CookBookLifestyle S U P P L E M E N T

THE VOICEDecem

ber 23 - January 5, 2011

> RECIPES >SOUTH LONDON ON OBESITY WATCH >ULISSES CELEBRITY TRAINER VOWS TO GET PECKHAM PUMPING

0.

5.

10.

15.

20.

25.

30.

35.

40.

45.

Full time Part time Not working

– other Not working

– housewife

Marital status

Working status

0.

10.

20.

30.

40.

50.

60.

70.

80.

Single Married Separated

Cluster 2Cluster 2...At risk...At risk

10.2% of families* 10.2% of families*

* Families with children aged 2–11

More likely to rent their home in the

South East/Greater London

Avg family income: £29,087Mean Age of Mother: 3344

Mean Age of Child: 66..7799

Social grade

ABC1 C2DE

46%

54%

Mother’s age

18%

29%44%

9%

16–24 25–3445–5435–44

Awareness of risk and intent

to change:

92% of Cluster 2 parents with overweight or obese children don’t recognise that their children have a problem. Qualitative research demonstrated that parents in this Cluster were largely unaware of the risks associated with their diet and levels of activity. However, once they understood the issues they were willing to make changes and eager to get the support they felt they needed to help them do so.

SummaryCluster 2 families lack the experience and resources to develop good parenting strategies. Children are difficult to manage, and tend to dictate their own diet and activity levels. Food can be a battleground. Parents often find it easier to ‘give in’ and let children have the processed foods and fizzy drinks they want. Children prefer playing indoors on their computers to going outside. Cluster 2 parents want to be ‘good’ parents, but this does not currently translate into concern about family activities and diet, perhaps due to a lack of knowledge about how to lead a healthier lifestyle and lack of awareness about the consequences of not doing so.

For PLAnninG PurPoSES onLy

West African cookbook special

SOUTHWARK CHANGE4LIFE NEW YEAR’S MESSAGE: EAT WELL ❄ MOVE MORE ❄ LIVE LONGER

| THE VOICE December 23 - January 5, 2011 32

Change4Life is a national scheme for all from the Depart-

ment of Health and the NHS. The campaign is a growing ‘movement’ that aims to turn the tidie on obesity, and pushes for the improvement for healthy lifestyles. One year on, the campaign has had a positive effect on the well- being of so many people.

The Public Health Team at NHS Southwark has been de-livering various Change4Life programmes with key part-ners in Southwark schools and community settings. Families seem to be making positive changes and ac-

cording to recent na-tional data, levels

of obesity

h a v e been gradu-ally dropping for Southwark children aged 10-11. Although still fourth highest in the country. How-ever, Southwark has the highest percentage of obese children aged 4-5 showing there is much more to be done to support parents and children from an earlier age.

Local West African com-munity leaders have come together to back the Govern-ment’s Change4Life move-ment, which gets families eating well, moving more and living longer. Women’s group

leaders and representatives from local community cen-tres have joined nursery and faith school teachers to learn more about the growing obesity problem in South-wark, which is putting local people at increased risk of developing conditions such as type 2 diabetes, some cancers and heart disease.

If current trends continue, 9 out of 10 children will be overweight or obese by 2050. Change4Life is working with communities to encourage them to adopt eight top tips, which help families make the small changes that add up to big health benefi ts.

The West African commu-n i t y represents 14 p e r cent of the

population i n L a m b e t h

and South-wark. Health statistics in-

dicate that t h i s

c o m m u -nity is more likely than

the national average to suffer from type 2 diabetes, and are also deemed to be amongst the communities at risk of obesity.

Last year’s Change4Life Conference included inter-active demonstrations and question and answer ses-sions guiding delegates through Change4Life’s eight diet and physical activity

tips. Consultant nutritionist,

registered dietician and best-selling author, Azmina Govindji, and community nutritionist Angela Tella have demonstrated easy to follow steps to a healthier diet, giv-ing traditional West African dishes a healthier twist and showing the audience a range of ‘sneaky swaps’ to incorporate the recommend-ed 5-A-Day into their diets.

Speaking about the Change4life campaign, An-gela Telle, said “It is great to be involved in such a posi-tive initiative that takes these key health messages into the heart of the community. “The key is to raise understand-ing, by using healthier alter-natives you can still enjoy the traditional dishes without loosing any of the incredible taste. These small, easy to adapt steps can go a long way to improving people’s long term health.”

