Eat Real Food this Summer - Cork Independent News

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Eat Real Food this Summer

Written by Staff Reporter

Thursday, 20 May 2010

I'm starting a campaign on my blog this week and linking it to my Facebook and Twitter accounts. The theme is simple yet often over looked. I want Cork to 'Eat Real Food' this summer. It would be great to see people heading down to their local markets or supermarkets, buying a range of fresh or raw ingredients and making themselves a lovely home cooked dinner for family and friends. Why is this so important?

When I go the supermarket, I always look at the trolleys and baskets around me. I'm amazed at the amount of pre-prepared foods, ready meals and jars of sauces that people buy. There are very fresh ingredients, perhaps a bag of apples and a few carrots.

In terms of your health, there are significant risks in choosing to eat this way. Processed food generally contains hidden amount of salt, sugar and/or vegetable oils. You should consume a very small amount of these foods on a daily basis, but these ingredients add up if someone else is preparing your meals.

Processed foods and ready meals also contain a number of added chemicals, which help preserve and increase shelf life. Increasing evidence is showing that these impair and affect the basic functions in the body.

I’ve designed the sauce below to be made in 10 minutes – you know exactly what is going into the dish and it tastes superb. Try cooking what you usually buy in packets or jars this summer!

Tomato sauce

Serves 4
400g of cherry tomatoes - halved
2 medium red onions – finely chopped
3 cloves of garlic –finely chopped
A handful of fresh basil –roughly chopped leaf and stalk
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper

To serve:

1 large or 2 small tins of tuna chunks in spring water
2 cups wholemeal pasta – boiled and drained

To Saute the onions in a saucepan for 5 mins in a little water till translucent. Add tomatoes, pepper and garlic, cover and cook for 5 mins. Stir well, adding the basil leaves and balsamic vinegar. Remove from heat and stir through the olive oil and a little salt.

To To serve, place pasta in a bowl, pour over sauce and sprinkle tuna chunks on top.

To Keep motivated with Healthy Eating this Summer by checking out my daily blog and recipes on www.foodforliving.ie

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