EATING the right type of food in moderation is important for people living in the Pacific. Mavis Gaunavou strongly believes in living a healthy lifestyle and exercising daily even with her tight work schedule and travelling.
“I think NCDs are too important to even be brushed aside as it is one of the major health issues that we face here in the Pacific region,” Mrs Gaunavou said. “In Fiji we have heard about various diseases and viral infections that we have never heard of in the past and I think one of the major contributors to the issue is the food we eat that are introduced by the Western world.
“A lot of quick and easy to prepare meals are now available with no nutritious value and people are always in a rush to pop their food in the microwave oven for a quick precooked meal. “Microwave oven foods are overheated most of the time thus the nutrients and vitamins needed for the body are gone. “I believe in eating healthy and my children know that. I don’t indulge myself in dining out and I would rather cook a meal at home then buy takeaway for my kids.” She said a common practice she noticed and she would really class as a ‘smart shopper’ is the scouting of the dailies for advertised specials and comparing prices at various supermarkets. “My grocery list mainly consists of flour, sugar, rice, noodles, tinned foodstuff, toiletries, fruits and vegetables,” she said.
“On my two cents worth on shopping, I would like people to shop according to their budget, to start their shopping list with the needs first then the wants later and to pay attention to what they buy off the shelves.”
