December 2011 Kangaroo Valley Voice www.kangaroovalley.nsw.au Page 40
December 2011 Kangaroo Valley Voice www.kangaroovalley.nsw.au Page 41 Waste not, waist not by Dr Rosemary Stanton, nutritionist We’re fast approaching the season where we experience the greatest accumulation <strong>of</strong> waste – and waist. We buy too much, eat and drink too much and add a big burden to the local tip as we throw out loads <strong>of</strong> food and packaging. Waste is a disaster throughout the world. The amount <strong>of</strong> food thrown away each year would feed an extra 3 billion people. Australians are particularly fond <strong>of</strong> throwing food away. The Australia Institute has shown that the food we throw away each year represents a loss <strong>of</strong> $5.2 billion. Much <strong>of</strong> that food ends up in landfill. As the food rots, it generates methane, a greenhouse gas that has over 20 times the potency <strong>of</strong> carbon dioxide. That’s the bad news about waste. The national girth is also continuing to increase. The majority <strong>of</strong> Australian adults are now overweight or obese. This may make excess waist appear normal, but from a health viewpoint, it is not. Fat around the waist and on the upper body is a health hazard. As fat is deposited around the waist, the risks increase for diabetes, high blood pressure, heart attack, strokes, kidney diseases, some <strong>of</strong> the common cancers, including bowel cancer and breast cancer (in older women only) and also osteoarthritis and dementia. Fat on the bottom and thighs is not a hazard for any <strong>of</strong> these conditions with the exception <strong>of</strong> osteoarthritis. One part <strong>of</strong> me says it’s not the best time <strong>of</strong> year to carry on about excess weight. Another part is aware that many people gain a few kilos over the festive season – and never lose it! Here are some tips to avoid waste: Be realistic Prepare only as much as people are likely to eat. If anyone is left unsatisfied after a party, Christmas barbecue or dinner, they are unlikely to starve in Kangaroo Valley. We are surrounded by food and past fears <strong>of</strong> running out <strong>of</strong> food are not relevant in this area. Plan ahead Decide on a menu, using foods in season. That’s an easy task in Australia because we have an abundance <strong>of</strong> summer berries, mangoes and stone fruit – all delicious and usually appealing to all ages. It makes sense to decide on fruit and vegetable purchases while you’re at the shops and can see what is fresh and reasonably priced, but make a shopping list for other items. That will help in avoiding overcrowding the fridge and pantry with stuff that will be thrown away if it’s not needed. Avoiding waste also means thinking about using leftovers for a meal over the holiday period. Recipes for using leftover turkey and ham can b found in books or on the Internet. If you’re not going to use these or other leftover foods quickly, use the freezer. Place individual meal-sized portions into freezer storage bags or containers and label them so you know what they are in the weeks or months ahead. Planning also makes sense for the waist. Our sedentary, food-filled lifestyle means that almost everyone will get fat unless they take steps to avoid eating and drinking more than they need. Survey the food and start with a small serve At a buffet party, first check out what’s on <strong>of</strong>fer. One study found that overweight people tend to start straight <strong>of</strong>f at one end <strong>of</strong> a buffet table and move right along it whereas thinner people walk up and down and make a decision before taking anything. For the waist, take a small plate, knowing that if you finish what you have taken and really want more, you can usually go back for seconds. Few people do because they find they’re satisfied with a smaller quantity. Handle waste wisely When we get together, many <strong>of</strong> us forget our usual habit <strong>of</strong> recycling and just dump everything in the rubbish bin. Don’t. Compost anything compostable and don’t forget the chooks will appreciate some leftovers too. Recycle all cardboard and paper wrappings and at a party, set out separate boxes or bins for bottles and cans. Get leftovers into the fridge or freezer quickly. Ham, turkey and other forms <strong>of</strong> poultry freeze well. Some vegies can also go into the freezer. If I have leftover cream, I spoon it into ice block trays and when it’s frozen, you can pop the frozen cubes <strong>of</strong> cream into a freezer bag, ready for a later date when you want a small amount <strong>of</strong> cream to smooth the texture <strong>of</strong> a sauce or a pasta dish. My new book If you’re looking for a Christmas present, you might like to consider my new book The Choice Guide to Food – how to look after your health, your budget and the planet. It’s published by Choice Books through NewSouth Publishing and is currently available with a 20% discount <strong>of</strong>fer from their website (http://nsbk.us/ChoiceFood.) or from bookshops in Bowral The topics discussed include butter or margarine; energy drinks; sugars and artficial sweeteners; yoghurt and probiotics; the hope and the hype over antioxidants; salt; which milk; which oil; nuts; tea; c<strong>of</strong>fee; chocolate and more. My aim was to look at areas <strong>of</strong> contention such as why eggs were once considered ‘good’, then were regarded as ‘bad’ and are now ‘good’ again (although they’ve always been ‘good’ in my book).