Another depressing thread

I think eating too much is as bad for us as eating processed foods. That and lack of exercise, and decline in primary care services meaning that many health problems are not picked up early enough could account for these depressing statistics.

twaddle

Caleo

Truth to tell, healthy food generally takes longer to prepare than processed food. There are exceptions such as tinned prunes against constipation, and quick porridge made in tbe microwave.

What other healthy food does anyone know of that is just a s easy for the laziest among us to prepare?

Baked potatoes with all sorts of different fillings.

Almost any kind of egg.

Wholemeal toast with sardines.

Air-fried chicken covered in pesto (to prevent it drying out).

Most salad items will keep for a couple of days, covered in the fridge, so only need to be prepared once.

Batch cooking in the slow cooker and frozen in portions.

Fish fingers and baked beans - UPF but not that unhealthy (protein and plenty of fibre).

Way to go!

twaddle

Caleo

Twaddle{ : " What's wrong with this country is an entire population with declining life skills, lazily filling in the gaps by living at second hand online."

Without a native tradition for healthy food such as other European countries have, British people are hard nuts to crack.

I agree, but I think there's a lot more to it than that. If I had to start somewhere, I 'd start with trying to support local communities, to reduce social isolation, so that people supported each other, sites for shops and cafes were better planned, less need for comfort eating.

That would be lovely.
I am housebound but my sons go to venues like that.
There is the local ' Dog Cafe' which welcomes people with that common interest in dogs and dogs are literally catered for .The other venue is a sociable sort of pub which is owned and run in an old house where the owners live upstairs and are known by their first names same as the customers. As a result this pub is well patronise, like a home from home

Caleo

Truth to tell, healthy food generally takes longer to prepare than processed food. There are exceptions such as tinned prunes against constipation, and quick porridge made in tbe microwave.

What other healthy food does anyone know of that is just a s easy for the laziest among us to prepare?

Baked potatoes with all sorts of different fillings.

Almost any kind of egg.

Wholemeal toast with sardines.

Air-fried chicken covered in pesto (to prevent it drying out).

Most salad items will keep for a couple of days, covered in the fridge, so only need to be prepared once.

Batch cooking in the slow cooker and frozen in portions.

Fish fingers and baked beans - UPF but not that unhealthy (protein and plenty of fibre).

Caleo

Twaddle{ : " What's wrong with this country is an entire population with declining life skills, lazily filling in the gaps by living at second hand online."

Without a native tradition for healthy food such as other European countries have, British people are hard nuts to crack.

I agree, but I think there's a lot more to it than that. If I had to start somewhere, I 'd start with trying to support local communities, to reduce social isolation, so that people supported each other, sites for shops and cafes were better planned, less need for comfort eating.

Truth to tell, healthy food generally takes longer to prepare than processed food. There are exceptions such as tinned prunes against constipation, and quick porridge made in tbe microwave.

What other healthy food does anyone know of that is just a s easy for the laziest among us to prepare?

I actually think smoking cigarettes is on its way out. They're prohibitively expensive now and young people are going to be banned from buying them.

Obesity is more of a problem because you can't ban people from buying food.

Twaddle{ : " What's wrong with this country is an entire population with declining life skills, lazily filling in the gaps by living at second hand online."

Without a native tradition for healthy food such as other European countries have, British people are hard nuts to crack.

twaddle

Caleo, There is some evidence that younger people are adapting healthier lifestyles. They smoke and drink less and are more likely to use a gym. I don't know about eating and drug use.

The immediate problem is with baby boomers and middle aged people, who need to adopt healthier lifestyles now.

Yes. I think advertising has to be precisely targeted at a specific population such as the one you suggest.

Again, preventing diseases like obesity and smoking costs money . The health services spend more on curing diseases than they spend on preventing diseases.

Caleo, There is some evidence that younger people are adapting healthier lifestyles. They smoke and drink less and are more likely to use a gym. I don't know about eating and drug use.

The immediate problem is with baby boomers and middle aged people, who need to adopt healthier lifestyles now.

Caleo

Twaddle, "Lifestyle choices: Diet, exercise, smoking, and alcohol consumption significantly impact HLE. Healthier lifestyle choices generally lead to a higher HLE" are linked to economic factors such as housing ,and provision for recreation.

For instance loneliness which is the feeling attached to social isolation can cause smoking, drinking, and the immobility that often accompanies sadness.

I agree with you. It's much more complex than a single issue, such as fast food or walking to school. In most cases, there are likely to be a number of issues involved, many of which are related to each other. Loneliness and social isolation being linked to substance abuse, unhealthy eating, obesity and also immobility and poor housing is a good example.

twaddle

Caleo

Whitewavemark2

The factors I think that should be compared are

Cultural attitudes to food

Health services

Inequality within each country.

I guess that one, cultural attitudes to food, and two, gullibility to advertising (especially family cultures,) make it hard for teachers to teach healthy nutrition .

