Columnist Niki Bezzant helps you make the healthiest food choices. Photo / 123RF
Columnist Niki Bezzant helps you make the healthiest food choices. Photo / 123RF
As we say goodbye to 2019 and welcome in 2020, it's a good time to catch up on the very best of the Herald columnists we enjoyed reading over the last 12 months. From politics to sport, from business to entertainment and lifestyle, these are the voices and views ouraudience loved the most. Today it's the top five from Herald on Sunday food columnist Niki Bezzant.
A simple trick could help us lose weight
Many of us struggle with dieting and weight loss - but it turns out, our environment plays a huge role in how we behave. Looking at a two-year study in a Boston hospital's staff cafeteria, it was found food choices were affected by two things: traffic-light labelling on foods and changes in how foods were displayed. Niki Bezzant reckons this "choice architecture" is something that should be further investigated.
Food for cognitive thought
The thought of losing our cognitive function – dementia, Alzheimer's and all its associated pain and distress – is usually one of the most scary things when we think about getting older. But studies have found that if you really want to protect your brain, spending money on healthy food rather than supplements is the best idea.
When it comes to food shopping, many of us are dedicated label readers - but we don't always have time to scrutinise every single one. However, the best shortcut could be to avoid labels altogether - and stick to fresh and healthy wholefoods.
How to be an ethical eater without giving up everything you love
The hidden ingredient that's as dangerous as sugar
Most of us know, by now, that cutting down on sugar is a good thing; we are probably trained to look for it when we shop. However, salt may not be getting the attention it deserves - and it's often hidden in the ingredients list.
