Junk Food

Summary

• What foods should we be eating?

• What is junk food?
• What is the issue with junk food?
• What is a serve of junk food?
• Is healthy eating really more expensive?
• Healthy vs. unhealthy meal comparisons
• Tips
• Junk food resources
What should we be eating?
 What is junk food?

• High energy nutrient poor foods that

are not needed for good health
• Should only be consumed occasionally
and in small amounts
• Examples include hot chips, pies,
chocolate, cakes, biscuits etc
What’s the issue with junk food?

• Increases the risk of

overweight and
obesity, bringing
heart disease, type 2
diabetes and cancer
closer
 What’s the issue with junk food?

• 95% of Australians are eating too much

junk food
• 35% of an adult’s (and 41% of a child’s)
energy intake comes from junk food
• 28% of the average household food budget
is spent of fast food and eating out
What’s the issue with junk food?

• Too convenient
• Too tasty
• Available everywhere
• Heavily promoted
• So commonly consumed we often don’t
notice when we eat it
 What’s a serve of junk food?

2x 1x

x
6x

1x 1 x small
piece
(30g)
 What’s a serve of junk food?

serve
x

1 x small
x x
Is eating healthy really more expensive?
Is eating healthy really more expensive?
 Healthy vs. unhealthy

• Nutrition vs value for money?

Let’s have a closer look..

 Healthy vs. unhealthy

Homemade Takeaway
 Healthy vs. unhealthy

In one Energy Total Saturate Veg $

serve fat d fat serves
Healthy
option: 11.8
1968 kJ 3g 2½ $3.65
Homemade g
Burger
Junk
option:
54.9
Large take 3803 kJ 15.7 g <½ $7.50
away g
burger
Which of these options would be more filling?
What should I drink?
 Tips to avoid the junk food trap

• Plan ahead
• Bring healthy food from home
• Carry a piece of fruit or nuts in your bag
• Carry a water bottle with you
• Avoid highly processed packaged food
• Write a shopping list and stick to it!
• Do a big cook-up and freeze individual portions for a quick meal
 Conclusion

• Eating junk foods can cause weight gain and replace healthier
foods in the diet
• For most people there is no room for junk food
• Focus on the 5 essential food groups for good health
• Opt for water as your beverage of choice
• Make homemade versions of typical takeaway foods (e.g. healthy
pizza or burger)