Preferences and perceptions of personal vegetable consumption: a study among young men in the Norwegian National Guard.

A survey was developed to assess the intake, main sources and preferences related to vegetables among 578 male recruits (response rate 78%), in addition to perceptions of personal vegetable consumption. The recruits' average vegetable intake (including potatoes) was 244 g/day. Six per cent of the recruits consumed the recommended 450 g/day or more of vegetables. However, 33% of all recruits stated that they consume enough vegetables. The most important sources of vegetables were potatoes and hot composite dishes for lunch and dinner. High (> or = 282 g/day) and low (< or = 182 g/day) consumers had distinctly different patterns of vegetable consumption. The hot dishes were a more important source among low than high vegetable consumers (P < 0.01). Several recruits reported liking raw (76%) and cooked (58%) vegetables, and preferences were positively related to the vegetable intake (P < 0.02) and (P < 0.001). The results suggest some optimistic bias among the recruits regarding their personal vegetable consumption.