In the 21st century, depletion of natural resources is high on every country's agenda of environmental protection. As a responsible member of the Earth, we are all obliged to take action towards less food wastage and plain eating.

Say No to Additives

How can we achieve "zero-additive" in our diets and eating habits? You may opt for mild flavour in your meals by cutting down on refined seasoning, e.g. oyster oil and shrimp paste. Try natural seasonings (e.g. ginger, green onion, garlic, fennel and rosemary) in your cooking to bring out the very fresh taste in food. Eat less refined food as fewer additives are used in the production of sliced meat than that of sausages, and fresh fish contains far less salt than canned fish. Brown rice is a healthier alternative to white rice.

Cook No More than What You Need

Affluence brings about changes in our eating habits. Enjoying all the amenities of a modern lifestyle, most people are now consuming far less calories than they take every day. Extra calories are converted into fat and stored inside the body, which leads to obesity and other chronic diseases. As a rule of thumb, moderation is the key to healthy eating. Always keep the leftovers for your next meal, or prepare just enough serving. Try not to waste food and overeat.

Quality, not quantity, counts

Competition among restaurants means lower price and, especially, larger servings, of which most end up in a rubbish bin as they are well beyond the daily need of an ordinary office worker. So try to refrain from eating too much for lunch. You may ask for a smaller portion or more vegetables instead to minimize food wastage.

The above information has been provided by the Dietetics Service of Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital. If you have any comments or enquiries, please contact 2835-8748.

4/2009 Post