Many of the dishes in this site are to fill hungry stomachs as cheaply as possible and to provide enough calories for those who laboured hard in the fields, down coalmines or in factories. This means the recipes tend to be heavy in carbohydrates, refined sugar and fat. Even for those not involved in such hard labour, the absence of motorised transport meant that those that couldn’t afford horses or horse drawn carriages had to walk – often long distances.
For contemporary diets, where the vast majority of us have somewhat sedentary jobs, such dishes are more likely to lead to obesity, diabetes and associated diseases of the heart and liver. These dishes, therefore, should be seen as occasional treats unless you’re prepared to go for a serious jog or spend a few hours in a gym. However, although sugar is of no nutritional value and can lead to a higher risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and fatty liver disease, animal fats have, in recent years, proved to be perfectly healthy as they are high in mono-unsaturated fat and contain Omega 3. They help the absorption of vitamins, can boost the immune system and lower cholestorol. There are also benefits in cooking methods as animal fats such as lard or goose fat don’t oxidise at high temperatures, unlike most cooking oils. They are still very high in calories however, so for those watching their weight they should be eaten very occasionally.
