Swan Thursday is the joy of the Cypriot gourmand! In fact, this year when the weather does us a favor to be spring, it is the ideal opportunity to take out the grill in the yard or even on the terrace, to invite friends and… let the coals burn!
In the beginning it is the choice of raw materials!
The basis for a delicious table is the selection of suitable meat and side dishes. So when buying meat (lamb, chicken, turkey, goat, pork or beef) keep in mind that:
The meat should always be available under refrigeration of 2 - 5 degrees Celsius for fresh and at a temperature of - 18 degrees Celsius or lower for frozen meat. Meat should never be stored in open, non-refrigerated areas.
Look for the health check marks that show that the competent veterinary services have done the required check.
For all domestically produced carcases, the suitability mark is "turquoise" ("bright blue", color E 133) and has an oval or round shape with the slaughterhouse approval number. A rectangular stamp must indicate the country of origin, "ELLAS" or "EL".
For carcases originating in Community countries, the mark of suitability shall be 'turquoise' ('bright blue', dye E 133) or 'red' ('allura red', dye E 129) and shall be oval or round in shape, indicating the slaughterhouse approval number. A rectangular stamp must bear the initials of the name of the Community country of origin.
Carcases imported from third countries, of Greek or non-Greek slaughter, must bear all the stamps in "brown" color (dye E 155), ie the seal of suitability (oval or round) and a rectangular stamp with the name of the third country.
The carcases of bovine animals must, in addition to the seal of conformity, be accompanied by an additional label in the form of a special waterproof label which is firmly attached to the carcase. This additional labeling of bovine animals must include the animal identification code, date of slaughter, country of birth, breeding country and country of slaughter.
In the case of beef that comes from animals born, raised and slaughtered in Greece, it should be written on the label "country of origin Greece" and the label should have a "blue sky" color box. Turkeys are available for sale either fresh (packaged or not) or frozen.
Fresh turkeys should be kept refrigerated at 2-4 degrees Celsius and never in open uncooled areas. Frozen foods should be kept in a freezer - 18 degrees or lower.
Fresh domestic unpackaged turkeys must be entrained (gutted), without feathers and marked with a fitness mark (either in the form of a seal or, more commonly, on a disposable card, properly placed on the meat).
Packaged fresh or frozen turkeys must bear the health mark of the country of origin and the date of consumption (placed above or below the package or wrapper, in a legible manner).
Frozen poultry, which come in group packages and are sold unpackaged, may be sold without an individual indication, provided that the indications on the second package have been transferred to the freezer display case.
The placing on the market of poultry products (poultry, eggs, etc.) with indications of their specific mode of production (eg "free range", "organic farming", etc.) must be accompanied by the specialist, according case, a signal issued by OPEGEP. - AGROCERT in certified farms or facilities.
For the cheese products that will complement your table, pay attention:
Packaged cheeses must bear an identification mark (oval stamp) with the initials of the country of production and the manufacturer's approval number. Also, the date of minimum shelf life should be indicated on the package.
Cheeses should be stored in the refrigerator.
Products containing vegetable fats (instead of animal fats) are NON-DAIRY PRODUCTS and must be sold separately from dairy products.
Tasty suggestions for hard roasters
And while meats have their place on Swan Thursday, there are alternatives such as vegetables, fish and other ingredients, if you want to give a healthier note this year, for easy and quick dishes, as long as you know the art of cooking.
Yes to alcohol, but in moderation
On Swan Thursday we will all definitely have a drink. But be careful because alcohol not only offers 'empty' calories in the sense that they are not accompanied by nutrients, it also increases our appetite and reduces our resistance resulting in eating more.
So if you drink, prefer wine or beer that contains less alcohol or alternatively combine your drink with soda or soft drink with few calories and make it last longer.
A trick to avoid excessive alcohol consumption is to consume water at the same time. This will reduce your intake and at the same time avoid the dehydration caused by alcohol.
If you are taking medication consult your doctor and read the instructions carefully as they may interact with alcohol.
Never drink on an empty stomach and never drive after drinking.
Tips for vulnerable gourmets!
If you have diabetes and are taking insulin or anti-diabetic tablets, be especially careful with alcohol as it may cause or aggravate hypoglycaemia. The risk of hypoglycemia increases especially if you drink on an empty stomach.
