This guy’s got the right idea

Photo © 2012 AAP One/Joe Castro

It’s that week when all Aussie eyes are on big men flying, running, scrumming and kicking.

But while the eyes are distracted, mouths are being stuffed full of more junk food than at any other time of the year.

A Galaxy Research study for the NSW Food Authority surveyed 803 males aged 18-29 years across Australia earlier this month, and found 75% saw the football finals as “a ritual opportunity to indulge and consume whatever foods are easy to access”.

And easy food means fast food.

On average a young man who consumes more will eat an extra 2.8 extra servings of pizza, 3.1 extra servings of chicken, 2.9 extra servings of burgers and 2.9 extra servings of meat pies, plus three extra bags of chips.

Throughout Australia that’s 19.8 million serves of fast food, snacks and soft drinks – which amounts to 23 billion extra kilojoules.

And it’s not like we’re oblivious. 39% of those surveyed said that it was “unmanly” to eat healthy food while watching the football finals.

It’s not clear how they reconcile that with the men on screen, who probably had avocado and brown rice for lunch with their protein smoothie.

Perhaps it’s something more primal. If you want to be part of Team Bloke, peer pressure says you need to stop worrying about your figure.

After all, you might not be risking a head-high tackle like those guys on the field, but the least you can do is chance a myocardial infarction.

Do you change your diet at finals time? Tell us below!