With GCC countries figuring in the top 11 countries in the world for its diabetes figures, chefs based in the UAE agreed that education and government legislation is an important factor in combating the issue.
Speaking at the Caterer Chef & Ingredients forum 2013, Capital Club Dubai executive chef Cyrille Troesch said chefs can play a role by working on education in their countries. “We can make people understand the importance of eating healthy. It’s about general education.”
Freelance chef-for-hire Paul Frangie added: “It’s our jobs as chefs to educate people about healthy food. I really believe that food is medicine, and we can be healthy by eating healthy food.
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"It’s also government legislation that can really push education — to both parents and children.” He also said children need to be able to connect with food.
Okku head chef Hugh Sato said: “In this region, unfortunately diabetes is going to become a bigger problem because of too much commercial food, fizzy drinks, and a lot of sugar almost everywhere.” He pointed out that people need to make choices about eating healthy.
And while The Act Dubai head chef Roberto Gonzales said it is a difficult task to change people and the set ways in which they eat, chefs have to continue to try to alter their minds in this regard.
Frangie agreed and said: “There’s a stigma that healthy food means ‘boring’ and ‘bland’ — I challenge that. As chefs we can prove that it’s not that way.”
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