Don’t let junk food junk the health of your participant!

A common behaviour with clients in the NDIS space is poor eating habits.

Poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, smoking and excessive alcohol consumption are behaviours that can have a detrimental effect on health. Many health problems can be prevented by reducing the exposure to these risk factors. People with disability generally have higher rates of consuming junk food compared to people without disability. This can be due to extra assistance required to mobilise or to medications that affect appetite and drinking behaviours. Let our NDIS Dietitians explain further.

Don’t let junk food junk your health!

As well as causing you to gain weight, eating junk foods can lead to:

• Fatigue and decreased energy levels

• Increased stress levels

• Feeling down

• Diseases such as diabetes, heart problems, non-alcoholic fatty liver, and some cancers

What are junk foods?

Junk food is the food that contains high levels of fats, sugar or salt, and lack nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and fibre.

Some examples of junk foods include:

• cakes and biscuits

• fast foods (such as hot chips, burgers and pizzas)

• chocolate and sweets

• processed meat (such as bacon)

• snacks (such as chips)

• sugary drinks (such as sports, energy and soft drinks)

• alcoholic drinks

Does eating these foods and drinks become a habit or even an addiction?

Let’s admit it! Junk food is appealing and tastes so good. In fact, the brain naturally encourages you to seek satisfying experiences such as eating tasty food. This is called the reward system.

When a person eats tasty food, the reward circuit in the brain is switched on. A brain chemical called dopamine is released. Dopamine acts on areas of the brain to give you pleasure, satisfaction and motivation after you do something enjoyable — this makes you want to do it again, and this is why eating junk food can become an addiction.

Why are junk foods / processed convenience foods consumed so regularly with participants?

Populations with disabilities may experience greater risk of food insecurity.

They may consume more junk food due to environmental factors including accessibility to food, limited mobility, financial restraints, and difficulty in preparing healthy options.

Additionally, mental health conditions, sensory impairments, and increased energy needs can also contribute to unhealthy eating habits. 

• Food insecurity: Food insecurity in Australia affects approximately 5% of the population, with increased incidence amongst those with a physical disability or intellectual disability.  Food insecurity may be associated to reduced income, reduced capacity to access and/or prepare foods, or may be impacted by adaptive behaviours which limit the range of acceptable foods.

  
  

• Accessibility barriers: People with a disability are often unable to drive, relying on public transportation. Difficulties with transportation can make it harder to access fresh produce from stores. This leads to increased reliance on less healthy, readily available options. The location and accessibility of grocery stores and markets can be a barrier for individuals with mobility limitations. Accessibility barriers within grocery stores is also a limitation. This includes inaccessible entrances, placement of products, and crowds.

  
  

• Financial restraints: Higher rates of poverty have also been observed among people with a disability. It is often easier and cheaper to make unhealthy food choices. 

  
  

• Lack of support and skills: Limited knowledge and skills:  Nutrition preparation may be difficult for those living with disability. They may lack knowledge or skills in nutrition, food preparation, and menu planning, increasing their reliance on quick and easy options. Inadequate support: Support staff may lack sufficient training in food and nutrition further contributing to unhealthy options.

  
  

• Mental Health: Conditions such as anxiety and depression can affect eating habits, often leading to increased consumption of junk foods.

  
  

• Selective food preferences: People with sensory processing disorder and ASD may have specific food preferences and aversions.

  
  

• Increased nutritional needs: This includes increased energy needs associated with degenerative neurological diseases. Individuals may rely on processed foods for quick energy.
  

• Social Isolation: Difficulties with eating in social settings can lead to isolation and increase the reliance on quick and easy meals.

Are people who stick to processed foods/junk foods at risk of any deficiencies?

Individuals born with a disability or who acquire one later in life often face challenges with proper nutrition. They are at significant risk of developing various nutritional deficiencies and related health problems. This is because junk foods are high in sugar, unhealthy fats and salt and often low in essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.

How can a NDIS Dietitian help?

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to nutrition. A NDIS Dietitian provides catered nutrition and dietary advice to people with disabilities. Working with participants, families, and caregivers, a Dietitian can assist with various needs including developing meal plans for specific health conditions, managing fussy eating and providing dietary advice for different age groups.

How does a Dietitian work with Participants to support positive change?

Our NDIS Dietitians provide the right support for individuals to improve their quality of life and achieve their health goals.  

