Russian citizens consume much lower amounts of potatoes and twice as more fruit and berries as they did 40 years ago, according to a research by Russia’s Federal Service for State Statistics (Rosstat), RIA Novosti news agency reported.
In 1980, each resident of the country used to eat an average of 117 kg of potatoes per year compared to just 59 kg last year, while the consumption of fruit and berries increased from 35 to 74 kg per person. The research also showed a slight growth in consumption of fish and fishery products (22 kg as opposed to 17 kg), as well as of vegetables and gourds.
Meanwhile, the annual meat consumption per capita went up to almost 90 kg against 70 kg. By 2000, the amount dropped to 50 kg following the crisis of the 1990s. The research showed that Russians now eat less carbs such as bread, pasta and grains, with the annual amount falling by 16 kg to 112 kg. A considerable reduction has been observed in the consumption of milk, eggs and sweets.
Experts link these changes in eating habits to an increasing desire to live a healthier lifestyle, as well as to many products’ year-round availability due to imports.