By STEFAN BRADLEY
GIPPSLANDERS are being encouraged to eat more vegetables to improve their health, while also highlighting local producers.
With only around six per cent of the Gippsland community consuming the five recommended daily serves of vegetables, a new highly-visible public campaign is encouraging people in the region to ‘Get the Veg Edge’ by focussing on how eating more veggies every day helps you perform at your best.
AUSVEG, the national peak industry body representing Australian vegetable growers, has joined forces with the Gippsland Region Public Health Unit (GRPHU) and Food and Fibre Gippsland (F&F Gippsland), to deliver ‘Get the Edge. Eat More Veg’ – a new positive behaviour change campaign encouraging people across Gippsland to eat more vegetables.
The one-month campaign launched across Gippsland last month at the Lazzaro Bros fruit and vegetable store in Sale, with the groups behind the campaign signing a pledge to eat more vegetables and urging others to do so.
You may have already seen the signage and messaging, with placements spanning billboards and bus panels, as well as digital screens in shopping malls, community-based venues, facilities and social media to promote the message. The website VegEdge.com.au highlights the benefits of vegetables and easy ways to boost intake through clever hacks, tips and recipes.
Latrobe Regional Health Chief Executive, Don McRae said some of the most important work in improving Gippslanders’ health happens long before patients come through the hospital doors.
“As a regional health service, our responsibility extends beyond caring for people when they’re unwell, it includes working with others to build healthier communities,” Mr McRae said.
F&F Gippsland chief executive, and co-owner of Tinamba Hotel, Simon Johnson, said Gippsland’s vegetable growers were the backbone of this region, and this initiative showed why that mattered.
“When we back local consumption, we back local growers, and that flows through to jobs, farms and communities right across Gippsland,” he said.
Research underpinning the campaign found that while Australians were aware of the importance of healthy eating, vegetable consumption remained low, with life and cost-of-living pressures make it even harder for people to prioritise vegetables.
GRPHU director Annelies Titulaer said there was some delicious and affordable vegetable options at this time of year, including cauliflower, potatoes and her personal favourite, broccoli.
“And canned and frozen vegetables also have great nutritional value, and they can save time and they’re easily prepared as well,” she said.
Rather than focusing solely on the long-term health benefits of eating vegetables, ‘Get the Edge. Eat More Veg’ highlights the everyday benefits that all Aussies need – from powering energy, boosting mood and fuelling focus, to balancing your gut and helping skin glow. The campaign is brought to Gippsland by the newly-developed ‘Australian Vegetables’ brand which celebrates and showcases the seasonal fresh produce that growers provide Australians each and every day.
The change campaign and branding have been developed by Plus One Serve, the AUSVEG-led national evidence-based program, designed to encourage Australians to eat one additional daily serving of vegetables by 2030.
Plus One Serve Managing Director Justine Coates said the pledge was about encouraging individuals, educators, institutions, health sector organisations, government and community groups across the region to join them in taking practical steps to increase vegetable consumption.
“The reality is today vegetable consumption across Gippsland is alarmingly low. It’s just under the national average of around 1.6 serves a day. And that is well below the national guidelines,” Ms Coates said.
Only 6.5 per cent of adults and 4.6 per cent of children meet the recommended five-plus dietary serves daily.
Learn more about the campaign and the Pledge for More Veg at: www.plusoneserve.com.au
