Healthy Eating

savvy

Alison_B wrote:

What is wrong with these? Total novice when it comes to all the additives etc.

Hi Alison, this might help you out, this ingredient is found in all sorts of foods e.g packet sauces, gravy, biscuits, sweets;
What are hydrogenated fats and trans fats?

Hydrogenation is one of the processes that can be used to turn liquid oil into solid fat. The final product of this process is called hydrogenated vegetable oil/hydrogenated fat. It's used in some biscuits, cakes, pastry, margarine and other processed foods.

During the process of hydrogenation, trans fats may be formed. This means that foods that contain hydrogenated vegetable oil (always declared in the ingredients list) may also contain trans fats.

The trans fats found in food containing hydrogenated vegetable oil are harmful and have no known nutritional benefits. They raise the type of cholesterol in the blood that increases the risk of coronary heart disease. Some evidence suggests that the effects of these trans fats may be worse than saturated fats.

So, as part of a healthy diet we should try to reduce the amount of foods we eat that contain hydrogenated or saturated fats and replace them with unsaturated fats. Trans fats are also naturally found at very low levels in foods such as dairy products, beef and lamb. Taken from: http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/asksam/healthydiet/fssq/#A218438

This one has a basic intro to additives/preservatives: http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/foodlabels/understandingenumbers/

This article gives you more info on msg:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/main.jhtml?xml=/health/2002/10/29/heye29.xml&sSheet=/health/2002/10/29/ixhmain25.html

This web page describes GM foods, another one I personally avoid:
http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/healthissues/factsbehindissues/gmfood/

tiff

It also says something that hydrogenated fats and monosodium glutomate are banned in foods for children under 3.

Magentasue

I have been inspired by this thread to get things back on track. I know about additives and food processing. I know how to shop 'properly' and I can cook. I have a car and a large supermarket nearby - no market or greengrocer close but if I wanted to make the effort if I wanted to. But ...

... our diet has been slowly deteriorating. Roughly in proportion to the hours I work and how tired I feel! Reading this thread I realise that my kids are getting fussier and their diet is worse than ours.

So, small steps. The crisps and biscuits have suddenly stopped - what started as an extra have become lunch with the sandwich being binned. Proper dinners now - back to planning six meals on a Sunday and cooking for them. None of this - I won't have that, I'll just heat up a pizza later. Again, I've always kept a few frozen meals in the freezer for emergencies - now they're becoming the preferred alternative.

I suppose the point is, when you take your eyes of the road .... !!!

aeuerby

Anyone got a recipe for sausage casserole? I make most of my casserole's from scratch so I know exactly what goes into them but haven't managed to find a nice alternative to the sausage casserole mix.

Angela.

Ticklemouse

I made my first 'from scratch' sausage casserole the other week. I made it in my slow-cooker (how else;) ) but I'm sure it would work just as well in the oven/hob.

Soften some finely diced onions (mine hate onions so have to make them small so don't see)
Add tin (s) of chopped tomatoes, large pinch of dried herbs and a few mushrooms.
Add browned sausages.
Cook slowly to let flavours infuse and tomatoes thicken down.
Season to taste, but long cooking and herbs often means you don't need much if any salt. If it is too thin, add a little flour/cornflour and cook that out too. (Apparently arrowroot thickens without needing to 'cook' but I haven't got any.)

Don't think I used anything else - so simple really. Will make it again this week. Makes you realise how easy good food really is - and no additives.

System

Tiffs Sausage casserole click here

elona

Ticklemouse

I know you say your kids hate onions but have you sliced them VERY thinly and then put them in the slow cooker? They come out looking like noodles and slighly sweet (hint, hint) :):)

Ticklemouse

Will try it elona but don't think they'd eat noodles either.:)

savvy

Magentasue wrote:

... our diet has been slowly deteriorating. Roughly in proportion to the hours I work and how tired I feel! Reading this thread I realise that my kids are getting fussier and their diet is worse than ours.

I suppose the point is, when you take your eyes of the road .... !!!

Hey Magentasue I know exactly what you mean, mine started going adrift when I was studying for my degree, although my ex was a good cook he didn't do that much of it, and was very partial to eating out and takeaways................which led to the kids getting a taste for it!! I didn't put up much of a fight as it was quick and easy!

Then I started full time work in a very demanding job and my ex and I split up, couldn't afford takeaways etc then, so convenience food took over! :rolleyes: Sometimes you don't realise how much your eating habits have changed!

fazer6

My mum works at an after school club and she has found the kids really like the dried banana slices because they're sweet and like crisps so the kids don't see it as healthy.