With childhood obesity a major concern in Australia, it appears there is some good news for parents and children. The results of a recent survey conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show encouraging figures in terms of the way we are eating compared to previous years.
Major findings include:
– The amount of sugar consumed by Australians has plunged from 55 kilograms per person in 1979 to 40-45 kilograms now.
– Fruit consumption has risen from 80 kilograms per person in 1939 to 135 kilograms on average now.
– Vegetable consumption has increased from 120 kilograms per year in 1959 to 170 kilograms per person per year in 1999.
– And the percentage of fat in our diet has fallen from 40 per cent in 1960 to 30 per cent in 2007.
Perhaps we are finally getting the message how real, fresh, whole foods are more important to our health and wellbeing. Let’s hope so.
Recently my husband and I implemented a new eating plan into the household which included a focus on: less sugar, less white products (white flours, white rice), less processed or packaged foods and more fresh foods and wholegrain products. We also try to reduce the amount of lactose and gluten in our diets.
This is something that we have been working on for a few years. My husband has a mild gluten and lactose intolerant and has benefited from reducing these foods in his diet. He is less bloated, less phlegmy and less tired. After seeing the results he had achieved we decided that we could all probably use a little tweaking to our diets. And the results, after only two weeks, have been amazing.
I have been less bloated and don’t have that heavy feeling after eating. In reducing sugar I no longer feel the need to snack out of boredom or hunger during meals and I haven’t craved the mid-afternoon pick me up that many of us often fall into.
The kids, although initially not impressed (especially when we took the cordial away), have improved in ways I didn’t expect.
Our youngest two girls aged 5 and 8 have had a remarkable improvement in their behaviour. Miss 5 has gone from having at least two major melt downs each day to having none and Miss 8 has been calmer and able to control her temper and emotions (she can be very emotional at times). I certainly don’t think these issues have been ‘fixed’ by our diets but I certainly do believe that it has had a positive impact.
Initially my biggest concern was the cost, but I haven’t really noticed a spike in my grocery bill. After cutting out the packaged foods such as biscuits and cordials and replacing them with fresh foods it tends to balance out in the end.
For us healthy eating is a lifestyle choice and we are not regimented in our ways. We still believe in the odd ‘treat’ here or there and still adhere to the basic ‘everything in moderation’ mantra. It is however, a path we want to keep following in order to look after our family’s health and wellbeing.
So here are my key tips to improve your family:
- Limit sugar as much as possible.
- Reduce packaged foods and replace them with homemade or fresh foods
- Ban white foods. Replace white flours with whole grain flours, white rice with brown and white sugar with raw (if you really can’t ditch it all together).
- Reduce gluten and replace with gluten-free options.
- Reduce dairy and/or replace with dairy free where possible.
What healthy eating changes have you implemented recently?
Disclaimer: I am not a nutritionist or dietician, the information above is purely my experience and is for informative purposes only. Any major changes to your diet, particularly those with food allergies or concerns should be discussed with your health practitioner for professional advice.
{photo credit: Mankamundo PhotoArt via photopin cc}
