CNR anti-crisis-plan-few wastes and more quality

The CNR researchers have planned a true anti-crisis project, joining food, science and its spare-system in the struggle against waste. The study states that in this period of economic crisis spare should not affect the quality of food, thus weakening its nutritional effects. Which diet could be cheap, healthy and dalanced then? Marika dello Russo (a member of the “National Council of Researches” from Avellino and of the Institute of food science [ISA-CNR]) explained: “the diet in this period of crisis is not to be meant as a renounce or a low quality”; an anti-crisis menu was proposed, according to the guide-lines for a correct diet, both from a caloric and a nutritional point of view, where there are 16% proteins, 25% lipids (mostly unsaturated) and 59% carbohydrates. The researcher showed that “this diet is composed of balanced, medium-high quality food able to grant the right nutritional needs avoiding wastes and limiting all the superfluous food”. Even if you don’t care about fitness, yoghurt or milk, bread with martelade or honey are recommended for breakfast. Expensive breakfasts in the bars are forbidden: those with brioche or snacks, which are really the least healthy: no cakes or sweets for consolation. Cakes are allowed but as the researches underlined “only home-made cakes because they are cheaper and healthier. Anyway cakes should be consumed only occasionally”. Common places are banned, as for some who consider meat the only source of proteins with a high biological value. Pulses and cereals are considered meat for poor people – dello Russo emphasized – their improvement in the diet allows us to limit the use of meat and generally, of second courses, without altering the nutritional qualities of the diet. Some food with animal proteins is however useful. This could be done through fresh or frozen fish, particularly Mediterranean fish, that is cheap and very good from a nutritional point of view thanks to the amount of omega3 it contains; essential for our body. But you can use also meat, better the so- called “white” meat, eggs (not more than twice a week) and cheese. This diet delivers expenses among different types of food. The expert added: “Today meat contributes for 23% to the costs, while fruit and vegetables for 18%: in this diet vegetables, so important for their vitaminic and fiber support, constitute about 30% of the expenses while meat weighs only for 10%. This kind of plan allows not to change the average cost per family (€ 5600 a year according to the data from Istat about the consumes in Italy), defending the quality of products even in a period of economic crisis”. An example of meal joining spare and nutrition: first course (three-four times a week) cereals and pulses (70 grams pasta or rice with 300 grams vegetables) or sauces (tomatoes soup, pesto…) together with vegetables, a loaf of bread (70 grams), all dressed with some extra virgin olive oil. Some fresh fruit and some coffee with sugar close the meal. There are no cuts for food, but a better rationalization of expenses.