Get Your Man in the Kitchen

Men’s Health Campaign

The Nutrition Guy believes that it’s time for men to take charge of their health. It’s time to eat better, drink less and move more. That’s why he is embarking on a campaign called ‘Get Your Man in the Kitchen’.

Men are under-represented in the field of nutrition and dietetics, with less than 5% of dietitians in Australia being male. As one of these dietitians, Joel believes it is essential to equip men with the tools and strategies to help them improve their physical and mental health.

Men have a lower life expectancy and are over-represented in just about every serious health issue.

It’s well known that our brethren need to take better care of their health and wellbeing. And that’s a massive understatement! Many of us suffer from poor diet, lack of participation in sport and exercise, (No, watching the footy doesn’t count!) high alcohol consumption and smoking, all major risk factors for developing certain types of cancer as well as diabetes and heart disease. Many blokes are guilty of consuming too many fatty meals and too many ‘beverages’ in addition to being too inactive.

The evidence shows that males are more at risk than ever of developing heart disease. According to the National Heart Foundation, 153 Australian men suffer a heart attack every single day. That’s a staggering statistic! Not to mention the high rates of developing other nasties like cancer, diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease and mental health problems.

The initiative is intended to encourage and inspire men to get into the kitchen and prepare healthy meals. They do not need to be experienced chefs, but just be willing to have a go at giving their meals a healthier spin. Manly meals such as baked potatoes, spaghetti bolognaise, steak as well as chicken parmigiana can still be on the menu. The key is to tweak them so they are healthier than the original version.

Cooking meals at home, rather than eating out or ordering take-away, allows the cook to dictate the nutritional value of a meal. Adding more vegetables or salad to a meal, at the expense of higher energy-containing foods, will reduce the overall kilojoule content of a meal. Studies show that we consume fewer calories when eating at home compared to when dining out. This is most likely due to consuming smaller portions, using lower-calorie ingredients and cooking methods, and not always including an entrée or dessert.

The campaign is centered on empowering men to cook more of the foods they enjoy. Studies show that those who prepare their own food typically consume less calories than they do when eating at a restaurant or when ordering in take away.

To get involved in the ‘Get your man in the kitchen’ campaign, you can encourage the men in your life (or get involved yourself) to showcase their culinary skills on social media. Wearing a quirky apron is optional. Just be sure to use the hashtag #getyourmaninthekitchen when posting.

Happy cooking, gentlemen.  See you in the kitchen.