Tick nutrition standards
Tick products are generally lower in saturated fat, trans fat, salt and kilojoules, and higher in fibre and calcium than some comparable products in their food category. The Heart Foundation is raising the bar by introducing tougher nutrition standards for products to get the Tick, making them even healthier than before. The nutrition standards are tailored to each food group. The general aims are shown below.
Reduce "bad" fats (saturated and trans)
Reduce kilojoules (energy or calories)
Increase positive nutrients (fibre & calcium)
Thank you to NZ King Salmon, NZ Pork Industry Board, Sealord, Essentially Food, NZ Beef & Lamb and Allyson Gofton for permission to reproduce images.
Reduce "bad" fats (saturated & trans)
Saturated fat and trans fat can increase "bad" cholesterol, and this increases the risk of various health problems such as heart disease. Mono- and poly-unsaturated fats are generally much healthier types of fat.
High levels of saturated fat can be found in many of the foods we eat, including full fat dairy products and some meats. Trans fats occur as a result of industrial processing of vegetable oils to make some spreads, and some other manufactured products like biscuits, cakes and pastries. There's also a natural version of trans found in meat and dairy but it's the harmful industrially produced type that's the real health concern.
Pick products with the Tick logo, and you'll get foods that are much lower in saturated and trans fats than some similar products in that food group.
Reduce kilojoules (energy or calories)
To maintain a healthy weight, we should be careful not to consume more energy (or kilojoules) than we need.
Many Tick food groups have restricted kilojoules. These broadly include: breakfast cereals; cereal bars; cakes; biscuits; frozen potato products; processed vegetables; milk and milk alternatives; yoghurt and dairy desserts; and dips.
So when you buy these products with the Tick, you know you're getting less kilojoules per 100g and per serving, than similar non-Tick foods.
Carbohydrates (which are converted to sugar in the body), and fat, are the two major contributors to kilojoules. Many reduced fat foods are lower in fat, but not necessarily lower in kilojoules because they have a high sugar content. And similarly, many reduced sugar foods are lower in sugar but still high in kilojoules because they have a high fat content.
By reducing kilojoules in certain foods, Tick products are restricting both fat and sugar levels for you.
Reduce salt (sodium)
High salt intake is associated with high blood pressure. Many processed foods have added salt to enhance taste or texture. One of the key aims of Tick is to reduce levels of salt in commonly eaten foods. In fact, in a one year period, 33 tonnes of salt was removed from the food supply, by manufacturers reformulating products to get the Tick in the breakfast cereal, bread and margarine categories.Tick approved products are significantly healthier than similar products with a higher salt content.
Try not to add salt to your own cooking. If you do use salt, try reducing it bit by bit over a period of time and use herbs and spices to add flavour – that way your taste buds won't notice it's missing!
Reduce serving size
In many types of food, Tick indicates smaller serving sizes. Having serving size limitations on Tick products makes it easier for you to choose healthier options that have restricted fat, kilojoules or salt in each serve. For example, Tick approved cereal bars are produced in a smaller serving size to provide a healthier choice in that food category.
Watching your portion size is an important part of healthier eating.
Increase positive nutrients (fibre & calcium)
In many types of food, Tick products have more fibre and calcium than comparable products.
Fibre is essential to good health. Eating more fibre is a great way of improving your diet. Fibre is naturally found in cereals, grains, legumes (beans, peas and lentils) fruit and vegetables. Tick products that have these foods as ingredients, such as breads and cereals, are often higher in fibre, compared to similar products that don't have the Tick.
Calcium is vital for healthy bones and muscles, for people of all ages. Foods vary greatly in their calcium content, but you'll find that Tick products in the milk, milk alternatives, soy drinks, yoghurt and dairy dessert categories carry higher levels of this important nutrient, than some non-Tick products.
HEALTHIER CHOICES FOR HEALTHIER NEW ZEALANDERS
