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Obesity linked to poverty

(525 Posts)
Scissordolly Sat 25-Jul-20 21:12:57

During lockdown I have been looking through my boxes of photographs. I found one of my primary school class taken in 1945. Guess what? Not a single overweight child in a reception class of 40 + children! 2/3 rd of the parents of these chn were poor as church mice! Don't tell me that healthy food like potatoes, meat and two veg or an omelette are more expensive than Kentucky Fried Chicken or Mac Donald's. Children need to be taught to cook again in secondary school. They need to be taught why we need to eat fruit and vegetables - not just told it is healthy.

gillybob Sun 26-Jul-20 22:50:53

Humous makes my mouth and tongue swell and itch . Not sure if it’s the chick peas or the garlic? Trouble is I love it and can’t resist the temptation.

gillybob Sun 26-Jul-20 22:47:51

No probs chewy ....basic tomato sauce .

2 sticks of celery, 2 decent sized carrots, 1 large or 2 medium onions all chopped very small and fried off in oil until soft but not browned . I then add a good splash of milk or cream and a good splash of red wine (optional) and a good splash of Worcestershire sauce and carton or 2 of Passata (not sure of spelling) . I simmer it for about 45 minutes until it reduces.

That is the base for my tomato sauce . Depending on whether I am making a bolognese or a chilli. I add whatever else. Chilli, kidney beans, mince, mushrooms, peppers ...... whatever .

It’s so much nicer than the sauce from a jar and I make it in huge quantities to share .

Callistemon Sun 26-Jul-20 22:46:34

No, just itchy all over.
I didn't realise it was an allergen.

MissAdventure Sun 26-Jul-20 22:41:25

Do you mean the roof of your mouth itches, callistemon?

I think I get that. I do love a band wagon to jump on.

Chewbacca Sun 26-Jul-20 22:39:33

Celery makes me itch

Thanks for sharing that nugget of information Callistemon! grin

Callistemon Sun 26-Jul-20 22:37:51

I've just seen a diet which advocates 500 calories per day for 3 days per week ie every other day, eat healthily on the other days but you can eat what you like on one day.
That doesn't sound to me like retraining your appetite or eating habits.

Celery makes me itch.

EllanVannin Sun 26-Jul-20 22:34:40

There aren't many of us Urmston.

Chewbacca Sun 26-Jul-20 22:32:56

home grown celery”??? Good Lord gillybob, I'm impressed that you make your sauce from scratch! I chuck a tin of tomatoes and a chopped onion in the pan and think I've cooked up a storm! If your recipe is dead easy, maybe you wouldn't mind sharing? smile

MissAdventure Sun 26-Jul-20 22:28:26

It sounds lovely. I haven't had cooked celery for ages.

Urmstongran Sun 26-Jul-20 22:27:39

So, is anyone going to address the fact that the most overweight section of society is those in the 65 to 74 age bracket, then?

Sweet treats I expect MissA.

Cake.
Or alcohol (which is loaded with sugar).

Most people fall into either camp.

I like wine.
And a G&T.
??

gillybob Sun 26-Jul-20 22:26:49

I don’t use “home grown celery” . Just celery .

I can recommend the base though. It’s delicious ?

Urmstongran Sun 26-Jul-20 22:22:27

I’m another who puts on weight when I’m happy EV - no ‘comfort eating’ for me.

Like you, if I’m stressed or anxious, food is absolutely the last thing on my mind!

MissAdventure Sun 26-Jul-20 22:22:22

Hang on, you're not getting off that lightly...

Home grown celery? wink

gillybob Sun 26-Jul-20 22:17:54

Oh and before I am castigated I make my sauces from a very basic celery, carrot, onion and tomato base. No jars.

gillybob Sun 26-Jul-20 22:15:58

I still do batch cooking MawB . I produce about 15-20 meals every week . Chilli’s bolognese, shepherds pies (notice the connection ....all mince based ? ) .

I give some portions to my DD, my DS and his family and my dad . As that advert says “Every little helps “ .

Sparkling Sun 26-Jul-20 21:59:00

It cost less to eat healthily than junk food, but it does take planning and time. I am now in the overweight category.

MissAdventure Sun 26-Jul-20 21:26:20

That's the whole point, in a nutshell, kissngate.

Nobody should put everyone in the same category - stuffing their faces, eating junk, can't be bothered, too lazy, or too ignorant.

You hit the nail right on the head. smile

Scissordolly Sun 26-Jul-20 21:22:56

If the first solid food a child gets is a combination of fat,sugar and lard that is what all fast food is made of, you will never get that child to eat or try anything else because it is so tasty! An eating habits is formed from an early age. As I said in my earlier post, the government must bring back domestic science in schools. When my son was 14 in 1988 he brought home a recipe for home made pizza he had made in school- he was so pleasked and he loves to cook for his own family now.

Fennel Sun 26-Jul-20 21:17:15

OK I concede.
But I still think it's something to do with giving up smoking even though that didn't affect me that way.
In my youth most of the older people smoked - pipes or cigarettes. Very few overweight.

kissngate Sun 26-Jul-20 21:14:29

@growstuff. Dont tarnish everyone in the overweight category with eating the wrong food. Never eaten crisps, always disliked fizzy drinks, never had sugar in tea or coffee, and as for burgers the smell makes me heave, but I'm classed on the bmi scale as overweight. I do plenty of exercise but age, genes, medication all contribute to a slower metabolism as we get older. Dont presume we all sit there stuffing our faces with garbage.

grannypiper Sun 26-Jul-20 20:49:38

Porridge costs penny's per portion and can be cooked in one pot quickly, you can buy 8 pints of milk in Farmfoods for £1.50, a very large pot of soup can be made with less than an hours cooking and can be used for lunch for 3 or 4 days, pasta or stews can be made for a few pounds and used over 2 days. Food doesn't have to be expensive but if someone hasn't been taught to cook or shop then of course they will buy ready made foods.
Takeaway burgers are an easy solution if you can't be bothered to cook one night but if you can't be bothered every night then it is a problem

growstuff Sun 26-Jul-20 20:34:58

Fennel

Thanks for the link MissA but I don't think the conclusions
are so convincing for comparative overweight in old age.

I would say they're absolutely convincing. Over 70% of people over 65 on average are overweight or obese.

In areas of high deprivation, the figure is 11% higher than the average of other areas.

I hope overweight people will be using their £10 eat out "vouchers" to buy nutritious salads rather than using the money for fizzy drinks for grandchildren and pie and chips, burgers or pizza.

growstuff Sun 26-Jul-20 20:30:04

Barmeyoldbat

There is also the problem of medication which has the side effect of putting on weight. I am fighting a losing battle at the moment to lose a few pounds before any more creep on and it simply just won't go. I exercise, cycled 14 miles a day for eight days in a row. Eat a very healthy diet and no snacking. Only downfall is my coffee intake but that is with skimmed milk.

Anyway, part of the problem is the lack of knowledge about cooking a meal and how to make cheap meals. Some people have been in care, my own dil is an example, and leave care with no knowledge of cooking whatsoever. Lack of exercise is another, children just don't go out and play for hours, everything seems to be organised. Lastly poverty, as has been said and the cheapness of fast food and junk food.

So if you eat "healthily", eat less of it.

MissAdventure Sun 26-Jul-20 20:17:17

Have a look at chewbacca's info, a page or two back, fennel.
I think it's more conclusive than mine.

Chewbacca Sun 26-Jul-20 20:16:42

Does this help?