Bringing you the latest nutrition information and food ideas to help boost your health and wellbeing.

Latest Research

Household Impacts of COVID-19 Survey

Recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported on the household impacts of COVID-19 during the period of early-April to early-May this year. Results from this survey highlighted some interesting insights into how the lifestyles of the Australian population changed during this time.

Key findings in regards to lifestyle changes and consumption habits were:

One in five Australians (22%) said they were eating more snack foods such as chips, lollies, and biscuits
Australians reported an increase in alcohol consumption (14%) and fruit and vegetable consumption (13%), while one in ten (10%) reported taking more vitamins, minerals or other supplements
The product category that experienced the largest decrease in consumption was take-away or delivered meals, with 29% of Australians reporting less frequent consumption over this period due to COVID-19

Key findings in regards to lifestyle changes and activity were:

Changes to personal screen time was the most widely reported change, with three in five Australians (58%) increasing their participation in screen-based activities
Other activities that many Australians increased their participation in included:
- Household chores, gardening, yard work, projects or renovations (41% increase)
- Hobbies e.g. art, craft, board games, puzzles, video games or reading (39% increase)
- Cooking or baking (38% increase)
While roughly half of all Australians (54%) reported no change to their levels of participation in exercise or other physical activity, one in four (25%) increased their level of exercise or other physical activity, and one in five (20%) decreased their level of exercise or other physical activity

Reference: Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2020). 4940.0 - Household Impacts of COVID-19 Survey, 29 Apr - 4 May 2020. Available here.

We Need Your Help!

Health in the Workplace Survey

Nutrition Australia Qld are conducting a review on our workplace and community services programs. We want to ensure that the services we offer are directly targeted to what staff need and want. This survey includes questions regarding nutrition issues in the workplace and aims to identify what resources would be most useful to staff. Please allow 5 minutes to complete this survey which includes 13 questions with optional sections for more detail. All answers are anonymous and will be confidential to Nutrition Australia Qld. We thank you in advance for partaking in this survey. We hope this will aid in the production of tailored health initiatives for the future.

Click here to complete our survey

Recipe Idea

Sweet Potato and Chickpea Fritters

Full of both colour and flavour, these sweet potato and chickpea fritters are a great lunch or dinner option. They can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for a couple of days and are great served with some natural yoghurt and mint!

Check out our Instagram account for more food inspiration from the NAQ Nutrition team!

Ingredients
1 onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 - 2 red chillies, finely chopped
1 400g can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
2 sweet potatoes, grated
1/2 cup plain flour
2 eggs
2 teaspoons ground paprika
2 teaspoons ground coriander
Fresh parsley, chopped
Fresh coriander, chopped
Salt and pepper, to season

Method
1. Sauté diced onion, finely chopped garlic and chilli in a little extra virgin olive oil until translucent. Allow to cool.
2. Mash chickpeas in a large bowl and combine with grated sweet potato, plain flour, eggs, ground paprika, ground coriander, fresh parsley and fresh coriander. Add cooked onion, garlic and chilli. Season with salt and pepper. Mix well.
3. Shape fritters into desired size and cook in some extra virgin olive oil on both sides until cooked through.

Online Resources

Boost your Healthy

The Boost your Healthy digital hub has been developed by Health and Wellbeing Queensland to provide support, inspiration and ideas to help Queenslanders stay healthy and active during COVID-19.

It features content from a wide range of Health and Wellbeing Queensland Alliance Partners who have played a valuable role in supporting the creation of the site. It also offers a platform for people to showcase how they are staying healthy through #BoostCampQld, and the Big Boost will feature a series of challenges to motivate and encourage people to stay healthy at this difficult time. Find out more below!

Motivation versus routine:
Which is more effective for moving more?

A recent article by Health and Wellbeing Queensland unpacks the difference between motivation versus routine with accredited exercise physiologist Kate Bell, who provides some great tips on developing good habits and getting back into exercise.

To read the full article click here.

Big Boost Challenges

The Billion Steps Challenge

The first Big Boost initiative of The Billion Steps Challenge was a huge success! In just 32 days, 5,874 people from close to 320 different postcodes across the state joined The Billion Steps Challenge and together completed 1,045,633,917 steps!

To find out more about this great active initiative, click here.

QCWA Cook at Home Challenge

The second Big Boost initiative of the QCWA Cook at Home Challenge is still running! In partnership with the Queensland Country Women’s Association (QCWA) and Health and Wellbeing Queensland we are proudly supporting this Boost your Healthy initiative offering you the chance to win great prizes, including a KitchenAid Stand Mixer!

To find out more and to get involved, visit Boost your Healthy and start sharing. Entries close 11:59pm Monday 27th July.

The Wellbeing Series

The third Big Boost initiative of The Wellbeing Series has just launched!

Wellbeing, it’s a word that gets used a lot, particularly now, but what exactly does it mean to be a well being? My health for life, on behalf of Health and Wellbeing Queensland for their Boost your Healthy initiative, are answering that question through a series of eight short videos. Each video features a range of well-known Queensland identities, health professionals and everyday Queenslanders, and investigates and celebrates the essential ingredients for living well.

Why not take a moment out of your day to check out the videos and discover what it takes to be a well being. To find out more and to watch The Wellbeing Series, click here.

Events and Training Opportunities

Food Safety Supervisor Course

Through COVID-19 we continue to offer food safety supervisor courses. Our courses include industry specific content and are designed with the needs of our students in mind. Our Food Safety Supervisor course:

Meets the requirements of nationally recognised training
Prepares food safety supervisors to supervise and oversee day to day operations and to prevent and recognise food safety hazards
Early years and aged care courses are specifically designed for those working with vulnerable populations

We provide opportunities for students to complete the course and all assessment in one day at face-to-face training, with no take home assignments.

Click on the following links for more information on the venue, cost and to register for our upcoming courses:

Food Safety Supervisor Course for Early Years Settings
Thursday 13th August 2020 9:00am - 4:00pm

Food Safety Supervisor Course for Aged Care Settings
Thursday 13th August 2020 9:00am - 4:00pm

We also offer this course remotely during COVID-19. If you would like to know more about how you can complete the course remotely please email training@naqld.org

Online Training

We have just released new online nutrition training for early years and OSHC educators!

The training covers the nutrition basics that all staff working in the early years sector or OSHC need to be aware of including the Australian Dietary Guidelines, Get Up and Grow Guidelines (for ECEC educators) and nutrition in the National Quality Standard. Our Online nutrition training can help settings meet and exceed their requirements under the National Quality Standard. Click on the links below for more information and to register.

Level 1 – Nutrition Requirements for the Early Years Sector

Click here for more information

Level 1 – Nutrition Requirements for OSHC Educators

Click here for more information

Do you have a question for the Healthy at Home team?

You can email your enquiries to healthyathome@naqld.org

NAQ Nutrition
12/212 Curtin Avenue West
Eagle Farm QLD 4009
Ph: (07) 3257 4393
www.naqld.org