Outcomes
Make Every Bite Count campaign
‘Make Every Bite Count’ is a set of practical resources developed by MLA for nutrition communicators to:
- explain healthy eating to their clients
- share balanced meal ideas with no food waste
- communicate nutrition information about Australian red meat.
The resources are insights-led and designed to help nutrition communicators engage and empower people across key life stages to enjoy nutritious meals that are affordable and delicious and, at the same time, reduce the impact of food waste on the environment. The information is aligned with public health priorities, including Australian Dietary Guidelines, National Obesity Strategy 2022–2032 and Australia’s National Food Waste Strategy.
The resources offer practical guidance on portion sizes, nutritious choices and ‘no food waste’ tips, making it easy to explain dietary recommendations. Social media resources, including culinary nutrition videos and inspiring meal ideas, explain how to make:
- every bite count, including tips on smart shopping with recommended portion sizes
- nutritional choices including variety and affordable options
- balanced meals, incorporating red meat with a variety of vegetables and legumes
- quick, easy meals using leftovers.
MLA has also contributed scientific evidence to inform the Australian Dietary Guidelines review. The National Health and Medical Research Council has begun revising the guidelines – the first time since 2013.
Contribution of livestock to healthy diets
As a partner of the International Meat Secretariat, MLA contributed science and evidence towards a submission to the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) Contribution of terrestrial animal source food to healthy diets for improved nutrition and health outcomes: an evidence and policy overview of the state of knowledge and gaps report.
The Committee on Agriculture requested FAO produce a comprehensive, science and evidence-based global assessment of the contribution of livestock to food security, sustainable agrifood systems, nutrition and healthy diets.
In what’s regarded as a significant change of position, this global assessment into nutrition and healthy diets found that Terrestrial Animal Source Foods provide high-quality proteins, important fatty acids and essential vitamins and minerals including iron, zinc, selenium, Vitamin B12, choline and calcium. The assessment found that these foods can make vital contributions to meeting the nutrition targets endorsed by the World Health Assembly and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals Agenda related to reducing stunting, wasting and obesity among children under five years of age, low birthweight, anaemia in women of reproductive age, and obesity and non-communicable diseases in adults.
The assessment recommended that food-based dietary guidelines should provide context specific recommendations, accounting for existing levels of TASF intake, the needs of vulnerable populations based on their life course and other socio-economic factors, the most prevalent forms of malnutrition in both rural and urban area and the potential trade-off with sustainability in terms of environment, socio-economic and cultural dimensions.
The Committee on Agriculture Sub-Committee on Livestock has encouraged members to duly consider the impact of livestock policies, programmes and legislative frameworks on nutrition and health outcomes and to update national food-based dietary guidelines so that they adequately consider terrestrial animal source food and specific nutrient requirements during the life course of people.