This is a picture I snapped from Episode 2 of Magda's Big Health Check. You can watch it on iView here.
Magda pulled this stunt of having a tip truck deliver 3 tonnes of sand and dump it in the centre of a park. This 3 tonnes represents the amount of sugar, the average Australian eats every year.
This stunt got me thinking about what Australian children are eating in their lunchbox every day, so I created this graphic for you. Please keep in mind, this is just the sugar from the packet foods in their lunchbox. It doesn't include sugar from fruit, cereal, other snacks nor dinner.
It's pretty shocking isn't it?
I'd love you to keep this graphic top and centre in your mind as you read through my summary of episode 2.
The episode kicked off with a reminder that 50% of Australian's are now living with a chronic health condition. Then it followed this up with this statement:
"If you're not in that statistic, then someone you love and care about is."
This is real.
If you've been sitting on the fence about speaking up because you're worried about being 'that mum', it's time to stop tolerating the behaviour.
I'm not just talking about tolerating the behaviour of those who are giving out foods that aren't supporting health, I'm talking about tolerating your own behaviour of not doing anything about it. This is just allowing the health crisis to grow.
Ouch right? I'm sorry but not sorry. I'm here to have the hard conversations. This is one of them.
Our kids deserve you to be their health hero. Please do not stop reading - remember the graphic of how much sugar our kids are eating?
Here's what else was covered in this episode.
Sugar Impacts Every Part Of The Body
We store it. If we don't use it, then it can cause fatty liver and weight gain.
It affects the heart, brain, increases the risk of cancer and diabetes type 2.
Sugar is driving obesity rates through the roof.
Almost half of Aussie kids consume sugar sweetened drinks every day.
Australia is the 5th largest consumer of sugar per capita in the world.
The show said shared how the food industry is using the same techniques as tobacco industry did years ago. This food to be orchestrated to be highly addictive.
Diabetes 2 is Australia's fastest growing Chronic illness
There was so much more covered in this episode so I highly encourage you to watch the 2 episodes (Madga's Big Health Check).