Israeli Parliament Leads the Way to Good Nutrition

Healthy eating means different things to different people. Some add more fruits and vegetables to their diets but keep eating lots of sweets. Others cut out trans fats but forget about adding whole grains.

While many Israelis have been adding salads and whole grains to their diets, they continue to munch on salty snacks and rugelach. They're actually eating more healthy foods. But at the same time, they're still eating their favorite un-healthy ones.

A recent survey found that 81.7% of Israelis agree that "eating healthy food is very important." But when asked if they actually eat healthy foods, only 62.4% of the respondents said that they were serious about doing it. While sales of olive oil, whole grains and other more healthy foods have increased, there hasn't been a decrease in sales of highly processed foods that are often high in fat, simple carbohydrates, sugar and salt.

But now our Knesset (parliament) leaders are now trying to set a good example for us. They're adding healthy foods and eliminating bad ones from their official meeting menus. We may not agree with their politics, but at least they seem to be on the right track with nutrition.

Cabinet secretary Zvi Hauser pulled high-fat bourekas and rugelach from the menu during government meetings. In their place, ministers are now served granola, hard-cooked eggs, low-fat yogurt and cheese, whole grain bread and fruits and vegetables. Sweetened soda has been replaced with water.

Of course, like all of us, Knesset members have their own preferences "after hours". Kadima head Tzipi Livni snacks on candy bars and salty snacks, though she says she's trying to eat more fruits and vegetables. Prime Minister Netanyahu enjoys fruit, vegetables, raisins and nuts. Foreign Minister Lieberman serves tap water, fruit and pretzels at his meetings. Then there's Defense Minister Barak, who eats raw lemons, unshelled pumpkin seeds and salty cheese. He's also known for his habit of eating food off of other people's plates. (See if he'll ever be invited to my house!)

Good nutrition means more than just adding healthy foods. You've got to stop eating the un-healthy ones as well. If the cabinet secretary can get our often unruly Knesset members to eat right, we certainly can do just as well, if not better with our own families.