Latest article: Bridging nutritional gaps in Australian children: A food-first evidence-informed approach
Date
07 Apr 2026
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Poor diet contributes to just over seven percent of Australia’s burden of disease.1 In 2022, it was reported that 36 percent of children aged 2-17 failed to meet recommended daily fruit serves,2 and only 4.6 percent were consuming adequate vegetables.3
Discretionary foods, high in kilojoules, saturated fat, added sugars and salt, are well understood to be problematic.4 In 2023, they accounted for 37.3 percent of daily energy in children aged 5-11 years,5 well beyond healthy parameters. Excessive sodium intake is a related concern, with one in three toddlers exceeding the upper limit of 1000 mg/day.6
Key highlights
- Integrative practitioners are uniquely positioned to guide parents through the supplement landscape - prioritising diet first, then targeted supplementation.
- Over half of parents supplement their children without first consulting a health professional.
- Only 4.6 percent of Australian children aged 2-17 consume an adequate amount of vegetables.
- Calcium deficiency is found in up to 93 percent of children on dairy-free diets without adequate substitution.
- Common medications, including anti-epileptics and PPIs deplete key nutrients - folate, B12, vitamin D and biotin - in paediatric patients.
- Western dietary patterns are associated with diminished cognitive functioning, lower IQ scores, and reduced BDNF levels.