| This article was written to answer many of the | | | | the meal, which will increase the proportion of |
| most frequently asked questions on this topic. I | | | | dairy product based minerals such as calcium. Now |
| hope you find information helpful. Unless we really | | | | you need to make sure your next meal makes |
| love cooking or plan and prepare ahead with our | | | | up for this out of balance meal. For your evening |
| meals, we can fall victim to the easy way out - | | | | meal you should eat a low fat, high fibre meal, |
| fast food or junk food. | | | | plenty of vegetables cooked lightly or eaten raw |
| Here is a story; could it be you? The weekend is | | | | so as not to destroy the vitamins. If you must |
| here and you think you now have a couple of | | | | eat between meals, snack on fruit or vegetables. |
| days to relax. Saturday morning - you make the | | | | Another issue is the use of additives. For |
| coffee to start the day and then you're off | | | | example, the addition of salt improves the flavour |
| shopping. You get back just before lunch and | | | | of food so naturally manufacturers put it in so |
| discover that you have to get the kids to their | | | | eating processed food increases your salt levels - |
| hockey practise. Too late for a healthy lunch, by | | | | increases blood pressure and leads to heart |
| the time they are organized it will be time to go. | | | | problems. A little salt is necessary; it provides |
| So you pick up a hamburger on the way. Traffic | | | | your body with the mineral sodium which is |
| is a nightmare. By the time you put your feet up, | | | | needed in small quantities. Preservatives are |
| you find it is time to get the kids. It's almost | | | | another issue here. In small quantities, these are |
| supper time and you're really tired now and you're | | | | not supposed to be harmful. Do you eat |
| in no mood to prepare a meal so you pick up | | | | processed food all of the time? This is something |
| pizzas from a well-known fast food outlet. Sunday | | | | for you to think about because you are really |
| and time to prepare brunch and you go downhill | | | | causing great harm to your body. |
| from there so you pick up some chicken with | | | | Antioxidants are so important. They help to |
| chips and some salad... | | | | prevent damage to the cells of your body, |
| So what is a good diet? One which contains the | | | | damage that can lead to cells becoming |
| nutrients your body needs in the correct amounts. | | | | cancerous. Teas are a very good source of |
| That is the key to a healthy lifestyle. The main | | | | antioxidants. Ordinary (black) tea provides some |
| things your body needs from food are proteins | | | | but a lot of the beneficial constituents are lost |
| (for growth and repair), carbohydrates (for | | | | during the fermentation process. Unprocessed, |
| energy), fats (gives a store of energy and the | | | | pure organic teas like Green Tea or Oolong (the |
| fatty layer protects and insulates your body from | | | | latter is only partly fermented) are the best. So |
| impacts and temperature loss), vitamins (for good | | | | instead of coffee in the morning, try tea, because |
| health), minerals (for the correct functioning of | | | | it is more beneficial. Tea also contains the |
| your body systems) fibre (aids digestion and | | | | caffeine, but not as much as in coffee. You might |
| production of faeces) and water (70% or so of | | | | have to drink more but think of the extra |
| the body is water). | | | | benefits to your health. Also, Green tea is thought |
| Does the hamburger provide all the things your | | | | to inhibit the absorption of cholesterol. The high |
| body needs? Does it supply the nutrients you | | | | levels of animal fats in burgers inevitably mean |
| need? The answer is yes. The burger itself | | | | more cholesterol so there is another good reason |
| contains some meat, so there is the protein, | | | | for switching from coffee. |
| some minerals and fat, the burger also contains | | | | Simple changes to your diet can make your hectic |
| fillers and those, plus the burger bun provides | | | | lifestyle more healthy. Enjoy the odd burger or |
| carbohydrate. The salad that comes with the | | | | other fast food; just compensate healthier foods |
| burger meal provides fibre, water, vitamins and | | | | for the rest of the day. |
| minerals. The fries provide more fat and | | | | I must say, a system that works very well for |
| carbohydrate and the main bulk of the water | | | | me is when I am making meals, cook extra and |
| comes from the drink. To our surprise, the burger | | | | freeze them. When I come home tired, I just get |
| meals do provide all you need! | | | | the individual meals out of the freezer, heat them |
| The problem is with the quantities of these | | | | up and in minutes I'm eating a super meal. It's |
| nutrients. There is usually way too much fat and | | | | even faster than fast food and tastes better too! |
| carbohydrate compared with the other nutrients. | | | | Thank you for joining us. We hope you have a |
| There is very little fibre. The vitamin and mineral | | | | look around while you're here. |
| proportions are low, unless you have a shake with | | | | |