Unhealthy Eating

The issue

Nutrition plays a major role in your overall health and wellbeing. Too much fat, sugar, salt and refined carbohydrates can contribute to an unhealthy diet and often leads to the consumption of excess kilojoules. In addition, unhealthy diets often do not contain adequate nutrients such as fibre, vitamins and minerals. A poor diet can lead to weight gain and is closely linked to type 2 diabetes, heart disease, some cancers, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure and other health conditions.

The Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend that Australian adults enjoy a wide variety of nutritious foods from each of the five food groups, including plenty of whole grains, fresh fruit and vegetables, and limiting foods with a high saturated fat, salt and sugar content. 

Encouraging healthy eating at work can be beneficial for business. When workers consume healthy food and drinks at work it helps to maintain their energy levels and concentration, and is associated with better mental health and boosted immune function. Workers who eat well are more likely to be healthier, happier and more productive.

What can your workplace do?

Workplaces can make a big difference to the type of food and drink consumed by staff during the work day. For a little encouragement take a look at our toolbox videos for ways to overcome unhealthy eating.

Toolbox video #8: Are your snack foods fat foods?

Toolbox video #7: Eat brighter to live lighter

Or download our 'Healthier eating and drinking policy' to see how your workplace can encourage staff to eat healthier. 

Have you heard about?

• Healthy Choices Healthy Futures provides advice, support and recommendations to improve workplace catering, vending machines and onsite cafes, canteens or kiosks. The HCHF team can also help with food and drink policy development and other nutrition related queries in the workplace. 
• My Healthy Balance is a free online, educational healthy lifestyle program which encourages and supports healthy behaviour changes related to physical activity, healthy eating and healthy weight.