Avoid cheap meat items at fast food chains

China is now a newly wealthy country and life has changed. Where once people lived in little houses in narrow streets, skyscrapers have now been built.

Redevelopment and progress has swept away market squares. International supermarket chains arrived to sell food from all over the world with readymade meals and readymade Chinese sauces. Meat was once seen as an expensive treat, now it is readily affordable. Fast food chains have moved in to take advantage of the increased wealth. With their arrival comes the need to mass-produce cheap meat. Fast food is usually meat food. As fast food chains spread across Asia, so does the factory farming of animals.

It is only natural that at first people are delighted to have cheap fast food and ready-made suppers. It can seem a really good solution for people who are working hard. However, the tide is turning; people are now starting to wake up and realize it is very important to know what is in the food we are eating. People are now aware that too much fat, salt and sugar is not healthy. Moving to Western-style high-fat factory-made food has pushed up the prices of fruit and vegetables whilst factory-produced food has become very cheap.

The tidal wave of wealth in China has bought a tidal wave of obesity in its wake. But the obesity epidemic in China is mainly restricted to the middle classes who live in high-rise apartments with ever-smaller kitchens. These cater to the Chinese wish to eat out more. Those still living in rural areas have less access to fast food, they still ride bicycles and are slim.

Times change, but not always for the better. Not so long ago a man would work very hard just so he could feed his family. In most Western countries this is no longer the case. We must work hard to provide good quality food and to take the time to teach young people the art of preparing a simple healthy meal.

Food in wealthy countries has been dominated by Western-style cuisine in the past decade. While we may have been temporarily engaged by fast food and ready-made meals, other countries are now starting the big fight back. They are looking to restore their own traditional healthy dishes made from locally sourced fresh ingredients. This is starting to happen in Gulf countries also. On a recent visit to Dubai I was taken to a gourmet restaurant where they serve the most delicious organic local dishes. The food tasted amazing because it was fresh. It is becoming a very popular meeting place for all those who love traditional Arabic food. Fresh local food is a treat not to be missed.

Simple healthy recipe

Deluxe vegetable sandwich
Avocados are high in the good monounsaturated fat, which helps to lower cholesterol levels.
Ingredients:
• 2 slices whole wheat bread
• 2 tbsp. hummus
• 1/4 avocado, sliced
• 2 oz. low-fat cheese
• 1 large leaf of lettuce, torn
into large pieces
• 1 small tomato, sliced
• Other veggies of your choice (shredded carrots, sliced cucumbers, onion slices, etc.)
• Dash of vinegar & olive oil (optional)
Directions:
1. Spread the hummus on one side of
each slice of bread.
2. Add all other ingredients in layers.
3. Add the vinegar & oil over the veggies.

Ask Alva
Can you please give me an idea for a quick breakfast for my sons who do not like to eat breakfast as they never have the time in the morning.
- Padma

Try a super healthy smoothie breakfast. Smoothies are a fabulous way to increase the amount of fruit you eat and they are really easy to make. A basic smoothie is just any fruit, some low-fat milk and/or yoghurt, and real fruit juice all processed together in a blender until smooth. You can experiment with different fruit and add oats to make a really powerful start to the day.

Source: ARAB NEWS