Australia’s peak scientific research agency has unveiled a Junk Food Analyser quiz this week that could help you overcome that sweet tooth.
The free online tool uses a simple five-minute quiz to weigh up how many serves of junk food you consume each month compared to healthy eating guidelines.
This includes looking at what types of junk food make up your overall food intake – such as biscuits, cakes, ice cream, chips, soft drinks, processed meats, takeaway and alcohol (eek!)
The tool then lets you know how many kilojoules you could save by reducing the number of chips and cakes you scoff – and provides strategies to help you avoid them.
I came off relatively well in the results – but was warned to keep my chocolate and wine intake under control (humph).
Others in the office who were sent the test were told firmly it was time to cut down on the bikkies and beers.
Alcohol takes the top spot
These results are comparable to the wider population, with alcohol the highest consumed junk food (21% of total discretionary food intake), followed by cakes and biscuits (19%), sugar-sweetened beverages (12%), and savoury pies and pastries (9%).
So, is the survey being too tough on Aussie diets – and should we just aim for ‘everything in moderation’?
The CSIRO says they just want to alert people to what they are really taking in.
Australian adults are currently eating around twice as many ‘discretionary foods’ as what is recommended in the country’s dietary guidelines – which have been around since 2013 – with 5.1 servings consumed every day.
Fair enough – as long as I can have my coffee.
You can take the quiz for yourself here.
