NEWS
PHARMA DYNAMICS' NEW GATSBY
From left: SA’s first heart-healthy Gatsby revealed in the wake of National Nutrition Week
receives a thumbs up from Jessica Bacon (HSFSA), Heleen Meyer (author of Cooking from the
Heart), Mariska Fouche (Pharma Dynamics) and Wayne McKay (comedian)
In a challenge set by Pharma Dynamics
during National Nutrition Week
(9 to 16 October) the Gatsby had a
makeover courtesy of Heleen Meyer, wellknown cookbook author and food
specialist, and the Heart and Stroke
Foundation South Africa (HSFSA).
The Gatsby is an oversized sandwich
typically stuffed with hot chips, meat and
spicy sauce.
Jessica Bacon, Registered Dietician
with HSFSA, explains that the average
Gatsby contains 6 200 kilojoules (kj). “This
provides almost three quarters of daily
energy (kilojoule) needs and more than
half of the recommended saturated fat
intake based on an average 8 400 kJ diet.
It also provides almost the entire
maximum daily allowance for salt, which
Facts
1 in 3 South Africans are living with high
blood pressure making them more susceptible to
life-threatening diseases such as stroke and
heart disease;
130 heart attacks occur every day – that’s
five people every hour and 240 strokes occur
daily – that’s 10 people every hour.
80% of deaths due to heart disease and
stroke could be prevented by people making
healthy lifestyle choices*
(*According to the HSFSA)
6 | NOVEMBER 2013 frontShop
should be limited to no more than five
grams (one teaspoon) per day.”
Heleen Meyer, author of Cooking from
the Heart, says the challenge to overhaul
the local favourite Gatsby was one of the
more interesting food challenges she has
been tasked with.
“Most fast food meals can be turned
into a simple, lean and healthier version
by making some modifications. In this
instance I’ve replaced traditionally deepfried chips with oven-baked chips, polony
with baked beans and lean red meat, and
I’ve added fresh ginger, lemon juice and
masala for extra flavour. These
modifications translates into a delicious,
nutritious Gatsby that is lower in total fat,
unhealthy saturated fat and salt, and
higher in fibre, making it a better choice
for the heart,” says Meyer.
The heart-healthy Gatsby is also more
affordable than traditional Gatsbies
ranging in price from R25 to R45 per
portion.
Pharma Dynamics set the challenge to
promote the importance of a healthy and
balanced diet in keeping diseases of
lifestyle at bay. According to spokesperson
for Pharma Dynamics, Mariska Fouche,
the challenge is in line with the company’s
on-going drive to promote healthy eating
via its popular Cooking from the Heart
initiative – a free online recipe book
did you know
Almost half (48.0%) of adult South
Africans eat outside the home, and 28.7%
reporting doing so monthly, 20.3% more
than once a month, and 28.3% weekly*
(*According to the HSFSA)
containing more than 70 heart-healthy
local dishes, which forms part of its
umbrella campaign, called
iChange4Health.
“More than 40% of all deaths in the
country are attributed to chronic diseases
of lifestyle, such as cardiovascular
disease, cancer, hypertension and
diabetes, and most of these are
preventable if changes are made to the
way we live and attention is given to what
we eat,” says Fouche.
Nutritional information per portion:
Average Gatsby
Healthier Gatsby
Energy (kJ)
6 200
2147
Total fat (g)
70
18.5
Saturated fat (g)
12.5
5.8
Fibre (g)
2.1
10.1
Sodium (mg)
1 740
751