Healthy Eating

The Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend eating a healthy diet with plenty of nutritious foods such as vegetables, fruit, lean proteins, low-fat milk, cheese and yoghurt, nuts, seeds and wholegrains. It is also recommended that diets are low in discretionary foods that are high in excess energy (kilojoules), salt, added sugar, saturated fats and trans fats (e.g. sugar sweetened beverages and fried foods).1 

Over the last decade, the proportion of Australian adults who were overweight or obese has increased from 62.8% in 2011 to 2012, to 65.8% in 2022. This change was driven by the increase in the proportion of adults categorised as obese, which increased from 27.5% to 31.7% over the same period.2

Within the Town, 51% of the population over the age of sixteen reported not eating the recommended two serves of fruit each day and 90.8% do not eat the recommended five serves of vegetables daily.

Tips for Healthy Eating

  • Eat two serves of fruit and five serves of vegetables every day.
  • Reduce your intake of trans and saturated fats.
  • Eat less salt.
  • Watch your portion size.
  • Select healthy snacks.

    Healthy eating is vital for optimal development, growth and health, and it contributes to physical vitality and mental health. Learning healthy eating habits can lift your energy, sharpen your memory and stabilise your mood.  

    Resources

    These websites contain great advice for health eating.

    Live Lighter: A program developed to encourage adults to lead a healthier lifestyle. Visit the website for more information, healthy tips, tools, recipes, and campaign resources.
    Heart Foundation: Health eating to protect the heart and prevent the development of heart disease.
    Health Direct: Eating from the five food groups.
    CSIRO: Tips to spring clean your health.

    References

    1 National Health and Medical Research Council 2013, Australian dietary guidelines, Australian Health and Medical Research Council, Canberra.

    2 Australian Bureau of Statistics 2022.