Cooking? Who has time for that?

A recent study, published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, has shown that nearly half of all New Zealanders will be clinically obese within 20 years. The primary causes for these alarming statistics are junk food and sedentary lifestyles. These are issues we can change!

Auckland University Professor Boyd Swinburn has estimated that the annual healthcare costs of overweight and obesityrelated conditions are now about $1 billion, including lost productivity. As Benjamin Franklin once said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Cooking is a great way of shaping our own health future and falls firmly into the ‘prevention’ category. When we are reliant on food manufacturers and fast food chains to feed us, we essentially hand over control of our health to them. Food Industry marketing has convinced us that cooking is too hard, too time-consuming and that they can do it better.

Not so! Cooking is such a vital a life-skill and one that is of enormous benefit to our children. It will have a huge impact on their health as they grow into adults. Studies show that the habits we establish in childhood are what we carry through into adulthood.

Cooking together with your children is a wonderful opportunity to teach them about healthy food. It offers them a way to contribute to the family and provides a platform to talk about their day. They learn how to eat a variety of foods and experiment; they can learn maths skills, organisation skills, showcase their creativity – and have fun!

Results of a study completed by the University of Cambridge showed that “Cooking dinner frequently at home is associated with consumption of a healthier diet.” It saves money; allergies or food sensitivities can be easier to manage, and studies show that eating together as a family encourages better relationships as well as healthier eating habits. The time you invest in the kitchen can pay significant health dividends.

If you would like help with creating new habits, learning some new cooking skills and planning a nutritious way of eating, contact me at paula@nutritionsense.co.nz

by Paula Southworth Nutritionist from NutritionSense (BSc Human Nutrition and Sports Science, Massey University) www.nutritionsense.co.nz

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