You may be surprised by how much salt your kids are consuming.
While parents think a lot about how much sugar is in their child’s lunchbox, few give much thought about salt.
New research from Heart Foundation and VicHealth’s Unpack the Salt campaign has shown Victorian parents are confused about the amount of salt their families should be consuming.
Although 58 per cent of parents believe their family eats the right amount of salt, the fact is most Australians consume nearly double the recommended amount of salt.
The research found that only 27 per cent of parents had tried to reduce their family’s salt intake, highlighting a disturbing lack of concern or awareness about the health risks of salt.
Other key findings included:
– 60% of parents were more worried about sugar than salt
– Only 27% of parents were aware they should be eating less than a teaspoon of salt
– 21% of parents believe kids who are active should be able to eat more salt
– 19% of parents think eating a lot of salt is OK as long as it’s the ‘right’ type
VicHealth CEO Jerril Rechter said there was a lot of misinformation from self-proclaimed health experts that was clearly having an impact on parents’ knowledge about salt.
“There is a lot of conflicting information about nutrition and what to feed your family – particularly with the rise of food blogs and foodie influencers – so it’s really tough for parents to sort fact from fiction,” Ms Rechter said.
“We want parents to know that too much salt – whether it’s pink, from the sea or the Himalayas – is harmful for their family’s health.”
Heart Foundation dietitian Sian Armstrong said skipping the salt in school lunchboxes can make a big difference to your child’s future heart health.
“We know kids who develop a taste for salt are at risk of high blood pressure in adulthood, which can lead to heart attack, stroke and kidney disease,” she said.
“Seventy-five percent of the salt we consume daily is hidden in processed and packaged foods, and what’s particularly concerning is some of these foods don’t even taste salty.”
Here are some quick tips to swap the salty snacks in school lunchboxes:
– Store-bought muffins can be loaded with too much salt, sugar and fat. Try a zucchini or vegetable slice as a fun way to help you child eat more veggies
– Swap salty dips for a low salt version or better yet, make your own hummus or tzatziki, and pair with carrot, celery or cucumber sticks
– Rice crackers are often viewed as ‘healthy snacks’ but flavoured varieties can pack a salt punch. Switch flavoured rice crackers for plain rice crackers, plain rice cakes or plain corn cakes
– Swap salt and vinegar chips for a packet of unsalted popcorn
Ms Armstrong is also urging parents to make a commitment to reduce their family’s salt intake by joining the Unpack your Lunch 10 Day Salt Challenge. The challenge offers tips, information and healthy salt-reduced recipes that are simple and easy to cook.
