Celebrate A Healthier Christmas: NWRHA Promotes Fruits And Vegetables In Festive Dishes

Have you ever thought about including alternative ingredients in your black cake, such as carrots and bodi? Well, the North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) and the Ministry of Health are encouraging citizens to include fruits and vegetables in their diet during their Christmas festivities. This, in a bid to reduce one’s sodium, sugar, and alcohol intake. Speaking at the Ministry of Health and NWRHA's TT Moves event on Saturday morning, Registered Dietitian, Nicole Toby, said citizens can have a good time for the season while also eating healthy, even with alternative ingredients in their Christmas desserts. "So we have for example here a recipe for fruit cake with very little sugar and oil, and everybody who's tasted it thinks it's just wonderful and it has carrots and bodi in it instead of some of the raisins. And all the ladies who have tasted it say they can't tell the difference." She added that people should continue to include vegetables in their diet during the season. "It's important for you to get a lot of nutrients and fibre in your diet from the vegetables, so what we're recommending is on your Christmas plate you try and do half your plate with veggies or with fruit and vegetables. So that you increase your fibre and you increase your nutrient intake because every colour of a vegetable has a different nutrient. So you get anthocyanins, you get antioxidants." General Manager of Primary Care Services at the NWRHA, Dr. Lesley-Ann Roper, said the Health Festival on Saturday was aimed at reminding people to engage in a healthy lifestyle, even during the festive season. "So the NWRHA, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, recognise the importance of prevention and early detection of these Non-Communicable Diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and we also want to emphasise the importance of healthy eating and exercise and also the importance of your mental health to your everyday life." Several people hailed the TT Moves event on Saturday morning "I found this experience to be smooth, courteous. The people I dealt with, they seem to know what they’re doing and all in all, it was an excellent initiative." "This is the third time I’ve tried to get my prostate tested by coming to these outings that they have and I must say this time they got it right." "Especially the health and wellness. I was glad I was able to talk, to express myself how I feel, and the massage was very nice, relaxing, real, real nice." There was also comprehensive health services, including women’s, men’s, and general health screenings, blood donations, and vaccinations, along with physical activity demonstrations, live entertainment, and a dedicated kids’ zone.