Try for 5 National Nutrition Week
Try for 5 National Nutrition Week is Nutrition Australia’s annual healthy eating awareness campaign, drawing focus of the positive benefits on both our mental and physical health through consuming good nutritious food.
Try for 5 aims to inspire Australians to enjoy vegetables through highlighting the fun and creative ways Australians can incorporate veg into their day. The Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend at least five standard serves of vegetables per day should be consumed for good health, but with only 7% of adults an 5% of children eating the recommended serves of vegetables each day, Nutrition Australia created this campaign to raise awareness of the benefits of eating vegetables.
Total vegetable consumption, fresh and processed, has been steadily declining year on year, suggesting Australians consume 13 kilos per year less vegetables per capita than they did in 2001. It is estimated that only 55% of vegetables produced are consumed due to losses in the supply chain and wastage in the home.
Why do vegies count?
Vegetables are vital for good health, and inadequate consumption can have serious health consequences from pregnancy to end of life. Vegetables contain a range of nutrients including fibre, carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals.
Many studies show that a diet rich in a range of vegetables is a critical part of preventative health, such as reducing risk of high blood pressure, and lowering the risk of developing certain chronic diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes, heart disease, some cancers, eye, and digestive problems. Eating adequate vegetables also has a direct linkage to maintaining a healthy weigh, therefore having a key role in obesity prevention.
Celebrating National Nutrition Week
National Nutrition Week has been our flagship annual campaign since 1984. While our campaign messaging has evolved over this time, our passion for celebrating nutritious food is as strong today as it was back then. During National Nutrition Week 2025 we celebrated the many ways that people, families, communities and organisations across the country can be connected and nourished through food.
Watch: MP Kellie Anne Sloan’s Address for National Nutrition Week
We are proud to share a special parliamentary address from Kellie Anne Sloan MP, Shadow Minister for Health and Member for Vaucluse, in recognition of National Nutrition Week. In her speech, Ms. Sloan highlights the importance of healthy eating for all Australians and commends the tireless efforts of Nutrition NSW President, Cr Barbara Ward, for her ongoing leadership and dedication to promoting better nutrition across our communities.
Watch the video here: National Nutrition Week
National Nutrition Week 2023 (15-21 October) was celebrated with our prestigious annual National Nutrition Week Breakfast. Held at NSW Parliament House, this event was attended by key health professionals, government officials, influencers and decision makers from across the Nutrition and Health Sciences industry.
If you’d like to be part of National Nutrition Week 2024, please contact us.
Our Objectives
- to act as a source of scientific information on key nutrition issues
- to produce and disseminate material on nutrition to policy makers, the media, educators, food industry and consumers
- to act as consultants to government departments, food industry and consumer groups as required on issues related to food and nutrition
- to encourage innovation in the dissemination of nutritional knowledge.
Our Values
What We Do
Nutrition NSW delivers services across NSW with key stakeholders in the public and private sector to promote evidence-based messages on nutritional issues and overall preventative health.
Our health promotion services target a variety of settings and community groups across the lifespan to offer a holistic approach to meeting our strategic priorities.
Our strategic priorities include
- aged care
- early childhood and OSHC
- families and the community
- food industry
- schools
- training and food safety
- workplaces and organisations.
Our Settings
- aged care
- early childhood and OSHC
- families and the community
- food industry
- schools
- training and food safety
- workplaces and organisations.
Our Services
- cooking demonstrations
- health displays & events
- menu & canteen assessment
- nutrition seminars and workshops
- one-on-one & family consults
- smoothie demonstrations
- team building activities.
