Heather Honey and Haggis
A recent trip to England and Scotland were magical in many ways, but I am always learning things as I travel that I find very important to come home and share with my patients, as well as family and friends. The world is full of ideas and different ways of doing things, and I firmly believe we have a lot to learn from it.
Here are my key take-aways from this trip, accompanied by pictures so you can see what I'm talking about!
Public footpaths.....they are everywhere! Encouraging people of all ages to move freely and in many different terrains and locations. I spent some time on the Cotswold Way in England. This 102 mile trail is possible in part due to its inclusion on private lands. Paths walk directly through sheep and Highland cow pastures, fields, through towns and neighborhoods without running into No Trespassing signs or locked gates. Established centuries ago and protected by law (dating back to the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act of 1949), the public has a legal right to walk along designated paths even when they cross private land. As one of the UK's official National Trails, the route is managed through ongoing cooperation and agreements between local authorities, the government, and private landowners to keep paths open and well-maintained. Walkers are expected to be responsible and respectful. This system is an incredible nudge to get people moving out in nature.
With my photo stack here, I want to highlight the numerous options and availability of trails and walking paths available in the UK. Being active is promoted and encouraged, despite many rainy days in the country. You simply pull on your waterproof gear and boots and head out! The scenery is incredible and the air quality is unmatched in its clarity. Coming from Montana after another season of smoke and wildfires, it reminded me that other places in the world are breathing better air than we might be, even though Montana air is generally healthy, aside from wildfire season.
Food options abound, but portion sizes are so much more appropriate! They are not monstrously large in the restaurants like they are here at home. That being said, I did indulge in fish and "chips" once (where the fish filet is larger than the plate!), but I always split meals like this into halves or even thirds. I visited local grocery stores where I had to chuckle that honey from native heather plants was being sold beside Scotch haggis, one of Scotland's national dishes. Will the honey actually make the haggis taste better? Eeeek.... probably not. But might be worth a try?!
I saw lots of porridge and ate my own fill of it as well. They continue to eat steel cut/less processed oats than we do and tend to cook them in a creamier milk-based sauce. Not only was it delicious, but it kept me full for hours, unlike the instant oats laden with sugar here at home. Homemade breads using local flour were magnificent, and I noted a sign in one store alerting customers to take action on an initiative whereby the UK government is seemingly attempting to add folic acid into all flour. I found this highly interesting because here in the States, we have of course been adding folic acid to flour for decades and no one so much as bats an eye over it. But people in other countries are more aware and taking a stance regarding what goes into their food products, and I love that. It angers me that as Americans we sit idly by while food companies continue to add all sorts of chemicals and cheap non-food ingredients into the foods we eat, while their pockets continue to grow fatter.
Long live bread! I wish so many people were not afraid to eat it. It's a staple food for most countries in the world, but we have turned it into a food to be afraid of. I believe we need to rethink this. While also considering our bread and flour sources, making choices that are more sustainable and healthy like homemade or farmers market breads, especially sourdough varieties. Bread is a healthy food, but of course needs to be limited for some populations with health issues.
Lastly, you will also see in the photos a "traditional Scottish breakfast" (I chose a vegetarian option, simply because I do not like haggis - look it up if you don't know what it is!). This consists of a potato scone, vegetarian sausages and vegetarian "haggis," an egg, baked beans (beans! for breakfast!!), tomato and mushrooms. Let me tell you....this is stick to your ribs food!
And lastly, just to show that even dietitians need to have some "food fun" sometimes and follow the 80/20 rule (80% of the time eat good; 20% of the time eat not so good!), I inserted a picture of me at the Coro Chocolate Cafe in Edinburgh with a decadent slice of chocolate cake drizzled with chocolate sauce.
It was definitely worth being 30% naughty for that! ;)
Slainte - to good health and happiness!
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