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A Healthy Kitchen is a Happy Kitchen

April 15, 2012 By

When you think about health and safety in the food industry it is easy to think of some of the more ridiculous warnings which appear on food and beverage packaging, such as a bag of nuts with ‘make contain nuts’ emblazoned across the side, or the disposable coffee cup which warns you that the contents are hot. Whilst they are momentarily amusing, their reason for being often stems from a serious incident where a consumer has been harmed and the law has ruled these warnings necessary.

In the restaurant business there are several levels of health and safety requirements to be aware of. Clearly, food handling is a big part of the job so all the applicable qualifications will be required. There are then rules relating to staff welfare to consider and then of course the safety of the customers themselves. Knowledge gained at fire safety courses is just as valuable as that gleaned from customer care workshops so make sure that you pay attention and even if the subject matter is dry you stay alert and concentrate.

For kitchen workers in restaurants their ambition might be to train for a Level 2 Food Hygiene certificate once the basis course has been completed. Make sure you select a reputable training supplier and that the course is properly accredited before you part with any course fees. Request recommendations from trusted sources or look online for a reputable training facility to trust to look after your employees.

With any training, revising the course content is helpful on a regular basis to ensure best practice is being adhered to, and don’t be afraid to have reminders on display in the workplace. Reference aids for things like food storage temperatures are available in poster form and are a useful aide memoir for many people. A healthy kitchen is a happy kitchen after all!

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What’s for lunch?

March 5, 2012 By

Trying to stick to a diet is not always that easy, especially when your workmates want you to join them for lunch at a local pub and then opt for a healthy sandwich, when everyone else is getting burgers and fries. But a healthy sandwich is a great option if you want something healthy and filling.

It may not sound particularly appealing to go out for a pub lunch with your workmates and then opt for a healthy sandwich, but it really is a great option if you want something healthy and filling.

You may associate pubs with hearty food like pie and mash or fish and chips, but pretty much everywhere has alternatives nowadays and the majority of them are healthy choices.

The great thing is, being healthy doesn’t have to be boring. If you go for the veggie option on the menu, for example, say something like hummus and roasted veg, you’ll be extremely satisfied and it probably won’t have been too high on the calorie count. It’s all about going for the right sandwich recipes when you’re deciding what to eat. There will be low-fat options out there, even if you have to do a bit of reading to find them.

There really is no point in ruining your healthy eating kick by consuming something fatty or unhealthy. It won’t just be disappointing, it’ll also make you feel fairly rubbish about yourself afterwards and that could continue at work, well past your lunch hour. Whether the sandwich is made on Hovis bread or the pub’s own variety, it’s still possible to find a low-calorie, filling treat that’ll see you through the afternoon.

If sandwiches aren’t your thing, maybe try a salad. You’re bound to find some interesting flavour combinations at the pub, especially if it’s of the gastro variety, which will satisfy your tastebuds and keep you going for the rest of the day.

So remember, next time you head for a work pub lunch, don’t just assume you need something stodgy and try something a bit different from their menu.

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Use a beer as a part of a healthy lifestyle

December 29, 2011 By

Beer has long been associated with lager louts and blokes with big beer bellies, but don’t be fooled – beer can actually be enjoyed as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Of course, as with any alcohol, the operative word is ‘moderate’. Drink too much of your favourite premium lager and you will turn out like the men who spend their afternoons slumped over the bar at the local working men’s club.

In moderation, beer can be good for you and even good for your liver. Beer gets rid of poisonous heavy metals like copper and lead and helps speed up metabolism.

Drinking beer can also reduce the risk of having a heart attack. Medical studies have found those drinking beer on a daily basis have a low rate of heart attacks. Again, we are talking about one or two beers, not a skin full in your local.

Now I have given you just a couple of the reasons why beer can be enjoyed as part of a healthy lifestyle, let’s take a look at some of the beers out there.

Fruit beer has become increasingly popular over recent years, particularly with women. There are all kinds of different flavours – from strawberry to apricot – and the fruity taste offers a sweeter alternative to traditional beer.

There is an endless list of lagers available in pubs and bars, including beers from around the world. Brands such as Foster’s and Carling continue to lead the way in the UK. Foster’s has recently launched a new premium bottled lager, Foster’s Gold. That is well worth a try.

There is so much choice out there – it is difficult to touch on them all. Just remember, beer can be used to supplement a healthy lifestyle. The next time you fancy one, don’t hesitate.

 

 

 

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Why become a vegetarian?

December 20, 2011 By

With the recession continuing to rear its ugly head, it’s no surprise that people are continuing to look for ways they can cut back on their spending.

 

A great way of doing this could actually be by cutting meat out of your diet and the best thing is, you’re bound to reap lots of health benefits if you do that. If you’ve ever taken Beauty Tips from anyone, you’re probably already well aware that eating plenty of fruit and veg can have a big impact on your skin. They’re rich in numerous antioxidants and can help make sure your skin, and body, is healthy and radiant.

 

When the winter months arrive, your skin takes a bit of a beating. You’re bound to have drier skin than usual and you’ll probably find that it doesn’t really glow, due to the lack of exposure to any sun. Fruits and vegetables can really help you out here though, as they content plenty of nutrients to make your skin far healthier. Foe example, orange and yellow fruit and veg, such as squash, peppers and oranges, contain plenty of vitamin C to boost your skin.

 

To counter the dryness of your skin, you could use a good moisturiser, like Oil of olay, to help you out. This is a great way of making sure you don’t look a little worse for wear after a big night on the town! It’s not just in your skin that you’ll notice a difference either. All the free radicals and antioxidants in fruit and veg play a key role in combating everything from heart disease to certain types of cancer, so it’s clear of the impact including more of these in your diet could have.

