Only 35 percent of Australians is meeting the recommended vegetable intake, with alcohol, fast food, and sweets dominating the national diet landscape, said a report of Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
The “CSIRO Healthy Diet Score” report assessed various factors, including the quantity, quality, and variety of foods consumed, to estimate compliance with the Australian Dietary Guidelines. They conducted the study over eight years and surveyed more than 235,000 Australian adults.
THE SCORES
The report Scores were assigned on a scale of 0 to 100, where a higher score indicated a healthier diet. Unfortunately, the average diet score scraped by at just 55 out of 100, emphasizing the need for dietary improvements and a collective effort to combat the nation’s expanding waistlines.
Report co-author, Gilly Hendrie, expressed concern over these results. She stated, “The score is a stark reminder of the work that needs to be done to improve our eating habits and reduce the national waistline.”
DIETARY HABITS
The report delved further into dietary habits, revealing that discretionary foods, such as alcohol, cakes, biscuits, chocolate, confectionery, and takeaway items, were the lowest-scoring aspect of diet quality across all age groups and genders, earning a mere 20 out of 100.
Notably, the consumption of vegetables received a slightly higher score, averaging 58 out of 100. However, only four out of 10 adults reported including three or more different vegetables in their main meals, a crucial indicator of a healthy diet.
The one area where Australians fared better was beverages, with respondents achieving a commendable score of 93 out of 100 by choosing water over soft drinks and juices.
JUNK FOOD AND CONSTRCUTION
Breaking down the data, the report found that construction workers and individuals in the beauty and fashion industries consumed the most junk food, with an average of 45 servings per week.
While women displayed a marginally better diet quality than men, they also exhibited a significantly higher vegetable intake.
Many Say that opting for fresh produce over processed foods is a simple yet effective way to enhance diets. Veggies and fruits should be the cornerstone of daily diet. Planning ahead also emerged as a key strategy for both eating well and managing costs.
