New Zealand is one of many countries with the same problems that we’re facing in the United States. In fact, the Health Ministry there found that the average household spends more on confectionery foods (candy) each week ($6.50) than it does on fresh fruit ($5.90).
Like the U.S., New Zealand also faces a childhood obesity epidemic, with nearly one-third of children aged 5 to 14 either overweight or obese.
In fact, New Zealand’s Health Ministry nutrition adviser Christine Stewart told said about 40 percent of children didn’t eat the recommended three or more servings of vegetables and up to 60 percent didn’t consume two or more servings of fruit, according to stuff.co.nz.
It also found fast-food chains, restaurants and cafes spent $67 million on advertising last year, compared with $6.2m spent advertising fruit and vegetables.