Here is how we support our clients:

1. Assessment and setting goals: The first step is to understand the client’s medical history, eating habits, and lifestyle. Based on the assessment, small achievable goals can be developed.

2. Developing individualized dietary plans: a meal plan would be tailored to specific health condition, nutritional needs, dietary preferences and lifestyle. This may include recipes, meals and snacks options.

3. Education: empowering the clients by educating them about healthy eating, portion control and eating habits. Support workers are also supported with resources to increase their knowledge regarding healthy eating.

4. Collaborative approach: dietitian will collaborate with other health professionals and support workers to deliver the best possible exceptional care and support to the client.

The best treat is a healthy heartbeat!

Nutrition plays an important role in overall health and wellbeing. A healthy diet can, improve quality of life, maintain a healthy body weight, and reduce the risk of developing diseases.

Here are some tips to improve eating plan and reduce the intake of processed food:

• Meal Planning: Plan your meals and snacks ahead of time so you reduce spontaneous junk food choices. Planning ahead also helps you keep to a budget and makes shopping easier.

• Stock up on healthy snacks: Keep healthy snacks like fruits, vegetables, nuts, and yogurt readily available to satisfy cravings without resorting to junk food.

• Focus on fibre rich foods:

  • Choose wholefood options such as wholemeal and wholegrain carbohydrates like pasta, bread, cereal, biscuits and flour.

  • Choose fresh fruit for dessert instead of junk food to keep away from added salt, sugar and saturated fat.

  • Increasing fibre intake can aid in reducing cravings and help stay full and satisfied.

• Practice portion control: if wishing to indulge in junk food, do so in moderation.

• Stay hydrated. Choose water as your primary drink. Thirst can often be mistaken with hunger, make sure you are drinking enough water throughout the day. 

• Compare packaged products: Use the Health Star Rating system to compare similar packaged items and choose the healthiest one.

• Get enough sleep: Lack of sleep may increase cravings for junk food.

NDIS Dietetic Case Study: Meet Miss Bella!

Please note, name & details have been changed for confidentiality.

Miss Bella lives in a supported housing in Melbourne. She is a 66-year-old lady referred to Dietitian for dietary advice to improve her diet, reduce the intake of junk and process food and manage severe constipation. Born with an intellectual disability, she has a background of complex medical conditions.

An initial assessment to diet and lifestyle was conducted with Miss Bella and support workers. Based on the assessment, Miss Bella was found to have a poor diet with a fussy eating behaviour. She is in the obesity range with high intake of carbohydrates, sugary drinks, fast food and junk foods, and a minimal intake of fruits and vegetables. A list of food preferences and aversions was noted.

Our Approach in this case

Individualised meal plan and education to:

• Achieve a regular eating plan with 3 meals and snacks in between.

• Implement healthy meals and snacks options. 

• Increase the intake of fibre rich foods such fruits, vegetables.

• Reduced intake of fast foods by choosing healthy eating out and takeaway meals alternatives.

• Support the staff with resources on shopping healthy items.

The outcome:

• Increased variety from the 5-food group and nutritional adequacy of the diet

• Reduced intake of junk food

• Improved bowel movements

Regular follow up sessions were completed with Miss Bella and staff to monitor the progress closely, navigate challenges and make adjustments as needed. 

OSCAR Care Group is a registered NDIS Provider for Dietetics, Speech Pathology and Physiotherapy

OSCAR Care Group NDIS Services

At OSCAR Care Group, we are registered an NDIS Provider and collaborate with participants to enhance their health, wellbeing, and independence. 

Some of the dietetic and nutritional areas NDIS Dietitians can assist you with include:

• Specific and General Nutritional Advice

• Paediatric nutrition

• Fussy eating

• Weight Management

• Unintentional weight loss and malnutrition

• Diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2)

• Cardiovascular Disease and risk factors including high cholesterol and hypertension

• Home Enteral Nutrition (Tube Feeding)

• Dysphagia and texture modified diets

• Food Allergies and Intolerances including Coeliac Disease and low FODMAP diets

• Gastrointestinal diseases

• Difficulty with planning and preparation of nutritious meals

NDIS nutrition service can be life-changing for participants. We are here to support your journey to better health and proper nutrition that are aligned with your lifestyle and NDIS goals.  

Book your appointment today!

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