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Games 2018

The 2018, Gold Coast Games exhibits much more than the promise of an amazing sporting event- but the contribution to inspire and engage our community in developing a healthier and more active lifestyle in our beautiful region.

Games and Active Lives

Embracing 2018, drives to engage and build an active community by motivating individuals to move more, value health and be more active for life. For example, fitness in local parks and halls. Nevertheless, just by being physically active alone does not fully support a healthier life style. But, when we embrace exercise and diet combined, this has the potential to promote a recipe towards successful healthy living.

But what kind of diet boosts a healthy lifestyle?

And if you knew what this diet was would you embrace it?

Now, what if I told you that the Mediterranean diet is labelled the healthiest eating plan in the world?

https://oldwayspt.org/resources/oldways-mediterranean-diet-pyramid

Games and the Mediterranean Diet

The Mediterranean diet, brimming in a rainbow of glorious colours, does not restrict kilojoules but serves up a powerful health punch of hearty and nutritious meals that excites the taste buds and fills the stomach.

Longitudinal studies investigating the Mediterranean diet concluded, study subjects that participated in the diet exhibited some extraordinary results. Such as, a 52% reduction in the risk of type 2 diabetes and a 30% decreased susceptibility to stroke and heart disease. In addition, the Mediterranean diet did not only increase lifespan but also decrease the markers of aging.

So what is The Mediterranean Diet?

It is a diet type followed traditionally in Mediterranean countries that is especially high in the consumption of vegetables, legumes and olive oil and includes a modest consumption of proteins such as, seafood, dairy and eggs and even less amounts of red meat.

The major source of fat being “Extra Virgin Olive Oil” is regarded as the healthiest oil being RICH in monounsaturated fats and contains a wide variety of antioxidants.

So by adding a generous serving of olive oil to most meals daily provides health benefits, like anti-inflammatory effects which help fight disease, flexible blood vessels which lowers blood pressure and improves heart health. Furthermore, the added benefit of keeping you feeling full for longer. In addition, olive oil makes vegetables, like some bitter greens more palatable and improves the body’s absorption of fat-soluble nutrients within these plants.

The Mediterranean diet builds meals around vegetables.

Traditionally, the Mediterranean diet was largely vegetarian and most people would consume generous servings of vegetables a day often in one pot recipes, such as casseroles and soups. For example, tomatoes, zucchini, carrots, artichokes and olives. In addition, spinach, endive and chicory were alongside the dish that carried copious amounts of antioxidants.

Furthermore, many of the dishes were slow cooked and often soft, but this does not mean they are less nutritious. Slow cooking not only breaks down vegetable cell walls but makes antioxidant activity, vitamins and minerals more accessible. For example, lycopene in tomatoes.

Maltese Beef stew with gravy beef, carrot and string beans.

Would you like to know more about the Mediterranean diet?

How about joining me “Be Inspired Nutrition” in a cooking class on Mediterranean cooking with a focus on creating Maltese meals.

Come and learn about Mediterranean food and culture, then sit down and enjoy a 3 course meal that you create.

You will get excited about food and nutrition and celebrate in health and wellbeing.

Date: Thursday 17th May 2018

Where: Pepper Tree Kitchen, 70 Magellan St

Lismore, NSW 2478

Phone number for booking: 0266220180

Time: 9am to 1pm

Hands on meals created by you: Yes you will get your hands dirty and learn some new techniques.

And by all means recipes will be supplied

Price: $90.00 (GST included).

Until next time

Keep it simple