RICH PEOPLE DRINK TAP WATER

Yesterday went to an excellent Sugar Reduction Summit and there was masses of useful debate.

The one thing that I thought was useful to use is "rich people drink tap water" said by Prof Adam Drewnowski based on his research in the USA.

Christmas cookbook

Diabetes.co.uk have produced a lovely Christmas cook book..

It contains 46 delicious recipes ideas for you and the family - including a range of vegetarian dishes, as well

LOWER CARBOHYDRATE CHRISTMAS PUDDING

Christmas pudding --lower fat and lower calorie

Christmas pudding --lower fat and lower calorie I developed this recipe a while ago and it is very popular. It can be made at the last minute or rather the day before Christmas and is both easy and economical not to mention tasty.

Having looked at most luxury style Christmas puddings as well as recipes for homemade ones using traditional ingredients like suet in them I found that most provided around 600 kcals and 80g carbohydrate per portion. So I was given the challenge of developing a lower calorie and carbohydrate pudding. 

This is what I made and it makes 8 small portions and each portion provides 204kcal 43g carbohydrate, 1.4 g fat, 0.3g saturated fat and 0.3g salt.

It was quick to make and also cheap. It will not keep so make it only the day before or freeze.

Ingredients

200g dried mixed fruit

100ml water

10 ml red wine

1 tbsp oat bran

I tbsp black treacle

200g self raising flour

1 tsp mixed spices

1 420g can of prunes drained

1 egg

Mix the wine and water together (I just washed out a wine bottle)

Pour the dried fruit into a dish

Pour on the wine and water mixture

Leave overnight in the fridge.

This soaking step is important as it plumps up the fruit.

To this mix add the oat bran and return the dish to the fridge

Take the stones out of the prunes and puree—if you have not got a liquidiser a potato masher works well

Add to the mix, then add the treacle and mix through.

Sift together the flour and spices and add to the mix

Finally beat in the egg

If the mix seems a bit dry add a little skimmed milk

Pour into a one and a half pint basin and smooth down

Alternatively pour into 8 small basins

Put in the microwave and cook for 7 minutes on high

Take out of the microwave and let stand for 5 minutes

Cook again for 7 minutes on high and again let stand

Test the inside is cooked with a knife or skewer –if not cooked –then cook again for 5 minutes and allow to stand then check it

 The smaller puddings will cook more quickly and so will a pudding in a shallower basin

 The pudding will not keep for long so freeze it or cook a day or so before required.

 If you do not want to cook in a microwave it can be baked for an hour in a medium oven in a covered basin stood in a bowl of water.

 Serve with custard or ice cream or as it is very low in fat a little brandy butter or my current delight a really nice plain Greek style yogurt

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

INTERMEDIATE NUTRITION AND HEALTH

I have just  updated this book and am pleased with it as it has lots of extra  information. it contains

information on

• Food, nutrition and health
• Factors affecting food intake and choice
• Macronutrients
• Micronutrients
• Fluids including alcohol
• The fate of nutrients
• Nutrition for different life stages
• Healthy eating and malnutrition
• Therapeutic diets
• Ethnic minority groups and their dietary requirements
• Promoting healthy eating
• Factors affecting the British diet

FREE SCHOOL MEALS

It seems a shame that even though  free school lunches are available for every child in reception, year 1 and 2 some parents do not take this up. It may be because they do not know of it or not sure how to access it or even what the food is like.

This is an extract from a survey on it

Free school meals for infants, one year on: what do parents think?  

A new survey commissioned by the School Food Plan highlights the value parents place on their children having a free lunch at school in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. Almost one quarter (23%) of mums and dads whose children take up the free lunches say the main benefit is the greater variety of food they will now eat. The same proportion (23%) say they most value their child eating a proper meal at lunchtime, whilst almost one fifth (19%) say their child has enjoyed trying new foods. The opportunity to eat together and socialise with friends was identified as the most important aspect by 15% of parents. 

Food and happiness

I did a blog about this a while ago and it is still pertinent today

So often people --including myself-get down about things with often no good reason so I loved the action for happiness posters and ideas
http://www.actionforhappiness.org/happiness


Lots of them can interact with food and what we eat such as

• cook a meal for someone 
• notice what you are eating and enjoy it
• look forward to those special treats
• do not compare yourself--so many people beat themselves up about their appearance 
• focusing on the good bits --the fruit and vegetables you eat 

I could go on 

LENTILS

Lentils are a really useful base for all sorts of dishes --I make lots of soup which my husband adores for lunch and usually include lentils ( plus sometimes split peas and barley). These items are all really low GI plus low in fat and filling and tasty plus cheap. I use all sorts of other vegetables and bits of chicken or meat to give flavour plus herbs and tomatoes --and indeed anything in the cupboard, vegetable basket or fridge.

I was lecturing to hospital caterers on Monday and suggesting lentils to boost up the nutritional content of meals for vegans --I often grind lentils to do this and then add to all sorts of dishes

I came across  good information at

http://www.lentils.ca/health-nutrition/