Hard to avoid the World Cup waistline
trap
29 June 2006 15:24 | Europe
Caroline Pike
By the time this issue of Eurofruit Magazine lands on your desk (as eagerly awaited as the first snowdrops of spring, no doubt), the World Cup may well be over. As I write this, however, I find myself in exactly the same position as I do every four years – wondering who the hell I’m going to support for the next two weeks.
This is usually because my beloved Scotland have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in a nail-biting thriller against Latvia and failed, once again, to progress past the group stages. This year, however, we did not even manage to qualify and, having drawn Italy and France in the qualifying stages of Euro2008, I fear it may be a long time until the Tartan Army will be seen, lifting their kilts and flashing their crown jewels, in a town near you.
But enough of my woes. For many, the World Cup is proving to be something of a cash cow and the fruit industry is just one sector that appears to be benefiting. UK supermarket chain Waitrose has reported a 50 per cent increase in sales of strawberries, cherries and peaches compared to the same week last year, a phenomenon the retailer is attributing to the desire of female footie fans to snack healthily during games. I have to say, I am a little dubious about such claims. I mean, how often do you hear the immortal words: “Let’s get the jackfruit in - the football’s about to start!”?
According to Italian farmers’ association Coldiretti, the average armchair supporter will pile on around 5kg during the World Cup, thanks to a diet of beer, crisps, chocolate and more beer. But weight-gain is not the only hazard that can be avoided if you reach for a plum instead of a pint. Coldiretti claims that melons and lettuce can help combat high blood pressure and nerves. However, the body also points out that melons contain “modest laxative properties” which could prove troublesome to say the least if you’ve extra time and penalties to sit through.
For those of you with teams left in the competition, I wish you every success (except England of course). And if your team doesn’t quite manage to get its hands on the coveted trophy, remember there are many ways you can console yourselves. After Scotland lost 3-0 to Morocco in Saint-Etienne during World Cup 1998, around 8,000 Scottish fans drowned their sorrows with approximately 125,000 litres of beer. Bars ran dry, and fresh supplies had to be shipped in to quench the thirst of the disappointed Scots. It makes you proud.
By the time this issue of Eurofruit Magazine lands on your desk (as eagerly awaited as the first snowdrops of spring, no doubt), the World Cup may well be over. As I write this, however, I find myself in exactly the same position as I do every four years – wondering who the hell I’m going to support for the next two weeks.
This is usually because my beloved Scotland have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in a nail-biting thriller against Latvia and failed, once again, to progress past the group stages. This year, however, we did not even manage to qualify and, having drawn Italy and France in the qualifying stages of Euro2008, I fear it may be a long time until the Tartan Army will be seen, lifting their kilts and flashing their crown jewels, in a town near you.
But enough of my woes. For many, the World Cup is proving to be something of a cash cow and the fruit industry is just one sector that appears to be benefiting. UK supermarket chain Waitrose has reported a 50 per cent increase in sales of strawberries, cherries and peaches compared to the same week last year, a phenomenon the retailer is attributing to the desire of female footie fans to snack healthily during games. I have to say, I am a little dubious about such claims. I mean, how often do you hear the immortal words: “Let’s get the jackfruit in - the football’s about to start!”?
According to Italian farmers’ association Coldiretti, the average armchair supporter will pile on around 5kg during the World Cup, thanks to a diet of beer, crisps, chocolate and more beer. But weight-gain is not the only hazard that can be avoided if you reach for a plum instead of a pint. Coldiretti claims that melons and lettuce can help combat high blood pressure and nerves. However, the body also points out that melons contain “modest laxative properties” which could prove troublesome to say the least if you’ve extra time and penalties to sit through.
For those of you with teams left in the competition, I wish you every success (except England of course). And if your team doesn’t quite manage to get its hands on the coveted trophy, remember there are many ways you can console yourselves. After Scotland lost 3-0 to Morocco in Saint-Etienne during World Cup 1998, around 8,000 Scottish fans drowned their sorrows with approximately 125,000 litres of beer. Bars ran dry, and fresh supplies had to be shipped in to quench the thirst of the disappointed Scots. It makes you proud.
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