An issue is that so many people kick back against the "Nanny State" when it comes to advice about healthy lifestyles. Quite honestly, somebody would have to be living under a stone not to have been bombarded with healthy lifestyle advice.

Yes indeed. Maybe there is some sort of inefficiency in the way the healthy lifestyle advice is given. For instance younger people , who tend to be a bit more adaptable ,may respond to advertising that uses young peoples' lexicon, phraseology. and imagery.

Edit: I should have closed my quotation marks after 'HLE;.

Caleo

Whitewavemark2

The factors I think that should be compared are

Cultural attitudes to food

Health services

Inequality within each country.

I guess that one, cultural attitudes to food, and two, gullibility to advertising (especially family cultures,) make it hard for teachers to teach healthy nutrition .

An issue is that so many people kick back against the "Nanny State" when it comes to advice about healthy lifestyles. Quite honestly, somebody would have to be living under a stone not to have been bombarded with healthy lifestyle advice.

Twaddle, "Lifestyle choices: Diet, exercise, smoking, and alcohol consumption significantly impact HLE. Healthier lifestyle choices generally lead to a higher HLE" are linked to economic factors such as housing ,and provision for recreation.

For instance loneliness which is the feeling attached to social isolation can cause smoking, drinking, and the immobility that often accompanies sadness.

The biggest single risk factor is smoking.

Whitewavemark2

The factors I think that should be compared are

Cultural attitudes to food

Health services

Inequality within each country.

I guess that one, cultural attitudes to food, and two, gullibility to advertising (especially family cultures,) make it hard for teachers to teach healthy nutrition .

According to the ONS, the factors which influence Healthy Life Expectancy are:

Socioeconomic status: Higher socioeconomic status often correlates with better access to healthcare, healthier lifestyles, and improved living conditions, leading to higher HLE

Lifestyle choices: Diet, exercise, smoking, and alcohol consumption significantly impact HLE. Healthier lifestyle choices generally lead to a higher HLE

Healthcare access: Access to quality healthcare services plays a vital role in maintaining good health and extending HLE

Public health initiatives: Government policies and public health initiatives aimed at reducing health inequalities and promoting healthy living can positively influence HLE

Environmental factors: Clean air, safe drinking water, and healthy living environments contribute to better health outcomes and higher HLE.

www.local.gov.uk/topics/social-care-health-and-integration/had-good-innings-importance-healthy-life-expectancy

Yes. 'Healthy' life expectancy is the key here. I've seen that mental ill health is included in this statement. It seems to me that self perception of mental ill health of one sort or another seems to be rife. I think the internet has played into this enormously either by highlighting various sorts of conditions eg ADHD, Autism etc etc. I seem to meet so many people who have inaccurately diagnosed themselves or their friends or family members. Alternatively, the bullying that internet access permits. It can go on long after school has closed. There can be no escape for some short of switching off the phone.
BTW less inverted and ill informed snobbery about M&S food please!

Healthy life expectancy is based on self-reporting, so is a little subjective. It means not having a chronic condition which affects day-to-day life.

Pamela, UPF products have been available from at least the early 70s. My mother worked as a secretary in a food processing factory and we frequently ate the stuff she brought home. There were loads of tins and pies, most of which didn't contain what you thought they would. I remember, in particular, that the blackberry pies actually contained apple which had been dyed purple. There was virtually no blackberry in them.

Whitewavemark2

I think diet (processed food) is a huge factor.

Another factor is the poor state of the NHS.

I agree. When I was a child we had to walk about two miles to school and were out playing until late. No computers to wreck our brains and home grown food.

Luckygirl3

I am not sure what is meant by "healthy" life expectancy.

I’m presuming that it means that you can walk about and look after yourself without needing any help.
Basically carry out everyday tasks without a problem.
Don’t take a bucketful of medication every day.
Enjoy life.
For example my DH’s health is compromised by scarring on his lungs. He has to keep having rests when he’s doing something physical. His problem was caused by working in the farming industry before the dangers of breathing in chemicals wasn’t understood. This is something that shouldn’t happen now.
Martav I would think that most of us grew up eating healthy food. We did have processed food but UPF products weren’t available until relatively recently.

I agree with posters on the unhealthy diet front here.

I'm just pleased I lived my early and middle years in France where high-quality food is part of the culture. And obesity is pretty non existent. The UK is way behind in its lifestyle.

Though all that wine might be a problem to the liver later on!

Luckygirl3

I am not sure what is meant by "healthy" life expectancy.

But, butterandjam, the statistics contradict your theory. It is absolutely clear that poorer health correlates with areas where people have less money. So, even, if the affluent middle classes do eat M&S ready meals (and I doubt if it's all they eat), they still live a healthy life for longer than those in the poorest areas. The difference between the healthiest and unhealthiest area is a massive 20 years. Something else besides eating ready meals is going on.