The document emphasizes the importance of healthy eating for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations to prevent chronic diseases and improve overall health. It provides statistics on current dietary habits and offers tips for modifying meals to be healthier while encouraging community involvement and cultural appropriateness in nutrition. Resources for healthy eating, such as recipe modifications and guides, are also included to facilitate better food choices.

1. • • • Deadly Nutrition • • •
Annalie Houston – Dietetian
Tanya Saldanha – Nutrition
Promotion
Inala Indigenous Health
Ph: 3101 4222

2. Introduction
 Dietitian: Annalie
 Nutrition Promotion: Tanya
 Inala Indigenous Health Service
 “Deadly”

3. What is eating healthy and why bother?
 Eating a wide variety of nutritious foods
(from the five food groups).
 Enjoying food.
 Healthy foods contain all the
energy, minerals, vitamins and fibre you need.
 Healthy eating is a key factor to prevent or control
chronic diseases (cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic
kidney disease, chronic respiratory disease, cancer) .
 Improves behaviour and reduces fatigue.

4. Background
 Eating healthy foods is really important
through out the life cycle.
 Nutrients are parts of food that are important
to help our bodies function.
 Eating vegetable and fruit everyday keeps
bodies healthy.

5. Background
 Lifestyle related chronic diseases (eg. type 2
diabetes and cardiovascular disease) contribute to the
poorer health experienced in Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander populations in
Australia.

6. Statistics
 The current gap in life expectancy is estimated at
11.5 years for males and 9.7 years for females.
 Chronic diseases are the major causes of
mortality, and 70% of the gap in health outcomes
is due to chronic disease.
 Healthy eating helps prevent and manage these.

7. Statistics- fruit and vegetable intake
 5% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
aged 15 years and over reported eating an adequate
amount of vegetables daily. (59%)
 66% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
aged 15 years and over were overweight or obese.
(62.8%)
Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2013. Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey: First Results, Australia, 2012-13

8. Statistics
Proportions (%) of people reporting diabetes/high sugar levels as a long-term
health condition, by Indigenous status, and age-group, Australia, 2012-
2013
Source: ABS 2013

9. Australian Guide to Healthy Eating

10. Australian Guide to Healthy Eating

11. Typical day- sample meal plan

12. Tips for providing and encouraging
healthy meals.
 Modify familiar recipes to make them
healthier.
Example:
- add grated carrot and zucchini or a can of
lentils to spaghetti bolognaise;
- home made pizzas with fresh toppings.
 See every meal as an opportunity to include
vegetables.

13. Modifying recipes:
To include more vegetables,
reduce fat & maintain TASTE
 Lasagne is a popular meal choice for many
Australians. Simple changes you can make to the
basic lasagne recipe to increase the serves of
vegetables, reduce the amount of fat, and to
increase the fibre content.
 Make this a vegetarian lasagne by removing the
mince, and replacing with roasted vegetables. Also
add some kidney beans, lentils, or chickpeas as a
meat alternative.
 Handout of Recipe modification example.
http://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/eating-well/healthy-recipes/how-modify-recipe-include-more-
vegetables-and-reduce-fat

14. Tips for providing and encouraging
healthy eating and meals.
 Involving children and adolescents in
food choices and preparation.
 Community gardens.

15. Tips for providing and encouraging
healthy meals.
 Use culturally appropriate resources. Eg
posters, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Guide to Healthy Eating, recipe books.
 This will provide an inclusive and
participatory environment.

16. Nutrition specific culturally
appropriate resources

17. Nutrition specific culturally
appropriate resources

18. Recipe ideas – affordable, easy &
TASTY

19. A Better Choice
 A Better Choice a resource that helps to create an
environment that makes healthy food choices easier
choices by improving the range, availability and
promotion of healthy foods and drinks. It will also
limit the availability of less healthy options. (A great
resource for catering.)
 Uses a ‘traffic light’ system to help decided on foods.
http://www.health.qld.gov.au/health_professionals/fo
od/abetterchoice.asp

20. Resources
 IIHS catering guidelines (printed copies available today)
 Recipe cards and books (printed copies available today)
 Which Way Posters
 www.eatforhealth.gov.au
 Nutrition Australia: www.naqld.org
 Health Infonet – great resource on Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander nutrition. http://www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/health-
risks/nutrition
 Qld Education healthy food strategy:
http://education.qld.gov.au/schools/healthy/food-drink-
strategy.html

21. Thank you for your time
 Questions?
 Feedback?
 Comments?