On average, Australian adults are eating about twice as much junk food than recommended in the Australian Dietary Guidelines - the equivalent of 20 small solid chocolate Easter eggs daily.
In fact according to the CSIRO nearly four out of five people are overindulging in junk foods every day with our top weaknesses being alcohol (21 per cent of total discretionary food intake), cakes and biscuits (19 per cent), sugar sweetened beverages (12 per cent) and savoury pies and pastries (9 per cent).
New research by Australia's national science agency shows that low nutrient, high kilojoule food continues to be the top choice for Australians.
The new findings come from the recent analysis of the CSIRO Healthy Diet Score survey.
CSIRO research scientist Dr Gilly Hendrie said new approaches were needed when it came to discretionary foods and Australians' diets.
"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 said.
To help Australians improve their diets, CSIRO has launched a free, online tool to provide the community with a greater understanding of their discretionary food intake and where they can make improvements to their eating habits.
The Junk Food Analyser provides individuals with specific advice on which categories of discretionary foods they are consuming the most, with the interactive tool providing strategies and tips on where kilojoules can be reduced, which is essential for weight loss," Dr Hendrie said.
A range of strategies have 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 said.
"The Junk Food Analyser really does help Australians have their cake and eat it too.
"With the additional support of a balanced and evidence-based framework such as the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet, Australians can feel assured that they are embarking on a health journey that fits into their lifestyle, without the sacrifice," she said.
To take the quizz head to www.junkfoodanalyser.com
Eileen Wood
I'm a senior news journalist at The Senior newspaper, the leading publication bringing targeted news on issues affecting older Australians. We cover NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania, SA and WA. If you have a story idea I would love to hear it. You can email me: eileen.wood@thesenior.com.au or phone The Senior 02-4355-5000, mob. 0487 495 805
I'm a senior news journalist at The Senior newspaper, the leading publication bringing targeted news on issues affecting older Australians. We cover NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania, SA and WA. If you have a story idea I would love to hear it. You can email me: eileen.wood@thesenior.com.au or phone The Senior 02-4355-5000, mob. 0487 495 805
