The typical Irish cuisine we see in popular culture, though it often
looks to be a very healthy balance of meats and vegetables, is not very healthy
at all. The meats and other assortments of toppings, broths, and add-ons hide
many of the foods’ fats, sugars, and salts. All of which have taken a large
toll on the population through diseases such as heart disease. One such food
that most believe to be very healthy but isn’t is corn beef and
cabbage. Most see the fairly lean piece of meat with no dressings/add-ons
accompanied with multiple pieces of vegetables and automatically deduce the
food as healthy, but they completely overlook the preparation. Both the large
chunk of meat and the assortment of vegetables are dowsed with salts and other
spices that are detrimental to one’s health. The Irish government has taken
notice to such foods and their negative effects on the citizens, so it has
taken large strides in educating the population on healthier choices and
preparations. They have created
many “revamped” versions of the classic corn beef and cabbage most of which
take out the assortment of seasonings and instead use lemon juice and pepper. This
shift towards a much healthier diet is also present in the United States.
Instead of consuming the crowd-favorite quarter-pound cheeseburger with a side
of French fries, Americans now consume turkey burgers with a side of
vegetables. Looking for the healthiest way to make a food was not always the
goal of every culture though; instead, in our novel, food is looked at as a way
to convey emotions and relationships. They didn’t want to skimp on any
ingredients, but instead they poured them in to show their love for others.
Whether you’re eating a lean corn beef with cabbage, a rejuvenated turkey
burger, or quail in rose pedal sauce, you’re able to express your changing
culture in your own unique way.
Works Cited
Dlugos, Jennifer. "Corned Beef & Cabbage Nutrition Facts." LIVESTRONG.COM. Demand Media, Inc., 27 Jan. 2014. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.
Duane, Diane. "Ireland: What Do Irish People Eat?" European Cuisines. 2015. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.
Healthy Eating. Digital image. Green Living Ideas. 1 Jan. 2014. Web.
"St. Patrick's Day Feast." Cooking Light. MyRecipes Network, 2015. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.
It seems like the diet changes in Ireland are somewhat similar to those in the United States. It seems the Irish government is trying to inform their citizens on unhealthy meal choices while First Lady Michelle Obama is trying to do something similar in the United States.
ReplyDeleteI was unaware of the amount of salts that are used in the Irish diet. I also thought that the Irish diet was relatively healthy, but I did not know the process that is used to make traditional Irish food. I see the similarities between the United States and Ireland in trying to create a healthier country.
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