Wendy Watson

Wendy Watson was Senior Nutrition Project Officer at Cancer Council NSW, working to promote healthy lifestyles and creating an environment that supports and encourages Australians to make healthy choices to reduce their cancer risk.

Wendy carries out strategic research and advocacy on food policy, food labelling and food marketing to children.

Wendy has a degree in Chemistry and a Masters of Applied Science in Nutrition. She worked for five years supporting schools to implement the NSW Healthy School Canteen Strategy before joining Cancer Council NSW in 2010.

Wendy and her team of dietitians and nutritionists are responsible for the organisation’s cancer prevention projects relating to obesity, nutrition, physical activity and alcohol. These include the Healthy Lunchbox website promoting healthy eating, as well as strategic research and advocacy into food labelling and food marketing to children.

Wendy also contributes to Cancer Council Australia’s advocacy on nutrition, food labelling and food policy.

She has published on food labelling and food marketing to children. Wendy has a degree in Chemistry and a Masters of Applied Science in Nutrition. She worked for five years supporting schools to implement the NSW Healthy School Canteen Strategy before joining Cancer Council NSW in 2010.

Swap ham out of the lunch box

We know that ham is a lunch box staple for many families, however, Cancer Council recommends that we limit or avoid processed meats because of their link with increasing the risk of bowel and stomach cancer. Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers in Australia. Processed meats include ham, devon, bacon, salami, frankfurts, […]

Lunch boxes made easy

Is healthy eating for your family one of your New Year’s resolutions but are you overwhelmed by the thought of another year of lunch boxes to pack? The key to a making a lunch box healthy is easy… simply pack something from each of the five food groups, plus water, everyday: Breads & Cereals, preferably […]

6 tips for a healthier Christmas

The festive season puts food front and centre. While many of us are happy to indulge over Christmas, the extra girth gained seems less appealing once the New Year rolls around. Weight gain over the festive season is a major contributor to excess yearly weight gain, especially for people who are already carrying more weight […]

How food advertising is endangering our kid’s health

Despite advances in health and medicine, it is predicted that the current generation of 20 year olds in westernized countries may be the first to have a lower life expectancy than their parents. This alarming prediction is largely due to diet and it’s preventable. We know that being overweight or obese increases the risk of 11 […]

Evidence shows eating wholegrains reduces bowel cancer risk

We already know that wholegrains are wholesome and high in fibre but new evidence1 published by the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) and the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) shows that eating wholegrains every day significantly reduces your risk of bowel cancer (also known as colorectal cancer). The new report analysed 99 studies from […]

Food industry failing to self-regulate junk food ads to kids

A new study released by Cancer Council NSW today has found no reduction in unhealthy food and drink advertisements on television during children’s peak viewing times, despite the fact that the food industry introduced voluntary self-regulatory initiatives in 2009. We found that children are being exposed to an average of three unhealthy food advertisements every […]

How future Olympic stars are targeted by unhealthy sports sponsorships

With the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio on the horizon, the country’s attention is already turning to team Australia and our hopes for a podium finish. Yet amongst the lightning fast speeds and incredible strength, unhealthy global brands have already made their mark, with Cadbury, McDonald’s and Coca Cola the worldwide sponsors of the upcoming […]