Top Ten Christmas Healthy Eating Tips

Avoid bread and pastries at parties!!!

Paula Gilbert, Dietitian now available in Henfield

Putting calorie information on takeaway and fast food menus

The Government is working with fast food and restaurant chains on a voluntary scheme to put calories on menus as part of a strategy to tackle rising obesity.  The aim is to  display calorie information  in fast food outlets including burger chains, sandwich chains as well as pubs and restaurants. According to recent articles in the media McDonald’s, Pizza Hut and Subway have agreed to start from September.

I think this is excellent news as I think it will make parents, children and teenagers more aware of the number of calories in fast food and will help them to think about how to save calories and make healthier choices. It will also be useful in addressing portion sizes because it will enable people to compare things like the number of calories in a regular portion of  McDonalds french fries (289 kcals) vs a large portion (460Kcals).

I just hope that small chain or independant fast food outlets will also be encouraged to display nutritional information on their menus as some areas such as Hackney in London (where obesity rates are high) and seaside towns are dominated by independant fast food outlets.

Are soups fattening?

If you are trying to lose weight choose recipes and shop bought soups which are vegetable based such as carrot and tomato soup, mushroom soup, butternut squash soup.  Calories per portion can vary hugely so it is important to check  for example a portion of homemade carrot and tomato soup can contain 110 calorie and a butternut squash soup 160 calories.

If you would like the recipes just email The Diet Practice.  If you decide to buy your soups check the labels for fat and salt content and go for the healthy choices such as slim a soups, reduced calorie, be good to yourself, Weight Watchers ranges etc.  Alternatively look on the Covent Garden Soup website as they have details of all their soups and calories per portion.   A slice of bread would make the soup more filling for lunch and add approximately 100 calories.  Alternatively you can boil up a portion of rice or pasta, drain and then add the can of soup.

Is soup fattening??

Change 4 Life campaign

We are sure you have seen the Change 4 Life advertising. The campaign started in January this year and is aimed at families with children aged 0-11 and aims to prevent children from becoming overweight by encouraging them to eat well and move more.

It has useful advice on eating a healthy balanced diet which includes tips on sugar swap ideas, importance of regular meals, healthy snacks, how to have 5 A Day and cutting back on fat.

On their website you can sign up for a Free Action Plan, as well as lots of useful leaflets, fun stickers, and Kids’ activity and colouring sheets. Why not have a look if you haven’t already?

Change for Life logo

WELCOME TO SUSSEX DIETITIAN

Hi…. My name is Susie Longford and I am a degree trained and HPC Registered dietitian in private practice, based at the Bartholomew Way Clinic, in Horsham, West Sussex.

I look forward to helping you with your problem.

Registered Dietitians (RDs) are the only qualified health professionals that assess, diagnose and treat diet and nutrition problems at an individual and wider public health level. Uniquely, dietitians use the most up to date public health and scientific research on food, health and disease, which they translate into practical guidance to enable people to make appropriate lifestyle and food choices.

Dietitians are the only nutrition professionals to be statutorily regulated, and governed by an ethical code, to ensure that they always work to the highest standard. Dietitians work in the NHS, private practice, industry, education, research, sport, media, public relations, publishing, NGOs and government. Their advice influences food and health policy across the spectrum from government, local communities and individuals.

The title dietitian can only be used by those appropriately trained professionals who have registered with the Health Professions Council and whose details are on the HPC web site.

Why is diet advice important?

Most individuals would admit to needing dietary advice. Today’s life-style means that what we eat is often compromised, leading to poor dietary choices. Society’s poor eating habits have led to a change in disease patterns: no longer is the communicable disease of dominance, but the non-communicable disease has emerged (cardiovascular disease, obesity, cancer, and digestive disorders) which are mainly the result of poor diet and lack of exercise.

There is a strong link between diet, disease and health. The types of diet therapy used by the dietitian can be divided into two categories:

1. Diet used to reduce or prevent symptoms, for example, reducing saturated fat and increasing the use of soluble fibre and stanols and sterols within the diet to treat raised cholesterol levels

2. Diet can be used to promote recovery and repair, such as implementing nutritional support (dietary supplementation) to meet the increased nutritional needs of the client following surgery or conditions where weight-loss is occurring such as in cancer and digestive disorders where food is poorly absorbed by the body.

Visit our services page to see how your consultation is structured.

Obesity & Weight Loss

Most of us would admit to wanting to lose weight.

Today’s life-style makes weight gain something of the norm.

Research shows that we all have different ways of losing weight, but when it comes to keeping weight off, there are three main factors which are common in those that succeed: regular weighing, a low-fat diet and regular exercise.

At Bartholomew Way Clinic you will be given time to explore ways that would be suitable for you to lose weight. Your diet will be analysed in detail to ascertain your calorie intake and how you can make simple changes to your diet to reduce your energy intake without having to make unrealistic changes that you cannot maintain.

Waist circumference