Coles’ new online hub aims to improve the health and wellbeing of Australians
Coles is about to make a game changing move to help Australians make better choices when they shop at their supermarkets.
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Respecting your body’s wellbeing now can help foster healthy habits for life.
Coles is on a mission to get Australians eating and feeling better, teaming up with the Heart Foundation to launch the Coles Health Hub.
Coles Circle community July data found one third of Australians in lockdown are treating themselves with food more than they used to and 20 per cent are consuming more drinks and snacks.
“It’s important that we provide credible and easy to follow advice on how Australians can stay healthy and happy during this time,” Coles general manager of media and sponsorship Kate Bailey said.
Adjunct Professor John Kelly, CEO of the Heart Foundation, said the Coles Health Hub will provide heart-healthy ideas, tasty recipes and expert tips on nutrition and exercise to help Australians to make choices that will lead to a healthier lifestyle.
“We want to make healthy eating and being active the easy option for people,” he said.
Home cooking and an active lifestyle create the opportunity to foster lifelong healthy habits.
That’s the view of Sydney parents Emily and Trent Salkavich, who encourage eating together as a family while feeding their kids more fruit and vegetables.
The couple and their two young girls Annabel, 6, and Ella, 3, also maintain a good level of exercise with weekly family walks and pilates.
“We love having a day in the backyard or going for a slow bush walk to really enjoy the downtime together,” she said.
“Each weekend we get out on our bikes which has been a really nice habit we established during lockdown.”
Many Australian households have discovered — or rediscovered — their kitchens by involving children in food preparation and sharing meals the whole family enjoys.
This was the case with Melbourne working mum Fiona Annett, after she and her family signed up for the Taste.com.au Eat Real Challenge last year.
“We all felt really good and it was easy to prepare a healthier meal with the ingredients suggested rather than use what you normally use,” she said.
Fiona said she no longer makes different meals for her picky eaters, but concedes room for improvement when it comes to physical activity.
“We could all do more regular exercise and to be out in the fresh air,” she said.
“Our 10-month-old cocker spaniel Dennis has really helped with this one as he needs a couple of walks per day.”
Life for the Dowling family has changed since they revamped their eating habits last year.
Instead of fast food for dinner, they eat grilled chicken and vegetables.
Water and diet soft drinks replaced sugary drinks, and exercising together in the garden has cut television time, said mum Samantha from Brisbane.
“Our energy levels had already started to improve and our clothes started to fit better,” she said.
“We are all still eating well and now exercise together most afternoons, but there is still room for improvement as we sometimes slip back to old comfort recipes.”
A shared kitchen table and mutual motivation are two ingredients for building better eating habits, said Adelaide couple Kerry and Shane Enright, who are seeking a healthier lifestyle for their family of four.
“We stick to a fairly healthy diet each week, eliminate pre-processed items including pasta sauces and marinades, and work with a no-waste approach to food,” Kerry said.
“I’m always searching for fun, fresh, family-friendly meal ideas and with the change in season, we have been more motivated to get outside and exercise.”
For more information, visit the Coles Health Hub.
Originally published as Coles’ new online hub aims to improve the health and wellbeing of Australians