MPs go on healthy food diet to set good example
INSTEAD of just insults‚ parliament has been serving up diabetic-friendly meals to staff and MPs this month.
Meals ranged from pearled wheat and spinach salad to home-made popcorn sprinkled with salt and herbs.
The menu overhaul was prompted by World Diabetes Month observed in November.
According to NGO Diabetes South Africa‚ if left untreated or not managed correctly, diabetes can lead to heart disease‚ blindness and even impotence.
The new parliamentary menu is based on guidelines from the book Cooking from the Heart which has been endorsed by Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi.
The book forms part of a campaign driven by the Heart and Stroke Foundation SA and pharmaceutical company Pharma Dynamics to show that eating healthy does not have to be “boring‚ bland‚ tasteless or expensive”.
Company spokeswoman Nicole Jennings said it was hoped that the rest of South Africa would be inspired by parliament’s move.
“Nutrition plays an important part in managing diabetes and curbing other diseases of lifestyle‚” Jennings said.
Motsoaledi told the Sunday Times in 2011 how he had trimmed down and challenged his colleagues to cut down on pastries and luxuries.
“I was once obese‚ I must confess,” he said at the time.
Then he changed his diet‚ quit smoking and exercised.