Susie O'Neill Together Counts Interview

Susie O'Neill Together Counts Interview

Susie O'Neill, one of Australia's greatest Olympians and a prominent advocate for healthy active lifestyles, launched 'Together Counts' - a program aimed at improving the health of Australians by getting their energy balance right with the help of a new online resource.

On behalf of the Healthier Australia Commitment and the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC), Susie O'Neill is encouraging Australians to balance the kilojoules we eat and drink with the kilojoules we burn with activity - our energy balance. To assist, Together Counts has practical suggestions for meals, lunchbox ideas and physical activity tips for the whole family.

The idea of Together Counts is to set goals with family and friends so that you can encourage each other to be healthy and active said Susie.

"It's back to school and work time for many, so it's a great time to form new habits and routines and to make a positive step towards living a healthy active lifestyle. Achieving energy balance isn't just about eating the 'right' food; it's also about being active every day - it's the energy 'in' versus energy 'out' equation," said Susie.

"With almost two decades of a professional swimming career behind me, I have a lot of experience and knowledge about the energy I require each day. Having said that, the "balancing act" is an ongoing challenge, and I find as a mum it's often a lot harder!"

"I truly believe the concept of energy balance is a simple way to educate people about how to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Achieving day-to-day energy balance is essential for healthy weight management, and I think this is possible for anybody, as long as they have access to the right tools and information," Susie concluded.

Together Counts builds on the Healthier Australia Commitment pledge by major food companies to reduce a number of nutrients in foods (sodium, saturated fat and energy) from across their product portfolios by 2015.

AFGC's Chief Executive Officer Gary Dawson said he was delighted to have Susie O'Neill as Ambassador for Together Counts, as the next step in the Healthier Australia Commitment campaign.

"The food industry is taking an active approach to help create a healthier Australia. This has already been demonstrated in the recent nutrient reduction targets, and we'll also be encouraging employee initiatives in the workplace to improve the health of workers, in addition to connecting with Australian families through our new Together Counts platform," said Mr Dawson.

"We're really excited to have Susie O'Neill on board to launch Together Counts, and feel this is a great education tool for families to learn the important concept of energy balance.

"A core strength of Together Counts is that it will be promoted online and in social media by the major food and beverage companies aiming to encourage families and the community make healthy lifestyle choices."

The Healthier Australia Commitment's current members represent more than 25 per cent of the food and grocery industry1, and include Unilever, Nestle, Campbell Arnott's, General Mills, Lion, Sugar Australia, Coca-Cola South Pacific and PepsiCo Australia.

Interview with Susie O'Neill

Question: What inspired you to become an ambassador for Together Counts?

Susie O'Neill: I am a strong advocate of the Together Counts energy balance message and want to do all I can to promote this message across Australian families. With almost two decades of a professional swimming career behind me, I have a lot of experience and knowledge about the energy I require each day. Having said that, the "balancing act" is an ongoing challenge, and I find as a mum it's often a lot harder.

Question: What is TogetherCounts?

Susie O'Neill: Together Counts is a new website (www.togethercounts.com.au) that is dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding of energy balance, by providing useful information, hints and tips - and even my own personal suggestions for meal and lunchbox ideas, and exercise tips, for the whole family.


Question: What are you encouraging Australians to do?

Susie O'Neill: I'm encouraging Australian parents to take the Together Counts Pledge, to make a commitment to a healthy activity in this back to school and work period, which is a busy time but a perfect opportunity for Australian families to form new habits and routines. Visitors to www.togethercounts.com.au will also connect with a community of other like-minded families who are keen to learn more about energy balance, and how they can apply the concept in everyday life.


Question: Does the growing Australian obesity rate surprise you?

Susie O'Neill: It's definitely something I think the Australian community needs to work together on!


Question: How can we rectify the obesity rate?

Susie O'Neill: Via energy balance! This is essentially balancing the kilojoules we consume with the kilojoules we burn, is essential for health. Together Counts aims to assist in improving the current energy imbalance via education on diet and physical activity, and will highlight the importance of family, as the solution to the challenges that maintaining energy balance can bring. Plus families can check out my top energy balance tips as well as some of my favourite dinner recipe ideas!


Question: What is the importance of energy balance for Australian families?

Susie O'Neill: As energy balance is essential for healthy weight management, it's important to educate Australians on ways to balance energy - that is balance the amount of energy or kilojoules they consume in food and beverages, with the energy they use up or burn in physical activity and daily life.

Question: How do you ensure your family has the right energy/food balance?

Susie O'Neill: With almost two decades of a professional swimming career behind me, and now as a working mum with two children, managing energy balance has been a lifelong process for me.

I have a lot of experience and knowledge about the fuel and energy I require, in order to do the activities I need to do every single day, and the same goes for my kids. Having said that, the "balancing act" can be a challenge, but I try and stick to the following:
Making sure as a family we eat a balanced diet - so lots of vegies, fruit, good carbohydrates (such as wholegrains and cereals) and some protein like lean meat, chicken or fish.
The snacks we eat are nutritious and also good fuel - so that might be dairy foods like yogurt and cheese, crackers, fruit and 100% juice.
We move a lot - so the kids participate in organised sports but we also try during the week and on weekends, to do something active together, which might be going to the beach, going for a ride on our bikes, or walking our dog.


Question: Do you make a conscious effort to remove saturated fat and salts you're your diet?

Susie O'Neill: I definitely make a conscious effort to provide the healthiest meals for my family. As much as possible, I try to plan my meals for the week so that when I get to the grocery store, I know exactly what I need to purchase.


Question: What are your top tips for helping Australian families find energy balance?

Susie O'Neill: Some of my top tips include:
There isn't a lot of time at breakfast before we head off to school and work, however I try to offer plenty of variety through fruit, yogurt, cereal and toast.
When it comes to school lunches, I try to mix it up each week with sandwiches, salads, leftovers like pasta.
At dinnertime there are "standby" meals I like to keep on rotation, so I know what I'm serving up tastes good, is healthy and are meals the kids like. This is often stirfries, pasta, fish or steak and salad.
As a family we share a meal together at the end of the day - we always try to make time to have meals together.
I also try to involve my husband and the kids in the cooking and meal planning - but I'm realistic, and I encourage the kids to participate when I know they're interested. My husband definitely plays a role in the kitchen in terms of cooking and preparing lunches, so that does help!


Interview by Brooke Hunter