Healthy eating for men

When it comes to healthy eating habits, men are the sicker sex. The best way to a man's heart (and prostate, bowel, bones, liver and kidneys) does seem to be what goes into his stomach. Hey, guys! This is a call to action for YOU!

Real men do eat for health

You blokes have got to wake up to yourselves and start eating better. Stop leaving all that nutrition stuff to the women folk, whether it's your girlfriend, wife or mum. You need to look after your health as the statistics are looking, well, pretty bad. Compared to females, you men:

• Don't live anywhere near as long
• Don't look after your health as well
• Don't see a doctor until the problem is really BAD or BIG or PAINFUL
• Carry more kilos, usually in the form of a life-threatening pot belly
• Are not well informed on nutrition, despite the huge interest in healthy eating over recent years
• Eat what's tasty and quick, regardless of whether it's greasy take-away or tummy-filling pizza
• Only change your eating habits when you get a "scare" (read heart attack or diabetes)
• Steer clear of fruit and vegetables, mainstays of a healthy diet
• Drink too much alcohol 

Food's not hard yakka

So, here are 10 easy things I reckon the average male could do to junk the rubbish:

1. Take an interest in what's on your plate
2. Cook a meal for your partner and family at least once a week
3. Do the grocery shopping occasionally
4. Let your kids see a man cooking up a storm
5. Stop kidding yourself that that pot belly is OK
6. Give the bacon cheeseburger stack a miss - order something lighter and healthier next time
7. Switch to wholemeal bread and cereals
8. Don't call salad and veggies "rabbit food" - eat and enjoy them
9. Don't salt your food before you taste it
10. Help with the kitchen clean up.

Not too hard, is it?

Your body will thank you for it. Less fat, more fibre, more vegetables and less salt all spell better health and more energy long term. They would improve a swag of health problems ranging from constipation to cholesterol.

And it's those years after 50 I'm worrying about. Not when you're 20 and think you're "invincible". That time in later life when heart disease, diabetes, gallstones and bowel problems rear their ugly heads.

That time when you want energy to keep up with the grand children or to take up a new sport or walk up all the steps of the Eiffel Tower on your trip overseas.

Good food can all help here. Just ask any woman!