How healthy is your diet and how much time do you spend planning your meals each week? With National Nutrition Week 2011 almost upon us (16 - 22 October), ntpages caught up Aloysa Hourigan, nutrition program manager with Nutrition Australia for some food for thought.
Tell us a bit about National Nutrition Week...
"Nutrition Week is an initiative of Nutrition Australia and goes back some 25 years and counting. It occurs at the same time of year every year and is coordinated with World Food Day which is held annually on 16 October."
What is your message this year?
"Healthy Food Healthy Planet - Helping Families to a Healthy Future" is our theme for 2011. We have produced a kit that is aimed at supporting families to make healthy food choices and become more active. It is also designed to provide ideas and strategies for overcoming barriers such as time and budgetary constraints that can make healthy lifestyle choices difficult for families. Nutrition Australia has also developed an online menu planning tool, which goes live next week, to help people plan, rate and compare their meals."
Food waste also seems to be a major focus...
"Australians are some of the worst food wasters on the planet. We need to be smarter when it comes to shopping for food. Plan before you buy your fruit and vegetables so you don’t end up buying food that goes to waste."
What is the current healthy eating advice based on - portions, food groups, food pyramids etc?
"The current dietary guidelines are under review by the National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and are due to released soon. I think there will be more of an emphasis on serve and portion sizes. There may also be a recommendation for more vegetables to be included in our diets."
How do you account for our rising levels of obesity?
"Obesity is a real problem for Australians, with the rate doubling over the last 20 years. Around 67 per cent of men and 53 per cent of women are overweight or obese. A lot of it comes down to more sedentary lifestyles and the marketing around the food we find in our supermarkets."
How are our children faring?
"Even though the rate of childhood obesity stands at 25 per cent, there is some good news here. Figures show that obesity in children has actually leveled off. This is largely due to the healthy eating message that has been targeted at schools."
What is the secret to getting children to eat healthy?
"Children need a positive role model, so be aware that as parents they are observing you constantly so encourage good eating habits early on. Also try involving children in the process. This could be something as simple as getting them to help set the table or help prepare a meal. Try growing herbs or vegetables at home. Studies show that children become more interested in food if they know where it comes from."
Kids can be fussy eaters…
"Yes, their taste buds can take a while to get used to new foods. It can take up to 10 times for them to accept a new food - so you have to be persistent."
Do you advocate exclusion diets in any way?
"There is definitely a place for exclusion diets, but only in conjunction with an accredited health professional. Children do however need a balanced diet – so diets are not appropriate for them."
Finally, as a nutritionist, what is the soundest piece of advice you can give?
"Plan your meals and how you are going to spend your money. Also try sneak on that extra vegetable portion to your plate when you can."
Originally published on Oct 14, 2011
