Sustainable food for a healthy future Dr Rosemary Stanton OAM nutritionist

sustainable foodfor a healthy future

Dr Rosemary Stanton OAMnutritionist

food futures for children how healthy is our diet? the school’s contribution how sustainable is our diet? vision for sustainable food in the future

© Rosemary Stanton 2015


the balanced diet

nutritionnutrition& health& health

environmentenvironmental al

sustainabilitysustainability

tastetaste‘food literacy’‘food literacy’


children’s nutrition and health

~75% are in healthy weight range

~25% of children above healthy weight range

poor food choices are common & contribute to health problems in childhood & later in life


problems low intake of calcium (mainly in girls)

low intake of dietary fibre

excess sugar & acidic drinks (dental decay)

too much salt

low intake of vegetables in 95% of children

protein ‘mania’ (among some teenage boys)

vitamin B12 problem for vegans (OK if consume milk, yoghurt, cheese & eggs)


where the diet is going wrong

frequent snacks

sweet drinks

too much junk food (>40% of kilojoules)

breakfast is too sweet (or absent)

low consumption of fruit & vegetables

big changes in evening family meal


why so much junk? convenient

some relatively cheap products

mundane, but not unpleasant flavours (dominated by sugar, salt, fat)

profitable for food companies and therefore promoted heavily


Victorian survey1680 primary school children93% of kids had junk foods in lunch box plus a sweet drink

average of 3 junk food items/child

does this make junk food ‘normal’ ?


influences on children’s diets family eating habits

advertising/marketing

taste (fussy eaters are common)

peer group pressure

access to a garden

school’s attention to healthy food


what we are up againstmarketing TV advertising

internet & iPhone marketing

in-school marketing

sponsorship

product placement

sales promotions


food & advertising

children are seen as fair game for marketers and advertisers

starts well before school age

aim for brand recognition


marketing to childrenmultiple messages/multiple channels advertising (TV, sport, packaging)

use of characters, mascots on clothing, bags

internet marketing, email/texting

product placement

in-school marketing

sponsorship


internet ‘advergaming’ overtaking TV advertising

children’s online ‘clubs’ with advertisements, competitions, games (including ones that are supposedly promoting nutrition), prizes

immersive, interactive, incessant (20 minutes vs 30 seconds for TV ads)


influence of marketingit works! fast foods, snacks, sweet drinks

expected everywhere (including all sporting venues)

take-away foods now ‘normal’

packaged snacks now ‘normal’

frequent treats now ‘normal’

foods not advertised are ignored


excess weight in childrenChildren overweight and obese, by age group, Australia, 2007–08

Note: Based on measured height and weight.Source: AIHW analysis of the 2007–08 NHS.


increasing weight - why?

children are eating more– 13% increase in kilojoules

children are moving less– more screens (computers, phones,

TV)

– driven everywhere

– insufficient free play


does excess body fat matter?

psycho-social problems

health problems during childhood (sleep apnoea, asthma, fatty liver, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure)

problems with knees, joints, feet

health problems as adults


health problems

year 10 students15-20% - high insulin levels

20% boys & 5% girls - high blood pressure

9% of boys - abnormal liver function

10% boys - low HDL(good) cholesterol

NSW Schools Physical Activity & Nutrition Survey(SPANS), available at www.health.nsw.gov/pubs/2006/pdf/sspans report.pdf


health problems

year 10 students who are overweight15-20% 70% - high insulin levels

20% 30% boys & 5% girls - high blood pressure

9% 40% of boys - abnormal liver function

10% 25% boys & 20% girls - low HDL(good) cholesterol


weighthealth problems with underweight lack of stamina

diet may lack nutrients (may be problems with calcium, essential fats, vitamin B12)

lack of self esteem (cause or effect?)


weightpromote healthy balance emphasise health rather than weight

healthy role models important

over- or undereating often associated with stress


the family table

disappearing 15% of kids do not eat dinner*

20% do not eat dinner with family*

50% eat in front of TV

* NSW Health


the family table

small children who eat with adults better language skills

better socialisation


the family table

older children who eat with adults fewer behavioural problems

less likely to use alcohol, tobacco or marijuana as teenagers

more motivated at school

less depression

lower incidence of eating disorders


where changes are needed

healthier choices

suitable drinks are water or milk

the day should start with breakfast

fruit is the ideal snack

children should be able to cook/prepare food

dinner – a shared meal, at least some nights


supportive strategies children do not need special kids’

