DIET AND NUTRITION

Four indicators of dietary quality were devised for Aboriginal children aged 4 to 17 years to reflect whether the principles of a health diet were being observed.

Indicator 1: met if water was usually drank when thirsty.

When thirsty, the majority (15,600 or 68%) of Aboriginal children drank water rather than alternatives such as soft drink, fruit juice or cordial. Children living in areas of high or extreme isolation were significantly more likely to drink water when thirsty than children in no or low isolation.

Indicator 2: met if some form of unsweetened and unflavoured cow or soy milk was regularly consumed.

Cow’s milk is a child’s usual dietary source of calcium, a mineral important to a healthy diet. A very high number of children, 21,200 or 93%, regularly drank unflavoured and unsweetened cow’s or soy milk.

Indicator 3: met if at least half a cup of a variety of at least 3 fresh vegetables, other than potato, were usually consumed on or 6 or 7 days of the week.

Nearly two thirds (65%) of Aboriginal children usually ate vegetables (other than potato) every day; nine in every ten reportedly ate at least half a cup a day; and 59% regularly consumed more than three varieties of vegetables.

However, only 8,230 or 36% of children met this third indicator which meets only half the medically recommended quantity of vegetable intake. Children aged 4 to 11 years were much more likely to meet the indicator (41%) than those aged 12 to 17 years (28%) while significantly more children in the Perth metropolitan area (39%) met this criterion than children in extremely isolated areas (24%).

The consumption of fresh vegetables was inadequate at all levels of relative isolation and particularly for older children.

CHILDREN AGED 4 TO 17 YEARS – PROPORTION MEETING THE VEGETABLE INDICATOR OF DIETARY QUALITY, BY LEVEL OF RELATIVE ISOLATION AND AGE

Indicator 4: met if fresh fruit was usually consumed on 6 or 7 days of the week.

Seven in ten children ate fresh fruit every day, with those aged 12 to 17 years more likely to do so – 76% compared with 67% of children aged 4 to 11 years.

Combined indicator of dietary quality

One in five (4,290 or 19%) children met all four indicators and were more likely to be children aged 4 to 11 years living in areas of moderate to high isolation. Another 40% of children met three indicators and 32% met two.

Within individual families, meeting the indicators was inconsistent, suggesting that food choices are seldom directed by a knowledge and desire for a healthy diet.