DUDE FOOD FIT FOR DADDIES
Just in time for Father’s Day there is a new food trend on the scene and it’s called Dude Food, writes Megan Baadjies
IT’S become commonplace for guys to get a Man Cave and a Man-Size meal, but Dude Food is a bit different and for all the right reasons. In fact, the term is actually not gender-specific and the term “dude” is used to define the food genre rather than keep it a men-only food zone.
June is recognised as men’s health month and the Dude Food campaign, by the South African Mushroom Farmers’ Association) (Samfa), is aimed at promoting healthy living and eating for men by adding mushrooms to their diet. The campaign’s objective is to alert men to the specific male-oriented health benefits of eating mushrooms.
Mushrooms help fight the three leading risks to men’s health: obesity, heart attacks and prostate cancer.
The deliciously meaty flavour and texture is exactly what dudes – and dudettes – need to stay healthy, and the fact that it’s fat-free and low in both calories and carbohydrates, is a bonus.
Samfa chairperson Ross Richardson says: “Dude Food traditionally refers to guys who are up for spending time in the kitchen with recipes that are relatively unfussy, tasty, meat-centric and written in ‘dude styled’ language.”
While dude food staples would typically include burger and steaks, Richardson says the birth of the metro-sexual man has changed this.
“There is a greater interest among these ‘evolved’ men in other non-meat options that give the same satisfaction as meat but with greater health benefits. Umami-rich flavourful mushrooms fit the bill exactly. They are lower in calories, low in cholesterol and sodium and packed with vitamins and minerals. That is also why we created a series of easy-to-make delicious Dude Food recipes that guys can make at home for themselves, or to impress their partners with minimal effort.”
Dude Food is said to be a healthier, easier and “utterly delicious” global trend.
“As today’s garage is increasingly becoming the kitchen, more and more men will latch on to (this) trend where the meatiness of mushrooms, their ease of use and their constant availability in supermarkets will tick the box,” Richardson says.
Mushrooms are rich in vitamins B and D, a good source of essential minerals like heart-healthy potassium and selenium, have disease-fighting capabilities and are a good source of protein – exactly what men want today.
“We are also showing with this campaign that we are losing the gender stereotypes of the ‘80s, when ‘real men’ didn’t eat quiche!,” says Richardson. If here are some Mushroom for Men facts: you still need convincing,
One cup of mushrooms contains a mere 18 calories and zero grams of fat, making it a “must include ingredient” in any weight-loss programme.
To lose weight, but still gain muscle, all you have to do is to replace the meat on your plate with mushrooms: not only are they low in calories, they are also high in fibre and pack a powerful protein punch.
Selenium is a recognised ally against prostate cancer and a serving of Portobello mushrooms (80100gm) provides almost one-third of your daily selenium intake.
Research studies show that diets rich in potassium and low in sodium can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, the number one killer of men.Two-thirds of a cup of sliced, grilled Portobello mushrooms contains as much potassium as a medium-sized banana.
And, while a low-salt diet allows 400-1 000 mg of sodium per day, fresh mushrooms contain only 14mg of sodium per 100gm. Impressively healthy!
Finally, adding mushrooms to your diet could improve your sex life! They inhibit oestrogen production and contain enzymes that promote testosterone conversion making sure that testosterone levels remain high. And that’s never a bad thing.
Now that should be enough reason to add mushrooms to your diet.
Recipes and Pictures from: South African Mushroom Farmers’ Association BACON, MUSHR OOM, RED PEPPER, GR UYERE AND POT ATO FRITT ATA (Serves 6) 10ml oil 15ml butter 250g button mushrooms, thickly sliced 5 spring onions 1 red pepper, de-seeded and sliced 125g streaky bacon, grilled and diced 2 medium potatoes, cooked 100g gruyere cheese, grated 6-8 eggs salt and milled black pepper To Serve: crispy bacon fried mushrooms rocket salad Preheat the oven to 190°C. Heat the oil and butter in a pan and fry the mushrooms for 2-3 minutes. Add the spring onions and red pe pper and cook f or 3-4 minutes. Remove from the hea t and add the bacon, pota toes and cheese. Gently combine. Transfer the mixtur e to a well-greased tin or o venproof round casserole. Whisk the e ggs to gether and season well with salt and pepper. Pour the e gg mixture over the mushr oom mixtur e and bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the centre is just cooked. Allow to stand f or 5 minutes, bef ore un- moulding or slicing from the tin. Serve warm or at room temperature, topped with extra crispy bacon, fried mushrooms and a rocket salad.