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Bringing you the latest nutrition information and food ideas to help boost your health and wellbeing.
Latest News and Research
Combo meal deals and price discounts on fast food encourage us to eat more junk. It’s time for policy action
The Conversation recently looked into the price promotions offered by the biggest fast food chains in Australia. As a country, we love to eat out, especially fast food. About a third of household food budgets are spent on food prepared outside the home, with most of us consuming it on average two or three times a week. But what impact is this having on our health? Click here to read the full article.
Could I eat the recommended amount of fruit and veggies each day?
ABC Everyday reporter Jennifer Wong challenged herself to eat the recommended amount of fruit and vegetables as per the Australian Dietary Guidelines. Click here to read about her journey, and some of her tips and tricks.
How to know when comfort eating is becoming a problem
ABC Everyday explores comfort eating, as a lot of people have turned to food for comfort during the pandemic. However, comfort eating can become a concern when food is your only coping mechanism to deal with emotions. Click here to read the full article.
Handwashing Survey Results
The Food Safety Information Council and Environmental Health Australia have together developed a report card on foodborne illness in Australia, derived from the results of the 2020 Omnipoll handwashing survey. The results below put the spotlight on handwashing behaviour and the incidence of foodborne illness in the Australian population.
✔ Less diagnosed food poisoning. 2020 saw a drop in diagnosed cases of Campylobacter and Salmonella poisoning.
✔ Handwashing improved after toilet use.
✖ Handwashing decreased before food preparation. There was a 5% drop (down to 58%) in the number of people who said they always washed their hands before handling food.
✖ Need to close the gender gap. Men were less likely than women to say they always wash their hands before touching food (53% compared to 62%).
✖ Need to close the age gap. Only 55% of individuals aged 18 - 34 said they always wash their hands before handling food, compared with 61% of those older than 50.
For tips on correct handwashing technique, see the Food Safety Information Council website.
Dental Health Week
Dental Health Week (DHW) is the Australian Dental Association’s (ADA) major annual oral health campaign. It takes place each year in the first full week of August, and this year it runs from 2 - 8 August.
The 2021 campaign focuses on the importance of taking steps to care for your teeth and gums to help you to keep your teeth and smile for life. The ADA's main oral health messages and the four key messages of the 2021 DHW campaign aim to reinforce the importance of maintaining good oral health to keep your teeth for life:
- Brush teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
- Clean between your teeth daily using floss or interdental brushes
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet and limit added sugar intake
- Visit the dentist regularly for check-ups and preventive care
For more information and to get involved, click here.
Recipe Idea
Sweet Potato Cakes with Avocado Salsa
Ingredients
Sweet Potato Cakes
400g chickpeas, drained and rinsed
400g sweet potato, peeled and diced
1 small red onion, peeled and finely diced
½ bunch coriander, finely chopped
¼ cup parmesan cheese
Avocado Salsa
2 ripe avocados, mashed
¼ red onion, peeled and finely chopped
1 tomato, finely diced
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
1 lime, juiced
Makes 10.
Method
1. Preheat oven to 200°C and line a large baking tray with baking paper.
2. In a large saucepan, cover the diced sweet potato with water and bring to the boil. Simmer until soft, then drain well and mash. Allow to cool.
3. In a large mixing bowl, mash the drained chickpeas.
4. Add the mashed sweet potato, finely diced red onion and finely chopped coriander to the bowl. Mix well to combine.
5. Shape the mixture into 10 cakes and place on the prepared baking tray.
6. Top each cake with grated parmesan cheese.
7. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to cool slightly before serving.
8. To make the avocado salsa, place the mashed avocado, finely diced red onion, finely diced tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil and lime juice in a large mixing bowl. Mix well to combine.
9. Serve the sweet potato cakes with the avocado salsa on top.
Check out our Instagram account for more food inspiration from the Nutrition Australia Qld team!
Online Resources
Boost your Recipes
The team at Nutrition Australia Qld have been busy behind the scenes working with our friends at Health and Wellbeing Queensland to help launch their new hub of nutritious and delicious recipes, which aim to inspire the home cook in all of us. Boost your recipes and share with your friends and colleagues. Click here to find out more!
Queensland Healthy Kids Menu
Healthy Kids Menu is an innovative healthy eating initiative from Health and Wellbeing Queensland (HWQld) designed to improve the availability and promotion of healthier food and drink on kid’s menus at cafes, restaurants, hotels, and clubs.
