UrBC, Moscow, January 12, 2016. Russians have tended to eat less meat, fish, milk, and sugar and more potatoes, melons, pumpkins, and vegetables in the last few of years, Izvestia refers to Rosstat’s report on the federal constituencies’ socioeconomic development indicators as stating.

According to Rosstat, the average amount of meat, fish, milk and dairy products, and sugar a Russian eats a year dropped by 2kg, 5kg, 9kg, and 1kg, respectively, between 2013 and 2015.

The average amount of consumed eggs and bread has remained the same, while that of vegetables, melons, pumpkins, and zucchini rose in 2015. On average, Russians ate 2kg and 24 kg more of courgettes, pumpkins, and watermelons a year in 2015 compared with 2013 and 2005, respectively.

Potato consumption was also up 1kg in 2015 compared with 2012-2014 and up 3kg compared with 2005.

Experts believe these dietary trends have to do with rising food prices (occasioned by the country’s food embargo) and with people’s shrinking incomes. At the same time, increased vegetable consumption may also be a sign of people going for healthier food options.