Eat for health and sustainability

The humble fork may be the most effective tool we have for being healthy, preventing and reversing disease, while also fighting global warming.

This is the view of Umina resident Ms Shirley Hotchkiss who is running a four-part course called Sustainable Eating at Woy Woy.

Ms Hotchkiss said: "People are keen to improve their health and prevent disease while eating delicious food and protecting the environment.

"This course provides a practical approach to eating raw plant food for personal and planetary health," she said.

"There is strong scientific evidence that most Western 'lifestyle diseases' like heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes and obesity are caused by the typical Western diet.

"This is particularly relevant to the Peninsula as we have a high proportion of older residents.

"But it's important for everyone as eating habits that result in disease start when we're young.

"Research detailed in reports like The China Study also shows how and why a plant-based diet of whole foods prevents and can reverse these diseases.

"As Hippocrates said: 'Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food.'

"Eating a plant-based diet reduces environmental damage because less land is used more effectively than for animal-based diets, fewer resources are needed, and less waste is produced.

"We can all grow some of our own plant food, even if we only have a tiny courtyard or a few pots on a windowsill."

Ms Hotchkiss said the Sunday afternoon course starts on August 21 at Woy Woy CWA Hall, and costs $50 per class.

Contact her with enquiries and bookings on 4341 9301 or shirley@openwindows.com.

Shirley Hotchkiss, Umina Email, 4 Aug 2011