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 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 in the type of food and drink consumed by staff during the workday. For a little encouragement, take a look at our toolbox videos for ways to overcome unhealthy eating, and keep your weight in check.

• Toolbox video: How easy is it to get into your pants?
• Toolbox video: Portions affect your proportions
• Toolbox video: Are you drinking yourself fat?
• Toolbox video: Eat brighter live lighter
• Toolbox video: Are your snack foods fat foods?

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

Eat Brighter Live Lighter: Buy more colour, eat better

The Cancer Council WA's Livelighter campaign 'Buy more colour, eat better' will help you discover ways to get some extra fruit and veggies in your day. The fact is, eating more fruit and veggies may be the single most important dietary change needed to improve health, protect against a number of diseases and help maintain a healthy weight. 

Use this Lunchbox Builder to put together a nutritious and filling lunchbox for your work day. 

Read our Health Works Newsletter for tips to 'Buy more colour, eat better'.

Have you heard about?

• Healthy Choices Healthy Futures offers a range of free resources to assist workplaces to improve catering, vending machines and onsite cafes or canteens. 
• 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.