JUNE 2018| The Australian Women’s Weekly 135
Health and happiness
*Acknowledge losing
weight is tough and set
some realistic goals
regarding your diet, but
not your weight.
*Don’t eat between
meals, except whole or
cut fresh fruit or veg.
*Cut out sugary drinks
and sweet snacks,
replacing them with
water and your
favourite fruits.
*Have a wholesome,
balanced breakfast
with fruit and sugar-
free, full-fat yoghurt.
*Aim for diversity in
your diet, eating a
range of colourful fruit
and veg to ensure
maximum nutrients.
*Use smaller plates and
reduce meal serves by
one-third, returning if
you need more.
*Eat slowly and enjoy
your food.
*Eat with others away
from screens or other
distractions.
*Finish your meal with
fresh seasonal fruit.
*Combine a good diet
with exercise you enjoy
and make it part of
your daily routine.night, while two billion wake up obese.
So much suffering worldwide is
caused by things we can prevent.”
In 2015 he landed a role with the
WHO, and today Sandro travels the
globe championing the cause for
change. He argues government can play
a vital role in changing health outcomes
of billions of people through measures
such as a sugar tax and restricting
junk food advertising, arguing
governments need to make good
health “the path of least resistance”.
a celebration of food and
the lessons he learned
around the family’s
kitchen table.
The Doctor’s Diet
takes a holistic view and
includes 100 practical,
delicious recipes he hopes
will change the way
we think about food,
reduce food waste and
change our waistlines.
Among them is Demaio’s
Semplice–the family’s
tomato passata recipe.
“Food doesn’t need
to be complicated;
you don’t need to be
onMasterChefto be
in the kitchen making
good food to feed your
family,” says Sandro.
Almost on cue, little
Mae offers an apple from
Nonno’s orchard. “How
about one that hasn’t
been munched on?”
Narnie Lynn smiles. Mae
follows Nonno Pietro
into the orchard, picking
grapes and popping them
in her mouth as she goes.
“I see early
associations formed in
our psychology, love
and food, parents and
food, laughter and food,”
says Sandro, “I see that
with my nieces now
too, when they think
of food they think of
Narnie and Nonno.” He
knows waging a war
against obesity, taking
on multinational corporations and
governments is a David and Goliath
battle, but he’s in for the long haul
and passionate we can make change.
“Cooking and eating with friends has
amazing health beneits,” he enthuses.
“Take time, slow down, connect with
the food, enjoy the food – do that and
the world will be a better place.”AW WThe Doctor’s Dietby Allesandro Demaio
(Pan Macmillan Australia), RRP
$39.99, available from May 29, 2018.“Two-thirds of Australians are
overweight and obese, this isn’t a
problem caused by being lazy, it’s
caused by government making the
wrong decisions,” says Sandro. “We
have to make it simple and accessible
for people to drive changes in their
health and the health of their kids.”
His work inspired him to write
The Doctor’s Diet. The book is not
a traditional regimented diet, and
Sandro is at pains to point out this
is not about restricting food, it isHealthy
lifestyle