When south is a diet...

…and not a geographical direction. It’s the latest pre-occupation of women (and men) who are health- and body-conscious. It is called the South Beach Diet, named after where it originated. It’s a low-carb, no sugar program which is not really something new. Lots of women have stayed away from what this diet dictates as super no-nos–rice, white bread, pasta, pastries. What is new is that fruits and juices are not allowed during the first phase of the rigid three-phase program which can result in a drastic drop in weight which our former dietitian cautioned us about. Those who want to go into this (there’s a book available) should consult a medical practitioner and check their uric acid count, because a lot of what is recommended are purine-rich, hence not ideal for those with the prospect of aching bones etc. Women might also want to keep in mind that regular exercise will also result in that desired healthy body.

The recently-concluded World Food and Trade Expo 2004 at the World Trade Center, ably organized by Premier Events Plus, was very encouraging to those who are at a loss about how to augment the family income. Food is something a person cannot do without and in the current situation when prices go up faster than you can say "magkano", it might be more practical (and profitable) to engage in a small food business. This will now be much easier with the availability of small-scale equipment, culinary supplies including pre-mixed seasonings and a wide selection of processed meat and seafood.

To start with, one can consult Ultima Entrepinoy Livelihood and Skills Training Center in Quezon City, tel 411-1349. They conduct programs on meat processing, baking, even soap making. They have a one-stop shop, Spices and Food Mix house, tel.no. 814-0123 where most of the items required are available. Onix International sells mixers, showcase warmers, infrared gas burners, auto conveyor oil fryers. Mix Plant Inc. is involved in pre-blending which means life will be easier for someone who wants to put up a store selling breads, cookies and cakes. They have prepared mixes for buns, pan de sal, croissants, icing and toppings, marinades, sauces and beverage powder packs.

Hua San Wan Foodmart Inc., tel. 362-8172 has a more extensive line that includes snacks, preserved fruits, candies, noodles, frozen foods (siopao etc.) and canned and bottled food. Country Dried in New Manila, tel. 724-6647 has some very innovative offerings, the most interesting being Eggplant and Malunggay Powder to flavor soups and other local dishes. What we sampled was indeed a delicious blend. They have a small recipe book where we noted Ginataang Isda with Malunggay Soup Mix. Great! Taipan has a selection of sauces, barbecue etc., while Green Leaves has mixes for kakanins like kutsinta and sapin-sapin, plus ice cream favors. Most of their products are in wet markets.

This one is a great discovery–Healthy Choice nutri-drinks. The company calls their product the better alternative to chocolate and coffee. They are made of a unique blend of antioxidants–grapeseed extract, vitamin C and beta carotene. Take our word, they taste like the real things. At the Mama Sita booth, we learned that one of their versatile sauces, Caldereta, is ideal to use for tacos. Chef’s Pride has the unique cuapao bacon while Uncle Ed’s offers strictly vegetarian frozen samosas, empanadas and tikis, among others. They’ve got a selection of Mid-eastern bread– roti, naan, and paratha at between P20 and P40 each.

For the tools to send you off to a food business venture, consider the plastic containers from Prestige plus their new product, colorfully designed coffee cups in three sizes. Then there is the Shawarma machine for P15,000, and Teflon and Meyer cookware.

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