Take the junk food test to see if you're better than most
Most of us know better, but we’re still eating too much junk food - way too much. And the CSIRO knows our top weaknesses.
The CSIRO says nearly four out of five people are overindulging in junk foods every day.
On average, Australian adults are eating about twice as much as what is recommended in the Australian Dietary Guidelines, with a whopping 5.1 servings of discretionary foods consumed each day - the equivalent of about 3000kJ or 20 small solid chocolate Easter eggs.
The CSIRO says our top weaknesses are alcohol (21 per cent of total discretionary food intake), followed by cakes and biscuits (19 per cent), sugar sweetened beverages (12 per cent) and savoury pies and pastries (9 per cent).
The findings come from an analysis of the CSIRO Healthy Diet Score survey.
CSIRO research scientist Dr Gilly Hendrie says new approaches are needed when it comes to discretionary foods.
“Discretionary or junk foods are the number one issue affecting Australian diets today, with excessive consumption resulting in poor nutrition, high rates of obesity and an even higher risk of lifestyle diseases,” Dr Hendrie says.
To help us improve our diets, the CSIRO has launched a free, online tool to provide a greater understanding of discretionary food intake and where we can make improvements.
A range of strategies has been modelled in the Junk Food Analyser to help users reduce kilojoules in an achievable way.
“While the elimination strategy is common in diet programs and can reduce kilojoules the most, the interactive Junk Food Analyser lets users explore a combination of strategies to reduce discretionary food intake, without cutting their favourite foods altogether. That might include choosing to eliminate alcohol, take a break from cakes and biscuits and halve confectionery consumption,” Dr Hendrie says.
“The Junk Food Analyser really does help Australians have their cake and eat it too."
To take the new Junk Food Analyser quiz, go to http://www.junkfoodanalyser.com/
What's with the 'WE' factor, "we’re still eating too much junk food"
A ridiculous survey for people who eat lean meat, fish, nearly every fresh vegetable and fresh fruit available on a daily basis.