Australians not eating enough from the five food groups - Tooronga Family Dentistry in Glen Iris

AUSTRALIAN HEALTH SURVERY RESULTS
The 2011-2012 Australian Health Survey revealed Australians are not meeting their daily recommended dietary serves across the five food groups. The results showed that less than four per cent of the population met the Australian Dietary Guidelines (ADGs) for vegetables and legumes/beans each day, 10 per cent for the dairy food group, 14 per cent for lean meats and alternatives, 30 per cent for grain (cereal) foods and 31 per cent for fruit.

A confusing nutrition landscape and popularisation of fad diets goes some way to explaining the under-consumption of foods from the five food groups. However, the survey also revealed that on average, 35 per cent of Australians’ total daily energy intake came from discretionary (junk) foods. This suggests that Australians are reaching for discretionary foods when they should be reaching for foods from the five food groups.

HOW HAVE AUSTRALIANS’ DIETS CHANGED?
A CSIRO study comparing Australian diets from 1995-1996 to 2011-2012, based on national nutrition survey data showed that Australians’ had improved. In 2011-2012, Australians were eating more fruit, a greater diversity of vegetables, less refined sugar, more yoghurt and there was an increased preference for brown and wholegrain cereals. However, it also showed that Australians were still not eating in a manner consistent with the ADGs. In addition, the vegetables and legumes and the dairy food groups continue to be the most under-consumed of the five food groups. The key learnings from the comparison in Australian diets from 199 to 2011 were that Australians need to reduce their consumption of energy-dense and nutrient poor discretionary foods and eat more whole fruit, vegetables, legumes and dairy foods such as milk, cheese and yoghurt.

DENTISTS PROVIDING NUTRITION ADVICE
A recent survey by Dairy Australia exploring the opinions and attitudes of 100 dentists found that 92 per cent provide nutritional advice to patients, with a round 45 per cent of consultations involving a nutrition component. The most common piece of dietary advice dentists provide to patients is to reduce consumption of sugar sweetened beverages and foods high in sugar. In addition, 1 in 5 dentists recognise the importance of recommending milk, cheese and yoghurt as part of their patient’s daily lives.

While there have been some small improvements in Australian diets over time, dentists can play a crucial role in encouraging their patients to reduce discretionary foods and eat a wider variety of foods from the five food groups. Dentists an us the Foods that Do Good Nutrition Calculator to generate tailored fact sheets for every age and gender to show their patients how many recommended serves of each of the five food groups they need for optimal health.

Source: Australian Dental Association News Bulletin