Year 13 Food And Nutrition

The Y13 Food & Nutrition class has been looking at the effect of the over consumption of sugar .... thanks for this insight and some great alternatives for lunchboxes and sport snacks!  Check out what they have to say .......

The over consumption of sugar in New Zealand has become apparent in the last couple of years, with the rise of sugar related diseases affecting the population of the country. It is suggested that children consume around 3 teaspoons of sugar a day and that adults consume around 6 teaspoons of sugar a day. New Zealand's statistics for sugar consumption are up around 30 teaspoons of sugar a day being consumed by both children and adults. This over consumption is leading to some serious health issues. There has been an increase in obesity levels in New Zealand, and it is suspected that sugar is a leading cause in this. Obesity also links with the levels of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. These are serious lifelong health issues than can be prevented by a correct, healthy diet and lifestyle.

This year our Food and Nutrition class has been focusing on the over consumption of sugar in New Zealand and its effects on our health. Sugar isn’t always counted as the white stuff you put in your hot drinks, or the sugar you put on your breakfast in the morning. Yes, those sugars are included in how much you consume in a day, but the real damage is done when we consume products that have hidden sugars. Products like prepackaged and processed food items often contain a lot more sugar than we realise.

Sports drinks such as Powerade and Gatorade contain substantial amounts of sugar. Many people in the sporting community consume these drinks because it gives them energy and a power boost to play their best in a game. But this doesn't stop the effects of the sugar on their bodies. A better alternative would be to plan in advance and eat a piece of fruit such as a banana, which has energy that will be released over time and give you energy for the game. Not only is this a healthy option, but it also helps to keep you fuller for longer and lessens the amount of sugar you consume. Fruits are good options for energy snacks.  Although they contain sugar, the sugar in fruits is natural and isn't as harmful for you.

It is almost impossible to completely cut sugar out of your diet, but there is definitely ways that you can reduce your intake. We made some healthy muesli bars, which are made up of mainly nuts, seeds and dried fruits, we also used coconut oil, which is a healthier option compared to butter. The slice has a thin layer of dark chocolate, which adds to the flavour and also assists in the energy release. We gave this to the Senior Netball girls to test out at their training this morning, and it went down well. The slice was a good option because the energy is released over time, and would give them the energy to train or play, without the need for sugar filled drinks and lollies.

You don't have to completely cut out the sugar, but finding better options such as this would be a better way to control how much sugar you consume.