Primary school canteens are getting a nutritional overhaul after data revealed less than 5 per cent of Australians aged 2 years and over eat the required amount of vegetables.
Independent non-profit group the National Nutrition Foundation released a report last week that unpacked Australia’s eating habits, food literacy and associated health problems.
Pulling together nation-wide data from the past few years, the report found about $9.2 billion of Australia’s health expenditure was spent on nutrition-related risk factors such as obesity.
Discretionary foods — those high in sugar, salt and saturated fat — accounted for about a third of average daily energy intake.
NNF chief executive and Cottesloe resident Fiona Kalaf said it was shocking to see the lack of nutritional food intake in comparison.
“One of the things that really stood out for us is that less than 5 per cent of Australians aged 2 years and over met the recommended intake for vegetables, legumes and beans. That really, really surprised us — we didn’t think it would be as confronting as it is,” she said.
“Discretionary foods accounted for almost a third of average daily energy intake. So that was another thing; I don’t think any of us initially thought it was going to be quite as high as that.”
The report came out in time for National Nutrition Week last week and World Food Day last Friday.
Ms Kalaf said the data would be used to improve nutrition in local primary schools. The group has already worked with more than 200 school canteens and completed more than 1000 canteen menu assessments across WA.
The NNF is supported by the Australian Department of Health to deliver its freshSNAP program in public primary schools to create healthier food and drink environments, at no cost to the school.
“Part of that freshSNAP program is we work with educators to help build food literacy, we support school canteens to provide nutritious options and we also work to help schools take a whole school approach to food and nutrition,” Ms Kalaf said.
“We’re really aware of the sustainability and profitability of school canteens as well, so we take all that into account in working with canteens, and of course where they’re located — a regional or remote area might have different types of food they can get access to in the first place, and different pricing and costing.”
Earlier this year, 246 Cottesloe Primary School students took part in interactive ‘love your food’ sessions through freshSNAP, learning about the five food groups and their “superpowers”.
Parents reported that after the event their children were more willing to try new foods, including meals they would normally refuse both at home and in lunchboxes.
Ms Kalaf hopes to bring freshSNAP to every public primary school State-wide.
“We’ve got collectively some fairly major opportunities to strengthen food literacy, improve access to nutritious food, create more supportive food environments and also provide the practical support needed to help turn what we call nutrition guidance into everyday action that can happen at an individual level,” she said.
Any interested schools are encouraged to contact the NNF.