Queensland, give up the junk this June!

Cancer Council is calling on Queenslanders to give up chips, chocolate and cream buns this month after new stats found 91 per cent of adults don’t eat enough vegetables for everyday health.

The latest Preventive Health Survey shows only nine per cent of Queensland adults eat the five recommended serves of vegetables every day.

Cancer Council Queensland spokesperson Katie Clift called on Queenslanders to overhaul their diets this month by participating in Australia’s healthiest new fundraiser – Junk Free June.

“It’s time for all Queenslanders to ditch the junk from their diets – sugary drinks, takeaway foods and snacks high in saturated fat, sugar and salt,” Ms Clift said.

“Often these discretionary foods make up a large portion of our everyday diet – and we forget to incorporate the recommended two serves of fruit and five serves of vegetables.

“The Junk Free June rules are simple – decide on a ‘junk food’ to give up, register online and get people to sponsor your efforts, raising funds for Cancer Council Queensland.

“The latest figures show us Queenslanders are placing their health and happiness at risk by not eating enough nutritious foods to balance a healthy diet.

“Going junk free this June will benefit your personal health and wellbeing, and make a difference to the one in two Queenslanders who will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.

“We know up to a third of all cancers are preventable through simple lifestyle changes including maintaining a healthy weight, eating a healthy diet, limiting alcohol and being active.”

Queenslanders should aim to eat a wide variety of nutritious foods from the five food groups every day – vegetables and legumes, fruit, grain foods, lean meats and poultry and milk, yoghurt and cheese.

A standard serve of vegetables is about 75g – around one cup of raw salad vegetables, half a cup of sweet corn or a medium tomato.

One serve of fruit is about 150g – one medium apple or banana, two small plums or one cup of diced or canned fruit with no added sugar.

More than 26,000 Queenslanders are diagnosed with cancer each year. About 8600 of these cases are preventable through healthy lifestyle choices.

Queenslanders can register and start fundraising at junkfreejune.org.au or the Junk Free June app – handy hints are also available throughout the month.

Cancer Council hopes 5500 Queenslanders sign up for the cause, raising more than $400,000 to help beat cancer.

Junk Free June offers prizes for participants – the more money Queenslanders raise for Cancer Council, the more prizes they unlock and gain access to.

All profits raised through Junk Free June will be invested into Cancer Council Queensland’s cancer research, patient support services and prevention campaigns.

More information about Cancer Council Queensland is available at cancerqld.org.au or 13 11 20.

ENDS

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