 

If you do decide to cut out meat completely, you need to make sure you eat plenty of protein-rich lentils and pulses to ensure you have the right balance of foods.

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Try a different drink with your meal

December 19, 2011 By

Nothing supplements a meal quite like alcohol. Whether it is an ice-cold lager with an Indian banquet, or a nice bottle of red wine with an Italian dish – alcohol is the perfect accompaniment to a meal.

It can help enhance flavours and can do wonders for dinner conversation. Of course, we are not talking about pints and pints of lager or an endless amount of wine; we are talking about just the right amount to complete your meal experience.

If you are something of a wine connoisseur but have never considered drinking beer with a meal, you are missing out. With so much variety nowadays – there is a beer out there for you.

Real ale, fruit beer, premium lager, beers of the world or even light beer if you prefer – the list is almost endless. You don’t want to sit down to a nice meal with a pint of Guinness, so my suggestion would be a refreshing bottle of premium lager.

With spicy cuisines like Indian and Thai dishes, pale ales are the way to go. Similarly, pale ales work with burgers and steaks. I have found Foster’s Gold Beer goes well with a curry or a steak.

Foster’s Gold is a relatively new beer, marketed as versatile drink which can be drunk at any number of social occasions. The beer is essentially aimed at younger males, but is not limited to. The clean, crisp and refreshing taste appeals to men and women of all ages. It would be well worth getting a six-pack in the next time you are at the supermarket.

Next time you sit down to a meal with friends, or even on your own, try avoid having your usual. Broaden your horizons and try something different. You never know, you might find your perfect meal drink.

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Make eating out healthy

November 23, 2011 By

With rising obesity levels in theUK, healthy diets and weight loss have never been at the forefront of people’s minds so much. It should be simple: eat less and exercise more, but for so many people it is more complex than that. Many of us have an unhealthy emotional relationship with food, some of us are confused as to which diet fad or fashion to follow, and others still simply enjoy our food too much to cut down!

Well the good news is that you don’t have to starve yourself to have a healthier diet; you can simply make small but sustainable changes to your diet to begin looking and feeling healthier.

If you are a fan of eating out, one of the simplest changes you can make is to change the type of sauces you choose. So if you love Italian food, you can still enjoy it, but order tomato-based instead of creamy sauces to instantly cut back on the calories and fat. Similarly, if you often enjoy bread as a side dish with a meal, you can still enjoy it, but try and go without the butter.

For lunch times, try making healthy sandwiches. Choose naturally low fat ingredients such as prawns or tuna with plenty of salad and use a low fat salad cream instead of a full fat mayonnaise. You could also use wholemeal bread rather than white to keep you feeling satisfied for longer and less likely to snack on chocolate or crisps later in the day.

Combine small changes to your diet like these with little bits of exercise wherever possible. So if the gym doesn’t appeal, try getting off the bus a couple of stops early or parking the car a little bit further away than usual, and power walking to work in the morning. Every little bit helps!

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Fast Food: Can It Be Healthy?

September 28, 2011 By

As an obesity epidemic sweeps the planet, with people of all ages from all walks of life facing health problems as a result of poor diet, it is no surprise that the finger of blame is often pointed in the direction of fast food outlets.

 With high calorie meals being offered by chains across the globe at prices that many claim they can’t beat with home cooking, nutritionists and health professionals have been quick to slam the brands that we all know and love.

 But is it true that fast food is always unhealthy? Is it truly the fault of these big name brands that so many people are suffering as a result of overeating? Or is it simply the case that the consumer is refusing to consider the healthy options that many so-called “junk food” restaurants have on offer?

 Do You Want Fries With That?

 Fast food chains are so successful because everyone loves what they have to offer. We all enjoy the occasional burger, pizza or drumstick. And if it was simply a case of consumers indulging in these treats occasionally and in isolation then there would be less of a problem. However the marketing used by fast food chains across the globe makes moderation a problem for many people. When ordering in fast food chains, people are subjected to the “upsell” where members of staff try and tempt them into ordering extras or plus-size portions in place of the meal they had originally chosen.

 Think about it, have you ever order a regular sized meal in a burger chain, only to opt for a super-sized version when given the choice by your server? What about the last time you called Dominos for a pizza, only to hang up having tacked on an order for garlic bread? Yep, you’ve fallen for the upsell – and have likely ingested an increased amount of calories and fat as a result.

 How about a Salad on the Side?

 Of course, the fast food giants will tell you that it is your choice what foods you put on your plate or in your mouth – but are they offering a wide enough range of options to help you resist temptation? And if you do choose the salad – is it really worth it?

 Some “healthy” choice dishes from fast food restaurants contain as many, or even more, calories than the simpler options from their mainstream menu. Salads with breaded meats and creamy or sugar laden dressings can tot up the calories quite quickly, while there is essentially not a lot of difference nutritionally speaking between a split ciabatta filled with meat, cheese and a few green trimmings and a Big Mac or a whopper.

 The exception, it would seem, are the children’s meal options offered by fast food chains, where many have downsized the fat, salt and carb contents, and offer a selection of fresh fruit and water or juice in place of the once-standard fries and fizzy drink.

 A Question of Personal Choice

 What it comes down to, in the end, is personal freedom and self-control. Fast food restaurants are not bad per se – but choosing fast food above all other forms of nutrition is. As a treat once in a while, even the most health conscious person can enjoy a burger meal or chicken bucket – but the secret is keeping it just that, a rare treat in an otherwise healthy lifestyle.

 

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