Cancer Council WA spills the beans on Aussies not eating enough legumes via new Berlin work
Cancer Council WA’s LiveLighter program has launched a new digital campaign, Start Small, following new data showing the average adult is eating just 130 grams of legumes per week, less than a third of the 400 grams recommended for preventing chronic disease. The campaign was created by Berlin.
Cancer Council WA Food and Movement Manager, Ainslie Sartori, said poor diet remains the third biggest contributor to disease in Australia, with low legume intake singled out as the leading dietary risk factor.
“Legumes are one of the cheapest, healthiest and most sustainable foods around—but most of us are barely eating a serve a week,” Sartori said. “They are high in plant-based protein and contain essential nutrients and fibre, which can help lower your risk of heart disease and bowel cancer.
“Adding legumes to your meals a few times a week could make a big difference to your health. Legumes include beans, peas and lentils, but peanuts, peanut butter, hummus, baked beans, frozen peas, sugar snap peas and green beans are also included in the legume count,” she said.
The second wave of the Start Small campaign will be live from 10 August 2025 across catch-up tv, YouTube, radio, streaming audio, digital display, meta, reddit and TikTok.