Maximum alcohol consumption for women is one unit and for men two. One unit of alcohol is equivalent to a glass of wine, or a beer, with 25 ml of vodka, or whiskey as well as 50 ml of liqueur, or vermouth.
Do you have any indication that you are diabetic and / or why a possible hypoglycemia can be confused with intoxication?
If you are on insulin therapy and are going out for a meal later than you normally do, shift the injection time around the meal time.
Eat a snack instead of the original meal to avoid hypoglycemia. If you have any doubts about adjusting the timing of the injections, consult your doctor.
If you suffer from hypertension, keep in mind that excessive salt intake regulates blood pressure, so be sure to avoid salty sins. There are salt substitutes on the market that you can resort to after consulting your doctor.
Do not let the relaxation of the day spoil your medication schedule. If you do not take your medication as recommended by your doctor, it is as if you are not taking it at all, since in order for it to work, it needs to be at constant levels in the body.
If you are taking diuretics, beware of excessive alcohol consumption, which also has a diuretic effect and their combination can lead to a hypotensive crisis.
If you suffer from gastritis or ulcers, you should pay special attention to Swan Thursday, because there is a tendency from the world to exaggerate in the use of spices and in the preparation of heavy and fatty foods that literally taste our stomach. Do not be ashamed to inform the hosts to include in the menu something lighter for you. Alcohol is also known to be aggravating and irritating to the stomach and is therefore as good as you can avoid it.
If you have stingy cholesterol or triglycerides, then what has been said above about avoiding fat and unnecessary calories concerns you more than anyone else. In addition, make sure you regularly take the medication recommended by your doctor and consume large amounts of fruits and vegetables. Red wine is the ideal drink for you, but again in moderation (1-2 glasses at most). In fact, if you have particularly high triglycerides, then alcohol is prohibitive.
SOS tips for after...
And because a delicious meal can have a bad ending… with bloating, indigestion and heartburn, we have an important reason to be especially careful every time we fill our plate.
The main reason that after a meal we end up with the above unpleasant symptoms is because our stomach receives more food than the usual amount we have in our daily diet. This results in the production of larger amounts of gastric acids to digest the food, which when they find a way out, cause the unpleasant feeling of heartburn, bloating and intestinal gas.
If you want to get rid of these symptoms, then:
Drink plenty of water.
Avoid over-consumption of carbonated beverages.
Chew slowly.
Include green salads in your meals. Prefer to consume them before other meals, in order to reduce the feeling of hunger.
Avoid lying down or engaging in strenuous activities after eating. If you want to facilitate digestion, take a slow, slow walk.
Do not smoke immediately after eating.
And if the above tips do not work, then a good solution is to use preparations that suppress reflux. These preparations are administered without a prescription and their main advantage is the speed of relief they offer. Alginates belong to this category.
These preparations are proven to be effective as they act by forming a layer that "floats" over the contents of the stomach, thus creating a natural barrier (wall) between the stomach fluids (acids) and the esophagus, thus suppressing reflux.
Their mode of action allows them to bring results within 3-5 minutes of taking, while their important advantage is that they can be administered in conjunction with any other treatment, in order to achieve an overall treatment of the symptoms and the patient to be immediately relieved. .
Alginates are recommended in the treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux for the treatment of mild symptoms, they are suitable for the treatment of persistent postprandial and night symptoms, while they can be taken without fear by pregnant women and the elderly.
If, however, you still feel "swollen", bloated, and have gas, ie you have flatulence, then the solution is products that contain simethicone.
Simethicone has a fast action for immediate results and is recommended by the Society for Medical Studies. It is suitable for pregnant women, lactating women, diabetics and children from 6 years old. No side effects have been reported and may be co-administered with medications for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or constipation.
It is ideal for combating bloating after eating, as it does not belong to the category of antacids (ie it does not contain aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide) which are widely used incorrectly, but prevent digestion.
Simethicone, which is widely used for many years to treat this problem in many other countries, is not absorbed by the body, so it has an excellent safety profile. It works naturally, neutralizing the gases that are trapped inside the gastrointestinal tract in a very short time (less than 15 minutes), immediately relieving the discomfort they cause while giving a flat stomach.
Source: health.in.gr