Physical activity expert, Sarah Samuel, on quick and

easy ways of building in more physical activ-

ity in to a daily routine said:

“ Ke e p i n g h e a l t h y d o e s n ’ t have to be a

diffi cult task. What I’m doing

is showing people light and easy to follow methods of exercising and types of ex-ercise they can incorporate into their daily routine and can even do in their homes.”

Obesity highest amongst West Africans in Southwark

Lifestyle SupplementSupplement Editor Jacqueline Asafu-Adjaye

What if we said: drop 3 trouser sizes down and keep that hot fi gure not for just ten minutes but for life take on the Southwark Change4life challenge?

cording to recent na-tional data, levels

of obesity

h a v e been gradu-ally dropping for Southwark children aged 10-11. Although still fourth highest in the country. How-ever, Southwark has the highest percentage of obese children aged 4-5 showing there is much more to be done to support parents and children from an earlier age.

Local West African com-

n i t y represents 14 p e r cent of the

population i n L a m b e t h

and South-wark. Health statistics in-

dicate that t h i s

c o m m u -nity is more likely than

the national average to suffer from type 2 diabetes, and are also deemed to be amongst the communities at risk of obesity.

Last year’s Change4Life

key is to raise understand-ing, by using healthier alter-natives you can still enjoy the traditional dishes without loosing any of the incredible taste. These small, easy to adapt steps can go a long way to improving people’s long term health.”

Physical activity expert, Sarah Samuel, on quick and

easy ways of building in more physical activ-

ity in to a daily routine said:

“ Ke e p i n g h e a l t h y d o e s n ’ t have to be a

diffi cult task. What I’m doing

CookBook

€

SOUTHWARK CHANGE4LIFE

€

December 23 - January 5, 2011 THE VOICE | 33

Lifestyle Supplement

Ingredients• ¾ cup pumpkin seeds• 1 and a ½ pounds cubed beef stew• ½ cup peanut oil• 2 large tomatoes, chopped• 1 small onion, chopped• 2 red chilli peppers, scotch bonnet, seeded and minced• 18 ounces tomato sauce• 1½ cups of water• 2 pounds fresh shrimp, peeled and de-veined• 1 pound fresh spinach, washed and chopped• 1 medium yellow yam or powdered yam

MethodPlace pumpkin seeds into blender and

blend until mixture is a powdery paste. Wash beef and cube.

Season, in large pot and heat over a medium to high heat for 4 to 5 min. Add beef and sauté for 3 to 5 min until brown but not cooked through.

Place tomatoes, onions, and pepper into a blender and blend for about 30 seconds or until smooth.

Add tomato mixture to meat, reduce heat to medium-low and cover. Cook for 40 to 50 min or until meat is tender.

Add tomato sauce, water, and shrimp and simmer for 10 minutes.

Add spinach and ground pumpkin seeds and continue to simmer 10 min-utes more.

Pounded Yam • Bring 1 plus 3/4 cups water to a boil on high heat• Turn the heat to medium and stir in the pounded yam fl our.

• Keep stirring until it is smooth and soft. If it is really thick, add some hot water. It will have a similar texture to polenta or fufu.

Yam. This delicious root veg-etable gives any type of stew or soup an instant African and Caribbean twist.

Described as milk of trees, yam’s white creamy woody texture with its nutty, sweet distinctive fl avour, is a treat to sa-vour. Surprisingly, despite it’s popularity with lovers of African Caribbean cuisine, it tends to make a rare appearance on restaurant or take-away menus. Unlike sweet potatoes, yam is an undiscovered star, with many mainstream supermar-kets yet to stock the vegetable in any great numbers.

Yam is the Voice Cookbook Christmas chosen Super food. This root vegetable is packed with a good supply of vitamin B6, a vitamin that helps to reduce heart disease. Potassium rich, yam contains the vital mineral that assists with the con-trolling of blood pressure.

The biggest best-kept secret lies in its blood sugar and weight controlling properties.

Due to yam being a complex carbo-hydrate and fi bre rich, it delivers a slow release of sugar. Its high concentration of fi bre lends to weight control, as yams fi ll you up with you putting on the addi-tional pounds around the waist and hips. So remember that means you don’t need to eat lots of it, because it is high in energy content! A portion size is the size of your fi st or a child’s fi st for children’s portions.

In addition, the other edible gem they contain is manganese, which is impor-tant for maintaining energy production and building antioxidant defences.

