Charities urge people to ditch the takeaway and go homemade
MAJOR charities are urging people in the East Midlands to ditch unhealthy takeaways and go for homemade options.
Diabetes UK, the British Heart Foundation and Tesco are encouraging fast food fans to opt for healthier ‘fakeaway’ meals.
The National Charity Partnership developed alternative recipes to rustle up at home, such as for fish and chips and sweet and sour chicken.
Almost one in five adults perfer to order out than cook homemade version of their favourite takeaways.
Yet a typical Chinese takeaway, consisting of a portion of vegetable spring rolls and sweet and sour chicken with eggfried rice, provides about 2,184 calories.
This accounts for 109 per cent of the recommended daily intake for women and 87 per cent for men in just one meal.
Portion sizes were also found to be often large enough to feed two, with high levels of fat and salt throughout.
The partnership is dedicated to preventing Type2 diabetes and heart disease.
Alex Davis, head of prevention for the National Charity Partnership, said: “Millions of people already live with Type 2 diabetes and heart and circulatory disease.
“A healthy diet can reduce people’s risk of developing them, but the serious amount of calories of many takeaway foods means that even one or two a week can have a serious impact.”
One in five UK adults and children eat a takea- way at least once a week.
The nation’s favourite takeaway is Chinese, followed by Indian food and fish and chips.
Ms Davis added: “Why not swap the shopbought options for our prawn spring rolls and sweet and sour chicken recipes?
“They can be as quick to make too, often as fast as ordering a delivery.
“By making your own recipes from scratch you can ensure you still get tasty food but with much more nutritional value.”
The partnership is also running Make, Move & Munch clubs in Nottingham, to teach families about healthy eating.
Each session includes a tasty meal and food demonstrations.
Fakeaway recipes are available on the Let’s Do This website.