Australia is one of the most overweight developed nations, It is at an all-time high with over 60% of adults and one in four children overweight or obese (AIHW, 2017). To reverse this epidemic it starts with changing external environmental factors that have a negative effect on our diet. External environmental factors such as lifestyle, personal dietary choices, family and peers greatly influence our eating habits. These external environments are the cause to why obesity and health issues are increasing. In 2007 the Queensland government implemented the Smart Choice program in school tuckshops. It is a program designed to offer healthy food and drink options to the students. Nutrition education is an important component of primary health education
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Educating adolescence about dietary choices will encourage a positive attitude towards fruits and vegetables and balance and moderation. The food being consumed within MSHS, for example a 250ml Oak milk that is very popular within the school contains 31.8g sugar (8 teaspoons of sugar) and 10.2g of fat in just this one drink. Within the survey conducted 80% of MSHS consider themselves to eat ‘healthy’ and foods and drinks such as milks to be healthy. A study in Sydney university found especially bad eating habits from adolescents, with 76 per cent of teenagers exceeding the guidelines for daily sugar intake REFRENCE. Research indicated that in the past 20 years, there was little to no change in the eating habits of Australians and their consumption of sugar REFRENCE. This evidence demonstrates that nutritional food labels is underutilized by consumers and is an important source of nutritional information to see how much sugar and fat is being consumed. “Consumers with prior knowledge are more likely to use label information effectively, that is, focus on salient information, understand information, and make healthful decisions based on this REFRENCE.” Educating adolescence on nutrition and teaching them how to utilize the nutrition labels will teach them and courage them to make better dietary decisions, because they will be aware of how much sugar and fat etc. is being consumed in their meals and
Educating adolescence about dietary choices will encourage a positive attitude towards fruits and vegetables and balance and moderation. The food being consumed within MSHS, for example a 250ml Oak milk that is very popular within the school contains 31.8g sugar (8 teaspoons of sugar) and 10.2g of fat in just this one drink. Within the survey conducted 80% of MSHS consider themselves to eat ‘healthy’ and foods and drinks such as milks to be healthy. A study in Sydney university found especially bad eating habits from adolescents, with 76 per cent of teenagers exceeding the guidelines for daily sugar intake REFRENCE. Research indicated that in the past 20 years, there was little to no change in the eating habits of Australians and their consumption of sugar REFRENCE. This evidence demonstrates that nutritional food labels is underutilized by consumers and is an important source of nutritional information to see how much sugar and fat is being consumed. “Consumers with prior knowledge are more likely to use label information effectively, that is, focus on salient information, understand information, and make healthful decisions based on this REFRENCE.” Educating adolescence on nutrition and teaching them how to utilize the nutrition labels will teach them and courage them to make better dietary decisions, because they will be aware of how much sugar and fat etc. is being consumed in their meals and