Why eating out is an important part of a balanced

WHO was it said: ‘ food is an important part of a balanced diet’?. That was Fran Lebowitz (1950 – present, and still going) an American author who is best known for her sardonic social commentary on American life through her New York sensibilities. But she could have been writing about anybody anywhere. Food really is a vital part of a balanced life, and eating out is, too.

Eating can keep us alive or kill us in our tracks. It’s an art, a science, for some an outright obsession. But for most of us eating out from time to time is a treat that reminds us there’s more to life than peeling spuds.

And we’re so lucky in Cork, with a great range of foods on offer in local eateries, and great quality, to boot.

Cork has really made its mark on the eating out landscape and that doesn’t just mean the Michellin Star restaurants - there’s much more on offer and quite nearby.

Certainly, with any number of high profile eateries in Cork, and so much award-winning local food producers, it’s a highly competitive landscape, but these have raised the bar for all our local restaurants and it’s the punters who benefit.

What we can now expect is top quality, fresh ingredients - sourced locally where possible - cooked and served by professionals who’ve got Gordon Ramsey’s chidings echoing in their ears. In other words, the chef at your local restaurant knows well what’s demanded by the diners of today, and they, too, want to serve the best.

In Cork, fortunately, our local chefs have great ammunition in the top quality local ingredients on the market, ingredients good enough to grace any plate from a hungry housewilfe to a queen - literally.

The sensory elements of food are essential ingredients in the pleasure of eating. How food smells, looks and sounds, its temperature and texture, all stimulate our senses, preparing us for the physical sensations of eating. Every one of our senses contributes to the quality of the experience.

But, remember, dining out is not all about the food, as important as that is. No, it’s about the experience and the company you keep, too. Haute cuisine is not best served in a shed with just dust for company. Dining out is also about enjoying the experience and the people you are with.

When last did you call up a few friends - perhaps some you haven’t called in a while - and settled on a spot to meet up, sit down together and enjoy a tasty meal seved up by people who value you being there? It makes for a great night out - catching up, renewing acquaintances and having a laugh around a good meal.

This is all part of that balanced diet.

And it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg - there’s plenty of great value out there. In fact, there’s great value in most eateries if you take a closer look.

No, most of us can’t eat out every other day, but we all deserve a treat. So, find your niche at a local eaterie and make some time for you. For you and a friend or two.

In our hectic lives, we work long hours, get too little sleep, and don’t have enough time to look after ourselves and create and nurture friendships. Many of us now spend countless hours surfing the Web or writing emails rather than having face-to-face contact with others.

For your own good health, work on that balanced diet.