Pounded Yam with EgusiSOUTHWARK CHANGE4LIFE

Pho

to C

redi

t: R

ough

Dia

mon

ds C

reat

ive

Age

ncy

CookBookPounded Yam with Egusi

CookBook

| THE VOICE December 23 - January 5, 2011 34

Lifestyle Supplement

There is no in-be-tween reaction to meeting Ulisses, aka Lion of Africa

in the fl esh. A formidable US Celebrity trainer, stars such as Melinda Messen-ger, Harry Connick Jr. Rus-sell Brand, Sex in the City star, Sarah Jessica Parker, Brazilian supermodel Gise-le and Kelis are but a few who have dared to surren-der themselves to Ulisses World, where fi tness like religion is a way of life.

The son of a West Afri-can family and raised in Mi-ami, Ulisses either evokes butterfl ies in the stomach combined with in-voluntary blushing or an inborn primi-tive ‘fi ght or fl ight’ response.

Surprisingly softly spoken, Ulisses’ passion for fi tness is infectious, as he purrs through the interview like a tightly tuned 3.6 liter V8 Fer-rari 360 engine, which pow-ers from 0 - 62mph in just 4.3 seconds.

He doesn’t miss a trick and suggests I release my tummy muscles, having self -con-sciously sucked it in through-out the entire interview – I’m turning purple. With much re-lief I let it all hang out and eye up the bench press intently.

The only bling in sight in Ul-isses World is the glare of nu-merous gold and silver plated trophies and ribbons loaded with medals, stacked up high in neat rows and piles above the gym registration counter, providing strong competition for his dazzling smile, as he chats about his unshakable drive to be the best:

“In 2004, I won the Super Body Professional Champi-onship in Miami Beach and ranked third in the California World Championship. Today, having earned a great deal of experience as a fi tness ex-pert and gym manager, I am fi nally established my own private studio for fi tness and training in the north east.

“I began training at the age of 19, West African food is deliciously naughty, espe-cially the way my mum cooks it and seriously addictive-fufu especially, but you can have your plantain, mashed cas-sava, Egusi Stew and eat it-

guilt free. Only, If you cook it right and hit the gym that day or do some form of ex-ercise that causes you to sweat, that could be a long brisk walk with the family in the park.”

4.3 seconds interview with Ulisses Do you reckon there is a set diet or quick fi x to be-ing overweight?“ Anyone who enters my gym Ulisses World, immediately knows my philosophy to fi t-ness- there are no short cuts. Being fi t requires sheer will power in the beginning and is defi nitely a state of mind before anything else.

How do you handle your own daily fi tness regime?With my own workout dis-cipline, I aspire to continue growing my body naturally over the years. I’m now taking the opportunity, to promote both the benefi ts of training and a proper diet through setting a personal example. I train fi ve days a week with the goal of developing a symmetrical physique.

What happens when you need to pump up for a competition?Three to four weeks prior to a contest, I maintain a dietary regime and engage in cardio exercise to actively pace my heart. My daily diet is replete with carbohydrates and pro-tein, but it is also balanced and covers a wide variety of foods.

How do you expect to get people to workout if they are not gym freaks?There are three things I

preach to anyone aspiring to keep a good and healthy physique:

• The fi rst is eating habits that avoid excess, cover diverse foods and keep to measured portions. • The second is cross training and various forms of exercise that involve not only weightlifting, but also cardio activity and calisthenics for toning. Walking is an excellent way to get started.

• And the third is to be patient, dedicated, and determined. Sticking to your goals, keeping focused and allowing your physique to develop are all critical.

My ultimate Change4life vi-sion is to inspire and moti-vate people in Peckham to engage in fi tness and not view it as a chore, but rather embrace it as a lifestyle.

I do it by practicing what I preach, and by molding per-sonalized fi tness disciplines for my clients that become part of what they enjoy do-ing as individuals, in a simi-lar way they would relate to a hobby.

“My ultimate Change4life vision is to inspire and motivate people in Peckham to engage in fi tness and not view it as a chore.”

SOUTHWARK CHANGE4LIFE

Ulisses pledges to get Peckham pumping

We caught up with Ulisses: Trophy hunter, New York fi tness i-candy, Super Body World champion and A-list celebrity trainer in his state of the art gym in north east London, to see if he was up for the change4life challenge - getting Southwark fi t for life.

Ulisses will be coming to Peckham’s local gym to sign T-Shirts, give away prizes along with tips and hints on reaching your ideal weight.

To win a free One2One with Ulisses and receive further details about this exciting event and Southwark’s X-factor style summer health challenge, all you need is to live in Southwark and email:Southwarkchange4life@gvmedia.co.uk

Ulisses celebrity trainer

CookBook