A diet high in fruit and veg is thought to protect against cancer in two ways. Anti-carcinogenic agents may directly protect against cancer, and indirectly by helping to maintain a healthy body weight.

Yass parents will have the chance to attend free nutrition workshops run the by Cancer Council of NSW. The workshops are part of the Council’s flagship nutrition project. The workshops aim to help parents to understand the importance of eating five serves of veg and two serves of fruit a day.

“We provide practical, budget-friendly ways to help families understand why fruit and vegetables are so important and to get the whole household eating more” Southern NSW, Nutrition Project Officer, Kate Angelucci said.

“Eating the recommended servings of fruit and vegetables helps reduce risk of oesophageal, lung and some mouth and throat cancers.”

Workshops address the common misconception that healthy eating is expensive. 

“Some people believe that fruit and vegetables are expensive, but if you compare the cost with that of meat or pre-packaged snacks, fruit and vegetables can actually be cheaper,” said Ms Angelucci.

Forty-two percent of respondents to a 2016 Cancer Council consumer attitudes survey did not eat enough fruit, while 87 percent did not eat enough vegetables. 

Workshops include tips on how to get the whole family eating enough fruit and veg. Advice includes healthy school lunches, how to add vegies on a budget, as well as tips for handling fussy eaters.