ABS data shows how Victorian households spend their food and drink money

VICTORIAN households spend more on potato chips and confectionery than fresh fruit while also leading the nation in another unhealthy habit, a study of food and drink budgets shows.

VICTORIAN households spend more on potato chips and other treats than fresh fruit.

And we have the nation’s sweetest tooths for cakes, biscuits and puddings.

Food, non-alcoholic drinks and booze take a $276 per week bite out of budgets on average — or $14,352 a year — according to Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates.

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Analysis of the Household Expenditure Survey also reveals that statewide:

POTATO crisps, chocolate, ice cream and other confectionery swallow $13.65 a week. That compares with $11.45 for fresh fruit, and $13.35 for fresh vegetables.

VICTORIANS spend the most of any state on cakes, biscuits and puddings, scoffing an average $9.50 worth each week.

WE also have the biggest appetite for breakfast cereal, buying $2.20 a week on average.

SPENDING on poultry is twice as much as lamb.

CHEESE is our biggest dairy expense, followed by plain milk.

Olivia Rugg, 23 and Dylan Weickhardt, 24, combine healthy eating with snacks. Picture: Jason Edwards

Self-proclaimed sweet tooth Dylan Weickhardt savours treats such as M&M’s and Paddle Pops.

“The first thing I see walking into the supermarket is the lollies and chocolates, they’re always on special and have all the advertising, so how can you not stop and get a little,” he said.

His partner, Olivia Rugg, said: “I choose the healthy foods and Dylan always slips a block of chocolate or some lollies into the cart”.

The couple enjoy cooking together, and motivate each other to eat healthy meals.

“I’m more aware of eating healthy especially now with all the info on what sugars and ... junk foods can do to your body,” she said.

The ABS quizzed 10,000 households nationwide, including 2400 in Victoria.

Based on detailed diaries and shopper receipts, its recently released results are for 2015-16.

Sweet-toothed Victorians have a love of cakes and biscuits. Picture: Glenn Ferguson

Victorians buy an average $244 worth of food and non-alcoholic drinks weekly, it found.

Fast food and takeaway, excluding hot coffee, gobbles $32.10. Dining at restaurants, hotels and clubs costs $48.50.

We splurge $15.15 on soft drinks, bottled water, fruit juice and other non-alcoholic beverages — half the amount blown on alcohol.

Averaged statewide, beer costs $11.75 a week, ahead of wine at $10.10.

Research released earlier this year found Australian families were burning more than half their food and drink budget on junk foods, sugary beverages and alcohol.

This was despite it being cheaper to follow a healthier diet, according to the study led by Australian Prevention Partnership Centre senior adviser Professor Amanda Lee.

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@KarenCollierHS