A healthy approach to family life
If you’ve been following this blog for a while now you’ll know that I follow the “good-enough” method of parenting. I also subscribe to the “anything in moderation” approach to most things – screens, sugar, time spent at the park! I am fairly relaxed when it comes to my kids’ health. They are allowed occasional treats, but I present a balanced and nutritious diet during the week. I don’t really say ‘no’ to any food (apart from Sherbert, which if I find in a party bag it is instantly binned) but rather I restrict how much they have of ‘sometimes’ food. But recently I’ve noticed how sugar is sneakily creeping into our diets more frequently than it should. And I want our family to be healthier. Foods that used to be occasional have snuck into the every day variety.
Not all of this is my choice, mind you. Send them to the grandparents for the weekend and sugar is in abundance. But grandparents are allowed to spoil their grandkids and when they’re on their turf, they set the rules. But every weekend seems to present yet another kids’ birthday party and in most cases these events come with plenty of fun, and sugar!
And it’s not just on weekends that sweets have crept in. I’ve noticed that at school, despite sending them with a healthy lunchbox, there seems to be a lot of sweet treats being offered. Take birthdays, for example. Every child at my kids’ school is welcome to bring in cup cakes or cookies when it’s their birthday. Ok, seems harmless enough, but there is a constant stream of birthdays throughout the year and consequently a fairly consistent stream of treats.
So I am making a conscious effort to try and reduce sugar, as there’s not a chance we could eliminate it all together. How people live sugar free (and I have a few friends who do) is beyond me! But making healthier choices is something I can manage and making healthier food choices begins at the supermarket.
Only, the many brand choices of packaged food can be overwhelming, and these products are often surprisingly high in salt, added sugar, saturated fat and kilojoules. Packaging is confusing and often misleading. So how can you decide what to put in your basket and make healthier choices for you and your family? Enter an app you want to get your “sweet” little hands on!
The free FoodSwitch app, developed by Bupa and The George Institute, can help you find out what is in the food you’re eating and suggest simple, healthier switches for you and your family.
Starting in the supermarket aisle, FoodSwitch is just one of the ways that Bupa can help you make informed decisions about what you eat. For example:
Healthier eating with FoodSwitch:
- FoodSwitch comes with handy filters to suit different health needs.
- Use the autofocus camera on a supported smartphone or tablet to scan a packaged food’s barcode to get easy-to-understand nutritional information.
- View results as either traffic-light style or Health Star Rating (HSR) labels. Both modes deliver results for energy, saturated fat, sugar, and salt so you can see at a glance how healthy the food item is.
- When you scan a food product you’ll also get a list of healthier choices you can switch to.
- Healthier eating made easier with the FoodSwitch app
For me, it’s about being more conscious of sugar quantities in food. For you, it might be reducing salt, or going gluten free. So, get the app and get scanning!
The free FoodSwitch app can help you find out what is in the food you’re eating and suggest simple, healthier switches for you and your family. FoodSwitch was developed by Bupa and The George Institute, a global non-profit medical research institute established in Sydney in 1999.
*Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Bupa.
Are you conscious of eating healthier in your family? What’s your achilles heal – is it sugar, like ours? Or are you looking for gluten/dairy free alternatives for health reasons?
Totally downloading this app right now! Thanks Michaela
Do it, Sarah! But it can be slightly addictive. I went on a scanning frenzy when I first downloaded it 🙂
What a fantastic app! I had a disagreement with my husband the other night over 2 breakfast cereals. I was sure the one he had had more sugar but in actual fact the one I thought was healthier wasn’t at all. It really is important to know sugar. I agree, we are finding that at school and pre school more and more does there seem to be at least once a week some sort of treat on top of what they already get. We try to allow treats on the weekends after eating veggies during the week so this app will be great to get a good understanding of what is in foods, especially if you can use the barcode! So easy!
Yep, you’re so right, Suzy. Packaging can be so deceitful can’t it. You see something you’re sure if a healthier option but in actual fact it’s loaded with sugar. Get this app and start scanning. You’ll love it!
This is interesting. I too am working on reducing the amount of sugar that has crept into our diets. The other day the boys had an icecream as a treat and it sent them CRAZY – running, laughing, screaming… way too much! I also try to be as healthy as possible when I am growing a little person inside me – I would like to think that I give them every opportunity to form into the best little person that they can be.
Snap! And I know wha you mean about thats sugar rush. It’s scary the hit it gives them. They go a little bit nuts. Totally fine on occasion, but agree it’s good to be mindful of sugar content – especially the hidden sugars!!
Hubby is on a low sodium diet for medical reasons. The amount of sodium in some biscuits and mini rice cakes aimed at kids are 3-5 times over the low sodium limit!
That’s such a good point, Natalie. And we often forget about sodium intake. You’ve prompted me to look up what the recommended daily intake is for kids. And adults for that matter! Thanks for sharing your perspective.
Thank you, link is working now. I’ll be saving this to check out the app. I’m trying to reduce sugar & additives & pesticides exposure. Though like you I won’t be able to avoid it all but my goodness do the treats sneak in for all of us!
Good strategy, Rhiannon. I agree that you don’t need to completely avoid it, but by being more aware of it, you can reduce your intake. Hope it goes well for you 🙂
App downloaded! Thanks for the tip!
Pleasure, Emma. Hope it helps 🙂