Eating out is not out

Media Release

Date: 13 August 2007
Subject: Eating out is not out.

Eating out is definitely not off the menu, according local Lifestyle Champions Tere Torea, Nicky Poona and Gary McPhee. The three are now 6 weeks into their ‘Move Me’ programme – a year long programme designed to help them make sustainable lifestyle changes to get fitter and regain a healthy weight.

“Trying to eat healthy choices doesn’t mean you have to stay home to do it,” says Pacific Island community stalwart Tere Torea. “That’s not real life – I like getting out and about. This programme is about sustainable lifestyle change, not obsessive stuff”.

Tere enjoys time out with friends, and at celebrations and fellowship dinners. “The important thing is that when I’m at a shared meal I take what I want to eat,” says Tere. “Then I know for sure there will be a healthy option I like! If I take a boil-up, I skim the fat off first. Or I go for salads, grilled chicken or chinese food.”

Making good choices is the absolute key, he says. “The thing is, I make the choices,” says Tere. “I say aye or nay to what goes in my mouth. If you take a few days off, you have to get back past the barrier again. But I say, if you don’t climb over the wall, you’re still on the wrong side. You really have to want to do it and then you will succeed,” he says.

Nicky Poona, Health Promoter, says willpower is only part of it. “It’s easier to make healthy choices if you plan to eat out, rather than just do it on the spur of the moment,” she says. As a self-confessed ex-takeaway queen, she’s in a good position to size up eating out options. “If I want take-away food I go for Thai, Chinese or Subway,” she says. “When I’m eating a meal out, I look for stir-fried, steamed, baked, or grilled food. Curries are great, so long as they don’t have creamy or coconut milk sauces”.

Nicky’s other hints include having a healthy snack before you go out so you’re not ravenous when the bread basket arrives, asking for double the vege portion, or ordering an entrée size for your main.

“The kinds of things I now know to avoid are fried that is fried, battered, crumbed or in a creamy sauce,” says Nicky. “That doesn’t mean ‘never’ – just once in a while.”

Carterton mayor Gary McPhee also has words of advice. “I know I’m going on about it, but if you are catering an event, try to have some tasty healthy options on the table. I know I’m not the only one who’s trying to find a balance and it’s hard to eat healthy food if it’s not available or unappetising. One thing I’ve found good when I’m out is to order two courses instead of three, and if I’ve really got to have desert, I can share it with my partner, Sandy. We’ve got some great restaurants in Carterton, ranging from Turkish to takeaways. Any where that serves simple grilled food is a good bet, and you can ask for a baked potato instead of fries or to have your veges steamed.”

“Eating out is part of connecting with your community,” says Tere. “Sharing food is a basic way of making, supporting and keeping friends. That makes it even more important to have healthy food available – it shows you value your friends and their wellbeing. I know I appreciate it!”

You can follow the Champion’s progress in the media, and also on the MoreFM website www.morefm.co.nz – and click on the Wairarapa link.

ENDS

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