What is healthy eating?

An interesting discussion took place in the pub earlier this week all about healthy eating.  As most women in the group are trying with varying degrees of success to loose weight the pros and cons of vegetarian, low fat, low carb and calorie counting diets ensued.

Having decided that, provided you don't go to extremes either reducing fat or reducing carbohydrates will work for most people, and both are easier than trying to calculate calories. The general agreement was not to follow the high fat 'Dr Atkins' versions, but simply to cut down on bread, potatoes, pastry, cakes, pasta and rice leaving the healthy fish, low fat meats and fresh vegetables.  Partial concord then between the low fat and low carb camps - both agreeing that meals based on fish, chicken, turkey and fresh vegetables would give plenty of variety and vitamins and not too much fat or carbohydrate to upset anyone.  We almost got around to agreeing a menu for a BBQ.

That, of course is where the Veggies took exception, and where the rest of us just don't understand the logic.  Instead of looking at the wide variety of vegetables and fruit now available, the exponents of the 'no meat under any circumstances' and the 'Oh I couldn't eat anything with a face' militia began to extol the virtues of some stuff called Quorn.  Having upset the Veggies en masse by asking why they wanted something to taste of meat if they were so against eating it and beating a rapid retreat back home, I decided to find out more about this substance.

The main ingredient is a chemical called mycoprotein which is basically a fungus grown and produced in giant fermenters.  A further cocktail of chemicals has to be added to give a texture and flavour which is acceptable to the human palate.  How can this possibly be considered to be a healthy lifestyle - especially when the food developed from this process is fried or cased in pastry!!


Sorry Veggies - all meals should start life in a field, develop naturally and bring their own flavours and textures to the plate.  The only ingredient to taste of meat is meat and unless we eat it there will be no cows, sheep, pigs, chickens and so on grazing the fields of this green and pleasant land.

Everyone can tow a caravan - its easy

Every time I tow the caravan onto a site, I find people staring as if a woman should not be driving with her husband in the passenger seat.  Why not - I sit on the left when he is driving.

First of all, the breakdown services are there for genuine breakdowns, not a get you home service.  I know of more than one occasion when the breakdown truck was called because the regular driver was unwell and the 'other half' would not tow.  That is selfish and puts up everyone else's cost of breakdown cover.

Members of the Caravan Club and the Camping and Caravan Club will be able to find details of towing courses through their club.  I thoroughly enjoyed learning to reverse properly - even though I had been towing for nearly ten years by the time I went along!!!  These courses do not lead to the new test but will reduce your insurance premium.

If you passed your car driving test after 1997 you need to take an additional driving test with your caravan.  The test is explained on http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/CaravansTrailersCommercialVehicles/DG_4022521.Tests are generally carried out at the HGV test centre where there is room to manouvre the outfit away from the traffic.  Most HGV driver training centres also offer caravan/trailer training to meet the requirements of the new test.

With two drivers it is much easier to take the caravan on longer trips.  The sensible way of working is to think in terms of "tacho hours" http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/layer?r.l1=1081597476&r.l2=1082103262&r.l3=1084756056&r.s=tl&topicId=1082144445.  Keeping it really simple, each driver drives for a maximum of two hours, then stop for a comfort break, change drivers and carry on again.  It is much safer than leaving one driver to do all the work, and get far too tired to be safe on the road.

Remember that towing a caravan behind your car needs more concentration, and whether you are towing alone or with a "co-pilot" breaks are essential to avoid becoming over-tired and causing accidents.

Enjoy your caravanning holiday - wherever it takes you - and stay safe on the roads through sensible planning and the right training.