Time for Barbecues and Picnics!

Summer has arrived and a barbecue can be a great alternative to dull old dinners. But before you turn on the grill here are a few things to keep in mind.

Be hesitant when eating chicken, though it maybe crispy and charred on the outside it could be a different story on the inside. Raw and undercooked food is one of the biggest causes of food poisoning, and can contain nasty bugs such as salmonella and E.Coli 0157, which can make you feel really ill. Cooking food properly on the barbecue is more difficult than you might think!
Frozen food needs to be completely defrosted before it’s cooked and when cooking it should be turned around regularly to make sure it’s evenly cooked throughout.
Sausages, chicken and burgers need to be fully cooked and piping hot with no pink juices spilling out of them. Poking the food with to see if any juices flow out is a good way of testing how cooked it is. Raw meat should be kept in a sealed container away from ready-to-eat foods like salads and bread buns. Make sure all salads and fruit that you eat outdoors are properly washed beforehand.

Summer is also a perfect time for picnics, but they can often be really fattening and filled with calories! Here are our top tips and recipes to avoid piling on the weight:
Forget snacking on crisps and dips and try something more healthy and tasty. We like celery, carrots sticks and some juicy red cherry tomatoes.
Sandwiches are great for a picnic, but they don’t have to be as dull as the ones in your school lunch box. Instead of choosing white bread why not buy a freshly baked loaf from your bakery? There are loads of different ones to choose from including bread stuffed with olives, walnuts, onions and sun-dried tomatoes. When it comes to the fillings forget boring cheddar and ham and go for something more adventurous like hummus, mozzarella, turkey and tuna; although we wouldn’t recommend eating these all at once!
If you’re not a fan of bread or if you have a wheat allergy then why not pack a couple of cold dishes instead? Quiche is really versatile and if you have time is tasty and wholesome if you make it yourself. If you want to be extra healthy fishy snacks like crabsticks, prawns and slices of salmon are perfect on a summer’s day, particularly with a dash of lemon and pepper.
A picnic wouldn’t be complete without a salad. If you’re bored of green salad then how about mixing it up a bit with sweet corn, yellow peppers, mushrooms and red radishes? For something more filling we suggest a potato or pasta salad. These don’t take long to make and taste just as good when eaten cold as they do eaten hot. Vegitarians can enjoy couscous, spinach and feta cheese pasta salad, packed with vitamins and iron also tastes delicious.
Strawberries and picnics go hand in hand. But instead of smothering them with fattening cream, how about a spoon full of low fat yoghurt? Alternatively compliment them with other fruits this season. Mango, grapes, kiwi fruits and bananas are all lovely and ripe this time of year.

*Remember not to sit in the sun for too long, either find a nice shady tree or bring a big umbrella. There’s nothing worse than getting sunburn!

Childhood Obesity Prevention


The rise in childhood obesity has increase rates of Type 2 diabetes in young children. It is important to bring awarenesss to our youth so the can lead healthier lives.
Here are two additional clips bringing awareness to children:
Healthy Children
Even Healthier Children

Additional Videos
Fit & Healthy with Flax
Family Guy on Diabetes
Disability Awareness