‘Man food’ risk for Queensland males as quarter live on takeaway, rarely cook

AN ALARMING number of Queensland men face major health risks due to a growing scourge that rhymes with man flu.

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MAN food is becoming more unhealthy, with a quarter of Queensland males living on takeaway and cooking only two meals a week – and even those are likely to be a plate of sausages, or bacon and eggs.

Dietitians Association of Australia research has revealed the poor state of male eating habits.

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It studied 800 males, and found that while 90 per cent said they loved cooking, one in four hit the kitchen only twice a week.

“Many single men are big on preparing protein as a meal and not much more,” Brisbane nutritionist Kate Di Prima said.

“Those who are fending for themselves are unlikely to bother with cutting up vegetables or preparing a salad, but a plate of sausages is not a meal.

“Everything is about being quick and easy with no cleaning up, and that is why takeaway is so popular.

“By keeping some frozen vegies at home, it’s not that hard to add some greens.”

Property developer Andrew Tarabay tries to eat healthy despite his busy lifestyle. Pic: Jack Tran

The association is calling on Australian men to ditch the takeaway and make homemade meals a priority. Men are almost twice as likely as women to eat three or more takeaway meals a week.

“This regular intake of takeaway is really concerning as we know takeaway meals can be high in kilojoules, fat, sugar and salt, so shouldn’t be eaten regularly,” spokesman Themis Chryssidis said.

The association advises men to use spices, rather than salt, and to jazz up a basic salad with roasted vegetables, such as sweet potato, beetroot or capsicum.

Brisbane’s Andrew Tarabay, 32, is single and a busy property developer.

“I agree that men will happily sit down to a big steak, rather than bother with vegetables,” he said.

“I think men have been programmed to think that protein is the most important thing our bodies need, but it is all about balance.

“For me, it is the lack of time that keeps me out of the kitchen.”

Originally published as ‘Man food’ risk for Queensland males as quarter live on takeaway, rarely cook