Choosing what to eat
What are your main considerations when choosing what to eat?
What are your main considerations when choosing what to eat? Do you feel you are able to eat healthily in London? If not, why not?
The discussion ran from 10 May 2018 - 10 August 2018
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Log into your accountemspaws
Community Member 7 years agoHealthy ness , availabliity and price , london is hard to buy affordable food healthy fresh food it's ridiculous that I can buy crisps chocolate and coke same price as a bag of tomatoes or apples !
Need to reduce junk food portions sizes...
Show full commentHealthy ness , availabliity and price , london is hard to buy affordable food healthy fresh food it's ridiculous that I can buy crisps chocolate and coke same price as a bag of tomatoes or apples !
Need to reduce junk food portions sizes ,
stimulate market place for more shop selling healthy frozen food cheap
Show less of commentCareoline
Community Member 7 years agoWhat do you think about linking pice to calories?
Show full commentWhat do you think about linking pice to calories?
Show less of commentAnonymous - account deleted
Community Member 7 years agoAfter posting my previous comment, I wonder if we're teaching the English language to a high enough standard. People really do need to know how to spell.
Show full commentAfter posting my previous comment, I wonder if we're teaching the English language to a high enough standard. People really do need to know how to spell.
Show less of commentTalk London
Official Representative 7 years agoThanks everyone for sharing your views on choosing what to eat.
Some of you have mentioned that it is difficult to eat healthily in London. What are the main reasons for this? Do you feel you have enough information or skills to prepare healthy food?
What would help you make healthy food choices in your life?
Are there healthy options on your local high street? What would you like to see more of?
Talk London
Anonymous - account deleted
Community Member 7 years agoWhy do blackberries rot on the bushes round the corner from the food bank? When will we get to pick our own fruit in the countryside again? Can a few of these East European immigrants share their knowledge of foraging with our own...
Show full commentWhy do blackberries rot on the bushes round the corner from the food bank? When will we get to pick our own fruit in the countryside again? Can a few of these East European immigrants share their knowledge of foraging with our own children as part of the National Curriculum? Pythagorus will be important to me someday, but I really feel ignorant when it comes to the berries on our own bushes. Somebody twice my age picks elderflower and makes a cordial. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT AN ELDERFLOWER LOOKS LIKE!!!
Show less of commentAnonymous - account deleted
Community Member 7 years agoMain considerations are whether food is organic, free-range and sustainably sourced as well as how much sugar it has
It is generally difficult to find food as described above in London and most restaurants/shops do not label it. Only...
Show full commentMain considerations are whether food is organic, free-range and sustainably sourced as well as how much sugar it has
It is generally difficult to find food as described above in London and most restaurants/shops do not label it. Only certain grocery stores have good choice (mainly via home delivery) but the price is exorbitant and the quality is not great
The government should tilt the balance in favour of healthier food by penalizing/charging food producers that use (potentially) carcinogenic chemicals to grow food and have no regard for animal welfair (cram them in small spaces and pump them with antibiotics). These outdated practices from the period of the World Wars and immediately after should be gradually phased out.
Show less of commentCareoline
Community Member 7 years agoLooks like you ingeniously created a new word : wefair. I love it. :-)
Show full commentLooks like you ingeniously created a new word : wefair. I love it. :-)
Show less of commentKatherined
Community Member 7 years agoPrice is the main consideration, but within affordable foods I will then try to buy what is healthy! Fruit and veg can be found cheaply in the market, so I buy alot there. I would like to buy more eithical and environmentaly friendly foods...
Show full commentPrice is the main consideration, but within affordable foods I will then try to buy what is healthy! Fruit and veg can be found cheaply in the market, so I buy alot there. I would like to buy more eithical and environmentaly friendly foods, but the reality is that price comes first!
Show less of commentMrmole
Community Member 7 years agoSince being diagnosed type 2 diabetic 10 years ago I have been far more interested in the nutritional value of food and what types of food have the most significant effect on raising blood sugar. It would take too long to list all the...
Show full commentSince being diagnosed type 2 diabetic 10 years ago I have been far more interested in the nutritional value of food and what types of food have the most significant effect on raising blood sugar. It would take too long to list all the foods to avoid ( I say avoid, not eliminate) so what I MOSTLY choose now are fresh or frozen vegetables (red, orange, green and leafy types), beans and pulses, , mushrooms, nuts, fresh fruits i.e. apples, berries, the occasional banana and citrus fruit (NOT fruit juice or smoothies). Lean meats, fish, olive oil, yogurts, other dairy, cheeses etc. I would like to add that chocolate with cocoa solids 60%+ and proper dairy ice cream have minimal effect on my blood sugar and are eaten occasionally. Needless to say all these foods are not eaten day in day out but just form part of my diet. I dont over eat and also have the odd take away. So yes, this very well controlled, average weight diabetic who walks regularly does eat healthily in London, thank you.
Show less of commentrjbrooks
Community Member 7 years agoMy husband would agree with you on your diet as he is type 2 diabetic. We don't tend to use oil much now and soften onions in water. The regular walking is part of our daily regime.
