma or
degree.
For both Northeastern Ontario and Ontario, more people with the highest level of education (a post
secondary degree) ate vegetables and fruit five or more times per day compared to those with lower
education (all levels). There were no statistical differences found for Timiskaming (Figure 6).
Figure 6: Percentage of people aged 12 years and older, who consumed vegetables and fruit five or more times
per day, by highest level of education attained, 2009-2012.
Timiskaming
Northeastern Ontario
Ontario
60
Percentage
50
40
30
43.9*
35.7
30.2
34.9
37.3 35.9
35.6
33.8
37.7
42.2*
25.8
20
10
F
0
Less than high school
High school degree
Some post-secondary Post-secondary degree
Highest level of education attained
F Rate suppressed because sample size was too small
* Statistically higher than all other education levels of the same location
Source: CCHS 2009/10, 2011/12 Statistics Canada, Share File, MOHLTC.
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Vegetable and fruit consumption by income
There were no statistical differences for Timiskaming between income categories and vegetable and
fruit consumption. However, there were differences for both Northeastern Ontario and Ontario. For
Northeastern Ontario, fewer people ate vegetables and fruit five or more times per day in the lowest
income category (28.9%) compared to the middle (37.7%) and highest (43.7%) income categories. For
Ontario, as income increased, the number of people who ate vegetables and fruit five or more times per
day increased. Specifically, more people with mid-level income (38.3%) ate vegetables and fruit five or
more times per day compared to those in the lowest income category (33.4%) and those with higher
income (41.6%) had a higher consumption than those in both the low and middle income categories.
Figure 7: Percentage of people aged 12 years and older, who consumed vegetables and fruit five or more times
per day, by income, 2009-2012.
Timiskaming
Northeastern Ontario
Ontario
60
Percentage
50
43.7*
40
30
33.4
29.3E
39.8
37.7* 38.3*
41.6*ǂ
36.2
39.9
42.7
32.0
28.9
20
10
0
Less than $20,000
$20,000 to $49,999
$50,000 and over
Income
Small sample size: use with caution
* Statistically higher than the lowest income category of the same location
ǂ Statistically higher than the middle income category of the same location
E
Source: CCHS 2009/10, 2011/12 Statistics Canada, Share File, MOHLTC.
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Income not stated
Vegetable and fruit consumption by Francophone population
Francophone was defined according to the “Inclusive Definition of Francophone” by the Ontario
Government. 4 It includes persons whose mother tongue is French, as well as those whose mother
tongue is neither French nor English but who have a particular knowledge of French as an official
language and use French at home.
There were no statistical differences between Francophones and non-Francophones in the percentage
of people who reported eating vegetables and fruit five or more times per day for Timiskaming,
Northeastern Ontario or Ontario. The percentage of Francophones who ate vegetables and fruit five or
more times per day in Timiskaming was 40.0%, in Northeastern Ontario was 35.3% and Ontario was
37.7%.
Source: CCHS 2011/12 Statistics Canada, Share File, MOHLTC.
Vegetable and fruit consumption by Aboriginal population
The Aboriginal population in this report was defined as persons aged 12 years and over who selfidentified as North American Indian, Métis or Inuit.
For Timiskaming, Northeastern Ontario and Ontario, the Aboriginal population did not differ statistically
from the non Aboriginal population regarding vegetable and fruit consumption. The rates for consuming
vegetables and fruit five or more times per day by location were as follows: 39.4% in Timiskaming,
35.9% in Northeastern Ontario and 35.1% in Ontario.
Source: CCHS 2011/12 Statistics Canada, Share File, MOHLTC.
The Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) is a cross sectional survey by Statistics Canada that collects
health information about the Canadian population. It surveys a large number of respondents and is designed to
provide reliable estimates at the health region level. CCHS data are collected from persons aged 12 and over
living in private dwellings. The survey excludes individuals living on Indian Reserves and on Crown lands,
institutional residents, full-time members of the Canadian Forces, and residents of certain report regions. For
more information, visit http://www.statcan.gc.ca.
Data in this report will be updated in late 2015 pending Statistics Canada’s release of new CCHS 2013/14 data.
References
1
Statistics Canada. Fruit and vegetable consumption. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/82-229-x/2009001/deter/fvceng.htm
2
Canadian Community Health Survey 2003, 2005, 2007/08, 2009/10, 2011/12). Statistics Canada, Share Files,
Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.
3
Garriguet D. (2009). Diet Quality in Canada. Health Reports (Statistics Canada, Catalogue 82-003); 20(3): 1-12.
4
Ontario Office of Francophone Affairs. (2011). Francophones in Ontario: More inclusive definition of Ontario’s
Francophone population. Retrieved from http://www.ofa.gov.on.ca/en/franco-definition.html
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