I love street food. The different tastes and smells all in one place is heaven. Maybe it's something to do with the fact that I did not have to slave over the cooker to make this wonderful food that is passing through my lips. Really can't put that down to being a mum but it is a big factor!
So you can imagine my shock to read an article recently proposing the idea that our love street food and street 'junk' food in particular is actually making us fat. The article pointed fingers at that organic hotdog on brioche bread with lashings of onion,chillies and sauce (A favourite for my kids!); the double lamb burger again with brioche buns and slaw (that only seems to taste amazing outside of the house); the sweet potato fries with garlic mayo on the side or 'homemade' ketchup.
Yes these are all favourite street food, farmer's market, and food festival favourites not just for adults for also for kids.
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| Large Chocolate Churro |
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| Deluxe Hotdog made with Bratwurst Sausages in French Bread |
The article made the point that unless food is made from scratch at home, we have no control over the salt, sugar or fat that is used to make that hotdog, burger or pork bun. Therefore, we could and are in most cases eating twice if not three times the amount of calories in one meal than for the same thing made at home. It does concede that the quality of the street/festival/farmer's market 'junk' food is probably excellent. Which is why a lot of us enjoy eating it so much. The main thing to remember I guess is that a treat is a treat and therefore if you have a treat, it should be just that. A once in a few weeks event and not a regular habit. I guess we all need to be conscious of what and how much we eat.
I still maintain that going to farmer's markets/street food festivals is a great way to introduce kids to different food tastes. But I suppose the trick with kids and to a certain extent with ourselves when attending these events is timing. It is probably better to go around lunch time or late afternoon so that the hotdog becomes lunch or that burger becomes an early dinner instead of the snack in between lunch and dinner. That's one way to keep down the calorie count!
In the meantime we can practice that new habit with these upcoming Festivals
Star of Bethnal Green Party Street Party 2017
londonfoodmonth.co.uk
Lunch anyone?
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