foods

provide variety, but no need to be excessive about it

follow dietary guidelines

ensure the school canteen supports classroom teaching



solving the problemfood ‘literacy’‘yummy’ foods not only junk foodshelp children discover how, when & where food is grown, and how to prepare foodcooking, shopping, gardening skills (eg growing vegetables, fruit trees, school & community gardens)


how can canteens help? don’t be part of the problem

emphasise vegetables & fruit

set children’s idea of what is ‘normal’

help expand children’s tastes

encourage social eating

emphasise ‘green’ foods (including those that are environmentally green)

school canteenproviding a good examplehealthy choicesactively market those choicesmake fresh foods look attractiveopen for breakfast ?work with school or community garden ?an ‘eco’ canteen ?


‘eco’ canteens publicise foods in season stress value of fresh & healthy foods expand plant food choices where possible, work in with gardens or

growers (soil enhancement/compost) reduce waste


waste

globally, at least a third of all food is wasted between field and fork

food wasted in developed countries could feed an extra 3 billion people


waste in Australiaoccurs at all stages of the food chain

- households throw out ~ $8 billion food/year (enough to fill 450,000 garbage trucks)

- food makes up >40% household garbage

- food waste makes up 1/3 municipal waste


wasteavoiding waste in canteens

- plan so as to reduce food losses due to

spoilage

- improve ordering practices

- set a good example by using/selling leftovers


action on waste in WA

Waste Authority – WA Too Good to Waste Waste Wise School program (reduce, re-

use, recycle) Perth City Council Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council Tamala Park Regional Council City of Rockingham composting program Edith Cowan University (research)


waste wise school program

newsletter competitions recycling services workshops fact sheets (eg composting, edible

school gardens)


go ‘eco’ - waste less

food wastegenerates methane, the most powerful greenhouse gasavoid methane if waste used for worm farms, compost, soil enhancement, gardens


sustainability issues & food

up to 25%

of total greenhouse gas emissions

come from

production and distribution

of what we eat and drink



go down the food chain?

World Health Organisation and others recommend

we bias our diets towards

plant foods

and less processed foods

for health & sustainability

‘eco’ considerations

packaging~ 65% packaging is for food/beverages

useful because it improves shelf life and reduces food waste

a problem because it uses energy resources to produce, and more when added to landfill



packaging

packaging makes up 72% of litter in Australia (includes 25 million plastic bags discarded as litter/year)

throughout the world, 400 billion plastic water bottles added to landfill each year


packaging - action avoid packaged foods & drinks where possible

recycle packaging where possible

recycling bins in schools

sell ‘school branded’ re-usable water bottles

lobby governments to set mandatory rules for container deposits

lobby for recycling costs to be included in product price


environmental issues overproduction waste excess packaging seasonal eating food ‘miles’ more plant foods (wholegrains, nuts,

fruit, vegetables, legumes) organic foods?

waste reduce (also re-cycling at school)

excess packaging reduce seasonal eating understand food ‘miles’ understand more plant foods (wholegrains, nuts,

fruit, vegetables, legumes) offer more organic foods? where affordable

the value of gardens

encourage connection with the seasons planning & patience experimenting (different varieties) sharing interest from all ages


access to a garden increases children’s willingness to eat

vegetables improves family dynamics (less friction,

more varied menus, more sharing) kitchen gardens increase cooking skills improves overall diets advantages for ‘loners’



gardens

healthier, more enjoyable diet

healthier environment

simultaneously tackle climate change, better

nutrition & food ‘literacy’

vision for a ‘future’ food system

buy only what we need sustainable packaging fresh, local/home grown, where possible home cooked rather than take-away more vegetables, grains, nuts, fruit more sustainable farming (inc fish) small portions of sustainable animal foods tap water rather than sugary drinks


vision for a ‘future’ food system

vegetable gardens (community, home, school)

street trees with edible fruit

collection & recycling systems for domestic, school & commercial waste, subsidies for composting

school canteens will be ‘green’



reliable information The Parents Jury

(www.parentsjury.org.au)

Choice

Cancer Council - Food Injunction

LiveLighter

Nutrition Australia

Public Health Association of Australia

Dietitians Association of Australia


the balanced diet

nutritionnutrition& health& health

environmentenvironmental al

sustainabilitysustainability

tastetaste‘food literacy’‘food literacy’

Documents

Sustainable food for a healthy future Dr Rosemary Stanton OAM nutritionist