Leigh Elder Eat for keeps

People I consult with over their weight and diabetes issues often talk about advice they have been receiving from a number of different health services. A common thread, is that the advice offered is not consistent, and sometimes not actually helpful for their condition.

A quick look around a number of resources, highlights this inconsistency and we have seen examples of Food Pyramid's which are highly skewed towards carbohydrate, and over restricting fat consumption.

Ministry of Health nutrition guidelines for 'Breads and Cereals” prescribes at least 6 servings a day and included an 80 g muffin, 1 bread roll, 2 breakfast wheat biscuits, 30 g of cornflakes, 150 g of pasta or rice and 2 plain sweet biscuits. To be fair, rolled oats is an option and wholegrain varieties preferred.

Nonetheless, for the average person, if these above were your 6 picks, their glycaemic load for the day would far exceed any reasonable parameters. Particularly, if you factored in the recommended fruit and vegetable consumption, which, although rich in complex carbohydrate, still provides more glucose for energy.

You would quite simply be awash in glucose, storing the excess as fat, and if you're heading towards diabetes, the impact would be even greater.

Many of our weight and diabetes issues would improve across the country, if there were some standard, relevant and effective guidelines and advice for nutrition, not the current ad hoc mix.

I was asked at a Probus talk I gave this week how I would describe what Eat For Keeps is. The answer is, that we find that many people are quite nutritionally illiterate, and have developed an effective process and resources which we believe, acts like the Road Code does for drivers.

The Road Code clearly spells out the rules of the road and how to interpret the different types of signage in a succinct and concise manner. Similarly, our resources help people gain a clear focus around nutrition issues and learn basic food and life skills, without all the conflicting messages that have confused them in the past.

I am keen to speak at other local service clubs or businesses - you can contact me on leigh@eatforkeeps.com mob. 0272941980