More than half of over 60s have NEVER eaten avocado on toast, study reveals

IT may be popular with millennials, but more than half of the over-60s quizzed in a new study have NEVER eaten avocado on toast.

Despite their increasing popularity among younger generations, foods like chia seeds, couscous and quinoa remain a mystery to pensioners.

A study into the eating habits of older adults shows many avoid the latest food fads loved by millennials, with 35 per cent opting for a traditional “meat and two veg” option over more typically modern foods.

As such, 52 per cent have never touched avocardo on toast, while 53 per cent have never tried quinoa.

Even olives are alien to a number of over-60s, along with foods such as aubergine, vegan burgers and tacos.

While shunning newer food crazes such as flax seeds and goji berries, this age group have tried some of the more well-known traditional superfoods, with blueberries, beetroot, broccoli and spinach among the top foods these adults have sampled.

Commenting on the research, dietitian Dr Carrie Ruxton, spokesperson for The Chilean Blueberry Committee which carried out the study, said: “With all the buzz around new food trends and superfoods, it’s interesting to see a divide between what the younger generation prefer to eat, and how this compares with those in later life, who tend to prefer more well-known foods.”

The study of 2,000 adults aged 60 and over, conducted via OnePoll.com, reveals two thirds of over 60s say they like their food to be colourful and interesting, which could explain why they avoid neutral-toned foods such as quinoa, couscous and chia seeds.

Dr Carrie Ruxton added: “It’s true that we eat with our eyes just as much as we do with our taste buds and foods like blueberries are a great food to tick these boxes.”

Even foods like duck, aubergines and asparagus are untouched by more than one in 10 people nearing or in retirement.

Parsnips crisps are foreign to more than a third of those polled, while 26 per cent have never tucked into a bowl of granola cereal.

But despite the apparent lack of adventure, adults in this age category do class themselves as having a healthy diet, with 71 per cent believing they are getting all the nutrients and vitamins they need.

Eight in 10 Brits acknowledge their choice of meals options is more ";traditional" than modern, with two thirds saying the choice of ingredients and types of food is too varied now.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, a third of this generation have been made a meal by their children which contained ingredients they didn’t even recognise.

But in contrast, 17 per cent have been kind enough to try and make their children or grandchildren foods they don’t even like themselves.

Dr Carrie Ruxton added: “It’s interesting that the over-60s refuse to bow to the latest trends and instead stick with foods that they know taste good as well as doing them good.

“Blueberries are an excellent snack as they are naturally low in calories and rich in antioxidant compounds, called anthocyanins, which have been linked with optimal heart health and cognitive function.

"Blueberries are also high in vitamin C which supports immune function.”

Earlier this month we investigated the real difference between natural, processed and ultra-processed foods.