important vitamins and nutrients at this key time in their lives. People who go on crash diets usually put all the weight back on very quickly in any case. It’ s certainly small changes, therefore, and not a more drastic crash diet that are more likely to bring results. Interviewer: So what would you suggest? Claire Martin: Well, first of all you can reduce the amount of food that you put on your plate. It’ s also a good idea to watch what you drink. Drink water or sugar-free drinks and skimmed or semi-skimmed milk instead of full fat, for example. Another suggestion is to simply stop eating when full! Eating slowly can also help because it takes about 20 minutes for the brain to recognise how much food is already in the stomach. Breakfast is also very important for teens as it gives them the energy and calcium and iron they need to start their day well. But they should choose what they eat carefully! Cereal with low-fat milk and a piece of fruit, for example, is a lot healthier than a doughnut and coffee. Healthy snacking on carrot sticks, fruit or cereal bars instead of junk food such as crisps or chocolate can also help teenagers to keep up their energy levels whilst cutting down on calories. Interviewer: Thanks, Claire. Any final words of advice? Claire Martin: Yes! It’ s important to remember that losing weight can be very challenging, so you’ ll have bad days and make mistakes. When this happens, forgive yourself and move on! Above all, remember that both exercise and diet play an important role in keeping a healthy weight. And remember …. you don’ t have to do a team sport or an aerobics class to stay in shape! Again, small, simple changes, such as walking or cycling to school instead oftaking the bus, can make all the difference!
Russian festival
The Grushinsky festival is an annual Russian bard songs festival. It takes place in Samara in the Mastryk Lakes. It was started in 1968 by the Grushin bard songs club and now attracts over 80,000 people from all over the country who camp in tents on the site. Famous singers and new artists sing side by side and it is very informal and friendly.
Conventional and organic farming
Conventional farming can be harmful to the environment because it uses a lot of energy through the amount of machinery used. Also it causes harm through the amount of chemicalsbused in pesticides, fertilisers and insecticides. 2 Organic farming is better for the environment because it uses less chemicals by using natural fertilisers and flame weeders. It also uses less energy because it uses simple tools instead of lots of machinery.
Food and drink
My favourite foods are fresh fish, soups and salads. I like to drink tea and coffee as well as lots of water. What I eat depends on the weather. When it’ s hot I enjoy eating ice cream and I like to drink fizzy drinks like diet coke. When it’ s cold, I enjoy a cup of hot chocolate and hot puddings. On a typical day I eat cereal for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch and a main meal in the early evening, usually some kind of meat with pasta or rice. I think my diet is quite healthy. I try to eat a wide range of foods and I do not snack very often.
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