‘Eat Well, Live Well’

‘Eat Well, Live Well’

EP is launching a campaign to promote healthier diet optionsThe aim of the “Eat Well, Live Well” campaign is very simple – to promote great tasting healthy foods and diets. There is a new generation of foods and products that are emerging that are both excellent in taste and healthy to eat. Our goal is simply to promote great food and diets that will make a difference.In 2008, 347 million people in the world had diabetes, more than twice the 153 million in 1980. In February 2014, Cumbria was named the fattest county in England with 68.3 per cent of people overweight or obese, followed by Lincolnshire on 68.2 per cent and North Yorkshire and Staffordshire, both on 67.9 per cent.Overall, 63.8 per cent of adults in England are overweight or obese, with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or over. Professor Kevin Fenton, Director of Health and Wellbeing at Public Health England, said the new data will help all local areas monitor their progress in tackling obesity.“There is no silver bullet to reducing obesity; it is a complex issue that requires action at individual, family, local and national levels,” he said.“We can all play our part in this by eating a healthy, balanced diet and being more active.”The topic of obesity has become a dominant issue, but the truth is that change has already begun and is being led by new food products that make eating well less arduous. It has been a long-standing joke that most of us will give up diets within a short period of time as we tire of eating tasteless food, but the reality is that we have seen a rise in obesity and diabetes. We are fitter and now we just need to learn to eat with a better understanding. The problem is that so much information is misleading and difficult to understand.In 1960, less than 13 per cent of Americans were obese, and diabetes had been diagnosed in one per cent. Today, the percentage of obese Americans has almost tripled; the percentage of Americans with diabetes has increased sevenfold.Meanwhile, the research literature on obesity has also ballooned. In 1960, less than 1,100 articles were published on obesity or diabetes in the indexed medical literature. Last year it was more than 44,000. In total, over 600,000 articles have been published purporting to convey some meaningful information on these conditions.Has all this research brought clarity to the issue?The facts suggest the answer is no. If we understand these disorders so well, why are they growing? Some argue that people do not understand food; others that the products carry many more ‘extras’. It is certainly confusing. Of the 600,000 articles, how many possess research that has been correct? Is it even about research or just educating about great-tasting food?There is a view that states that in nutrition, the hypotheses are speculations about what foods or dietary patterns help or hinder our pursuit of a long and healthy life.The problem is that science and food are not attractive to those that only half listen to the debate. The only way to create lasting change is through great-tasting, healthy foods and understanding what these are. As an industry, we are at the forefront of food and we need to lead the way through great food that will create the desire to change.

'Eat Well, Live Well' is sponsored by

 

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‘Sweet Addiction’

Philippa Cresswell of EP Evolution discusses a range of alternatives in the world of sweets.

With 2014 kicking off to a not too sweet start with the huge focus and trend on removal of sugar from our diets, I wonder how this trend is actually impacting our high street.We have all lived through the removal of sweets from supermarket checkouts - and then noticed how they have started to creep nearer and nearer again. Schools begin to ask parents to send in ‘healthy snacks’ – and then we are harassed by our children whose raisin and apricot snack doesn’t compare with their friend’s chocolate bar. Our own New Year’s resolution to eat less chocolate is now a distant memory.

 

Claims made about sugar

• highly addictive
• can cause insulin resistance - a stepping stone towards diabetes
• has unique fat-promoting effects due to its effects on hormones and the brain,
• leading contributor to obesity in both children and adults
• raises cholesterol and which can lead to heart disease
• suppresses the immune system
• promotes inflammation – which promotes ageing and health issues

These do make you wonder why we love it so much!In Warwickshire, our local and very cosmopolitan town has fabulous and modern restaurants, great cafes and bars and more recently a number of sweet shops.The latest one which I was persuaded by my children to enter, was quite a revelation.On entering we were greeted by the normal kaleidoscope of candy colours, jar upon jar of sugary delights and the ‘pocket money section’, I suddenly tuned into the owner, explaining to another customer with real passion how their range of products goes beyond the norm, and has a real focus on catering for wider dietary requirements including sugar, gluten and dairy free and options for vegetarians.I asked the owner where this strategy had come from.He had originally started stocking normal sweets and then for personal reasons - his mother is diabetic - he looked into finding interesting less ‘artificial’ sugar free sweet options. After his search he introduced two varieties of sugar-free sweets to the range.This had a positive response and he hasn’t looked back – now offering a whopping 70 varieties including chocolate, boiled sweets and traditional favourites such as Cola bottles which together account for 70% of total sales.To read the full article, click herePhilippa has worked in the hospitality and travel industry for 20 years, specialising in brand and concept design, operations and implementation. During that time she has worked for high profile brands including NEXT, House of Fraser, Debenhams, Safeway and the Virgin group. Most recently Philippa was New Product Development Director at Virgin Trains, responsible for scoping the customer experience strategy and ensuring its delivery to support the Virgin Brand umbrella. A creative, customer centric and results driven consultant with a passion for delivering real value at all levels of a business.For more information about EP Evolution please contact Chris Sheppardson, chris.sheppardson@epmagazine.co.uk.