The initiative outlines a set of nutritional guidelines to help venues make healthy food and drink options more readily available to children. HWQld will be offering individualised support to help businesses to do this in a realistic and sustainable way. Click here to find out more!
Boost your Healthy
The Boost your Healthy digital hub has been developed by Health and Wellbeing Queensland (HWQld) to provide support, inspiration and ideas to help Queenslanders stay healthy and active during COVID-19.
It features content from a wide range of HWQld 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.
Events and Opportunities
Baby's First Foods Online Webinar
NAQ Nutrition are excited to be launching our first Baby's First Foods online webinar! If you are a parent of a child aged 3-9 months, we welcome you to join us in learning the WHAT, WHEN, HOW and WHY of starting first foods with your baby. Come and have your questions answered by our experienced Early Years Dietitians. Click here for more information and to register via Eventbrite.
Baby's First Foods
When: Monday 16th August 10.30am - 11:30am
Where: Zoom - upon registration you will receive a Zoom link to join the webinar
Cost: $22
Active Parks Cooking Workshops
NAQ Nutrition hosts cooking workshops as part of the Brisbane City Council's Active Parks program. These cooking workshops are open to people living in the Brisbane City Council area, aged 18 years and over, and are $5 per participant. Check out the following Active Parks sessions coming up:
The
Science Behind Cooking (18 years and over)
Monday 16th August 10am - 11:30am
Kitchen in the Garden - Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mount Coot-tha
In 2021, National Science Week is following the theme Food: Different by Design? Come along to this hands on, interactive cooking workshop where we will explore the science behind the recipes we are cooking. Click here for more information and to register.
Cooking for the Whole Family (18 years and over)
Monday 6th September 10am - 11:30am
Kitchen in the Garden - Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mount Coot-tha
Learn how to cook healthy meals for the whole family in this hands on cooking workshop. Run by an experienced Dietitian. Click here for more information and to register.
GOLD Cooking Workshops
NAQ Nutrition hosts cooking workshops as part of the Brisbane City Council's GOLD (Growing Older and Living Dangerously) program. The program is for people living in the Brisbane City Council area, aged 50 years and over, and cooking workshops are $5 per participant. Check out the following GOLD session coming up next month:
Spanish Fiesta (50 years and over)
Wednesday 15th September 10am - 11:30am
Brighton Wellness Hub - Corner Nineteenth Ave, Brighton
Discover the secrets to authentic Spanish cooking in this hands on cooking class. Prepare meals that are full of flavour and easy to recreate at home. You become the chef and enjoy the finished product at the end of the session. Click here for more information and to register when bookings open on 11th August.
Live Well Logan Cooking Workshops
NAQ Nutrition hosts cooking workshops as part of the Logan City Council’s Live Well Logan program. These cooking workshops are open to people living in the Logan City Council area, aged 18 years and over, and are $3 per participant. Check out the following Live Well Logan session coming up next month:
Cooking for a Healthy
Heart (50 years and over)
Saturday 25th September 1pm - 2:30pm
Beenleigh Neighbourhood Centre - 10 - 12 James Street, Beenleigh
Keep your heart healthy without compromising the taste of your meals. Learn practical tips at this hands-on cooking session, where you will be the chef. Click here for more information and to register when bookings open on 9th September.
KRANK Teens School Holiday Cooking Workshops
NAQ Nutrition hosts cooking workshops as part of the Logan City Council’s KRANK Teens School Holiday program. These cooking workshops are open to people living in the Logan City Council area, aged 12 - 17 years, and are $3 per participant. Check out the following KRANK Teens session coming up next month:
Cooking with Australian Flavours (KRANK Teens 12 -17 years)
Monday 27th September 10am - 11:30am
Chambers Flat Community Centre - 49 - 65 Kenny Rd, Chambers Flat
Join us for a hands on cooking workshop where we will prepare some healthy meals and treats using Australian flavours. Click here for more information and to register when bookings open on 13th September.
Food Safety Supervisor Course
Our food safety supervisor 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 a face-to-face training.
Click on the following links for more information on the venue, cost and to register for our 2021 courses:
Food Safety Supervisor Course for Early Years Settings and Aged Care Settings
Thursday 16th September 2021 9am - 4pm
Thursday 11th November 2021 9am - 4pm
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.
Do you have a question for the Healthy at Home team?
You can email your enquiries to healthyathome@naqld.org
Have you visited our
Healthy at Home website?
Nutrition information for all ages
NAQ Nutrition
12/212 Curtin Avenue West
Eagle Farm QLD 4009
Ph: (07) 3257 4393
www.naqld.org
