Choose the healthy alternative

WORRIED: ONLY KNOWLEDGE AND FLAVOUR CAN BEAT FAST FOOD ADDICTION

If adults can’t make responsible nutrition choices, how can we expect children to?

According to research carried out by the Heart Foundation, a staggering 70% of South African women are overweight or obese, alongside a third of men. It is no longer just an adult problem, however, as a quarter of girls and a fifth of boys aged 2 – 14 years are also overweight or obese.

Sally J’Arlette-Joy, CEO of franchise business Sandwich Baron, introduced a range of healthy sandwiches and lunch boxes throughout her 49 strong outlets after having successfully shed a few kilogrammes herself. She is particularly concerned at the growing weight problem among the youth and students.

“If grown adults can’t make the right choices to keep themselves healthy, then how can we expect young people to choose healthy items over their unhealthy ‘favourites’?” she says.

She is not alone in being concerned. A new sugar tax is being introduced by the South African government from April to try dent obesity, but she believes the only way to change people’s eating habits is through education – and flavour. “Sugar is really an addiction which is easy to break with a few weeks’ abstinence. One means of breaking bad habits is by introducing people to the natural flavours of wholesome food.”

In addition to the main meat components of the meal, such as bacon, beef, chicken and tuna, there are alternative choices on the menu every day, including sandwiches such as beef, avocado, gherkin and salad; cheese, avocado and tomato; and tuna mayonnaise and salad. Big favourites are the salads. Sandwich Baron also offers a complete banting menu.

An ever-popular lunchbox is the basic box: 4 spicy vegetable samosas, 4 chicken nuggets, 6 fish bites and 3 meatballs, with lettuce, a slice of cucumber and tomato served with a dip.

Sandwich Baron has over 200 menu items made up of nutritious sandwiches, French and foot longs. Also available are platters, salads and baked potatoes for breakfast and lunch. “Most of our healthy offerings go for the same price or cheaper than a typical burger and chips or pizzas that have become the choice of many people. It is the ready availability of unhealthy options which is fuelling the obesity epidemic. Junk food is typically cheap, processed and pre-packaged, making it easily available. Many of the additives that make them addictive are actually pretty toxic,” she says.

There are also lifestyle issues. Many South Africans rely on public transport, they have to leave as early as 5.30 in the morning, arriving home just as late. They don’t have time to prepare healthy meals or lunch boxes. These people are most prone to unhealthy eating. “It is for this reason that our target is the breakfast and lunch trade – to offer them an affordable healthy option,” concludes J’Arlette-Joy.