Show full commentMy husband would agree with you on your diet as he is type 2 diabetic. We don't tend to use oil much now and soften onions in water. The regular walking is part of our daily regime.
Show less of commentmac1943
Community Member 7 years agoMy main consideration is that I choose what I eat. I want access to the widest possible range andf I don't want the information censoreed or controlled by officials and politicians except where absolutely necessary. Food Safety is obviously...
Show full commentMy main consideration is that I choose what I eat. I want access to the widest possible range andf I don't want the information censoreed or controlled by officials and politicians except where absolutely necessary. Food Safety is obviously vital but, at the moment, that is well taken care of by EU rules. Dietary ADVICE is welcome but not dietary CONTROL.
Show less of commenthampshirehog
Community Member 7 years agoMy prime concern is whether I like it, not what some university educated dietician thinks I shoud eat. Obese children should be controlled by their parent(s) whose failure to do so should be made a financial penalty.
Show full commentMy prime concern is whether I like it, not what some university educated dietician thinks I shoud eat. Obese children should be controlled by their parent(s) whose failure to do so should be made a financial penalty.
Show less of commentheathercowen
Community Member 7 years agoAha, you’re another of those ‘don’t trust the experts’ types, are you? Good luck with the heart surgery done by some bloke you met in the pub. Who needs a university-educated heart surgeon?
Show full commentAha, you’re another of those ‘don’t trust the experts’ types, are you? Good luck with the heart surgery done by some bloke you met in the pub. Who needs a university-educated heart surgeon?
Show less of commentKatherined
Community Member 7 years agoI agree parents need to take responisbility for their childrens diet!
Show full commentI agree parents need to take responisbility for their childrens diet!
Show less of commentAng
Community Member 7 years agoI tend not to eat out, as it is hard to make healthy food choices, as these tend to be very limited on the menu of popular high street pubs and restaurants. I try to eat more heathily at home but often lack inspiration, for healthier meal...
Show full commentI tend not to eat out, as it is hard to make healthy food choices, as these tend to be very limited on the menu of popular high street pubs and restaurants. I try to eat more heathily at home but often lack inspiration, for healthier meal ideas, so it is easy to resort to prepacked convenience foods like frozen pizza and chicken in breadcrumbs. I do buy fruit and veg but would like to buy more of the seasonal soft fruits, like strawberries and raspberries but find these are quite pricey, even when in season.
Show less of commentAnonymous - account deleted
Community Member 7 years agoNow that we're leaving the EU, I look forward to getting a train into the countryside to pick my own strawberries.
Show full commentNow that we're leaving the EU, I look forward to getting a train into the countryside to pick my own strawberries.
Show less of commentTopcatthehat
Community Member 7 years agoTend to buy a lot of fresh produce from the local market but we still enjoy a takeaway once a week although this is an expensive treat
Show full commentTend to buy a lot of fresh produce from the local market but we still enjoy a takeaway once a week although this is an expensive treat
Show less of commentAnna2007
Community Member 7 years agoMy considerations are whether I can afford it, time it takes to prepare and if I like it.
Show full commentMy considerations are whether I can afford it, time it takes to prepare and if I like it.
Show less of commentKolsSurveys
Community Member 7 years agoThe cost and quality.
It's difficult to eat healthier in London because of the high cost of living in this city.
Cheap, affordable food is what is most practical.
Show full commentThe cost and quality.
It's difficult to eat healthier in London because of the high cost of living in this city.
Cheap, affordable food is what is most practical.
Show less of commentrjbrooks
Community Member 7 years agoCheap food doesn't have to be bad. Carrots, potatoes,onions could all be purchased for the cost of a cup of coffee in Costa or other coffee chains in the high street. Nice stew - packet of lentils very reasonable for protein in it too...
Show full commentCheap food doesn't have to be bad. Carrots, potatoes,onions could all be purchased for the cost of a cup of coffee in Costa or other coffee chains in the high street. Nice stew - packet of lentils very reasonable for protein in it too. Onions can be softened in some water so no need for oil to fry them. A can of baked beans for extra protein. Even more could be bought by giving up smoking, or tattoos, nails or eyebrows......
Show less of commentAnonymous - account deleted
Community Member 7 years agoThere is a lot of cheap healthy food. Potatoes, beans, carrots, apples, rice, flour for baking, chickpeas, lentils, onions, etc.
What is expensive: some kinds of seasonal fruit (but they can be replaced by cheaper fruit), meat and sweets...
Show full commentThere is a lot of cheap healthy food. Potatoes, beans, carrots, apples, rice, flour for baking, chickpeas, lentils, onions, etc.
What is expensive: some kinds of seasonal fruit (but they can be replaced by cheaper fruit), meat and sweets (but you don't need those).
The idea that healthy eating is expensive is a myth which people who are addicted to junk food choose to believe in.
Show less of commentMillefleurs
Community Member 7 years agoGluten and dairy free to comply with my food allergy diet.
Show full commentGluten and dairy free to comply with my food allergy diet.
Show less of comment