Did you know it's national chip week?

Did you know it's national chip week this week?

A recent study published in The Telegraph (see below for link) has also suggested that eating chips more than once a week can increase the risk of prostate cancer by a third. Eating deep fried food such as chips, doughnuts, fried chicken and battered fish may also increase the risk.

Everyone loves chips but they aren't particularly healthy especially on a regular basis. Going to the chip shop every couple of months for a bag of chips won't do you any harm but eating them more frequently can cause weight gain. Try swapping regular potatoes for sweet potatoes as they have a lower GI and also count as 1 of your 5 a day

So what can you eat instead of chips?

• Oven chips are healthier than fried
• You could have a jacket potato, boiled potatoes or mash
• Make your own using sweet potato and a little olive oil then bake in the oven
• Make a tray of lots of different roast vegetables
• Swap chips for rice (ideally brown)

To read the study in The Telegraph visit http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9880279/Eating-chips-once-a-week-could-increase-prostate-cancer-risk-by-a-third.html

For more information on healthy eating visit www.wisechoicenutrition.co.uk or email info@wisechoicenutrition.co.uk

My 1st Park Run

Yesterday I ran my 1st park run at Hilsborough. As part of JCI, we decided that we'd do a Park Run once a month so off we went. I hadn't run properly since July except for a couple of 20 minute runs over Christmas. Another friend of mine was also going so we jogged down from Walkley together. Not sure that was such a good idea as we then had another 5k to do on top of that but you might as well start as you mean to go on. 
The run involves 3 laps of the park with most of it being flat except one hilly bit. I wanted to run under 35 minutes and not walk any of it which is quite a big ask when I hadn't run for that length of time in months. By the end of lap 1 I was pretty tired and by then end of lap 2 I was really struggling but determined to keep running. I was nearly sick on the 3rd lap but finished in 33:09 so I was really pleased.
If you are going to start physical activity, get a training buddy. Having Bea at my side encouraging me not to give up was so important and with that help, I kept running even though at times it was very slow, I didn't give up! If you are going with someone who's fitter than you, ask them to stay with you rather than in front of you. 
Park Run's are a great initiative. They are a free 5k runs in local parks which are sponsored by local companies and SweatShop. Use them as part of your training and a chance to improve your times. 
Next week's goal is to finish under 33 minutes and run 3 times between now and then.

What exercise have you done this weekend?

Hannah