Saturday, October 25, 2014

Nutrition and Culture in Jamaica : A "Meaty" Exposé

Hi everyone,

The economic condition in Jamaica is tight as the inflation rate for the month of October 2014 is at 9%, up from 7.6% in April 2014.  Whilst the inflation rate is an indicator of the consumers' spending power, Jamaicans still make the effort to have food on the table.

Now, we are a people who do not necessarily have to go to the store to get a proper meal, many rural homes can make a meal from their own backyards.  This tends toward a vegetarian diet and many people are not sold on this idea and must have some form of food from animals.  For example,  stew peas with pig's tail or baked beans with salt fish. While these combinations may provide adequately the protein requirements,  when paired with rice. Many feel this still doesn't suffice.

Many of us are a box food kind of people, or we are a patty people. Or both. When we have a box food, we have two pieces of chicken with rice and peas. Typical lunch.  I know,  cause I have eaten it before. If we have patties, we prefer two sometimes. I know,  cause I have done it too. But the problem lies in when we go home,  and for dinner we eat the same amount of chicken for dinner.

You're probably thinking, what is the point?  When we eat food from animals,  we get protein and fat. In metabolism, protein is excreted when in excess. Excess fat is stored. Even if you exercise, it is unwise to eat this way. Even fit looking people can have clogged arteries too.

But I say, you can have your meat and eat it too. You can choose stewing,  steaming,  grilling, and baking over frying meats.  You can make a conscious effort to not eat the skin and visible fat. And lastly, let the size of your boneless cooked food from animals be no larger than the palm of your hand per meal.

Happy and healthy eating,
Alison

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