Healthiest lunchboxes don't come from home

Last night's leftovers and snacks from the local convenience store are fattening up Australian workers according to a study by Apple and Pear Australia Limited (APAL).

The APAL 'What's in your lunchbox?' survey showed that 55% of respondents who purchased their lunch everyday were choosing sandwiches or salads and staying away from fast food options (13%). However this number fell by almost 15% for workers who brought their lunch in from home.

"Left over pizza and last night's dinner are becoming the 'takeaway' of the modern office," says Darral Ashton, Chairman of APAL. "When faced with a food court full of options people try to make the healthiest choice, but this isn't the case when people grab something from the fridge as they run out the door."

"With that said, the survey results did show that snacks brought from home were far healthier than those purchased at work," added Ashton.

Fifty six per cent of respondents stated they would snack on fresh fruit, including apples, if the snack was brought from home. However, this number fell dramatically to only 14% when respondents were asked what they snacked on if it was purchased at work.

"More than half of the respondents choose chips, chocolates or lollies when they purchase snacks at work, but these choices hardly rated a mention when discussing snacks that are brought in from home (8%)," said Ashton.

According to APAL the survey results show that grabbing last night's leftovers and snacks from the local convenience store are not the most nutritional options for the Australian workforce.

"If you don't have time to pack a sandwich or salad in the morning, consider packing a snack instead," said Ashton. "Throw an apple into your bag - it won't bruise easily and you can eat it on the train, at your desk or sitting in traffic."

Thirty nine per cent of respondents stated that they didn't bring their lunchbox from home as they didn't have time and/or couldn't be bothered shopping and packing the food.

More than 1,100 people completed the 'What's in your lunchbox?' survey, which focused on what Australians snack on at work and the health of Australian workers.

APAL is the peak industry body representing Australian apple and pear growers.

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Swapping white bread for a fresh pear three times a week, will help Australians reduce their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, says Apple and Pear Australia Limited (APAL).

Following a low GI diet is the best weapon against diabetes and involves reducing the intake of simple carbohydrates, such as white bread, and replacing them with complex carbohydrates, which break down slowly.

"Pears have a low glycemic index (GI) of just 38, lower than watermelon, apricots and bananas" said Tony Russell of APAL.

Low GI foods with a rating between zero and 55 are digested and absorbed slower than high GI items. The slower absorption produces a gradual rise in blood glucose and insulin levels, rather than a sudden peak.

"Pears contain more fibre than many other fresh fruits, with each pear containing approximately four grams of dietary fibre," added Russell. "Fibre helps speed the passage of food through the digestive system and plays a part in controlling blood glucose by slowing the absorption of carbohydrates from the intestine into the blood stream."

Mid-July marked National Diabetes Week, which aimed to promote awareness of diabetes in Australian communities. Research indicates that there are a staggering 300,000 people with Type 2 diabetes in Australia who don't know that they have the disease1.

"Despite the fact that the diabetes clock has started ticking, there is still time for pre-diabetics and the general public to reduce their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes," says Russell.

"Research shows that simple lifestyle changes, such as following a Low GI diet that includes pears, can give you a chance to avoid this life threatening illness.

Diabetes is one of the fastest growing non-infectious diseases in Australia, affecting one in four Australian adults. An Australian study in 2003 found that the total healthcare cost for people with Type 2 diabetes without complications is $4,000 per person per year. This amount increases to $9,500 per person per year if the sufferer has complications2.

Everyday almost 300 people, including children, are diagnosed with diabetes and if left unaddressed, pre-diabetics will develop diabetes within five to 10 years.2

Source:
1. 'Family and friends - the risk is real', 1999, Conquest.
2. Brand-Miller, J, Foster-Powell, K, Colagiuri, S & Barclay, A 2007, Diabetes & Pre-Diabetes Handbook, Hachette Australia, Sydney.