Over
many centuries oatmeal formed the basis of the Scottish diet – porridge,
brose, gruel and oatcakes together with plenty exercise kept our forebears
lean and wiry, generation after generation. The popular image of Scottish
students from rural areas was arriving at university with a bag of oatmeal
and a barrel of pickled or salted herring to see them through the term. The
traditional Lads o Pairts were thus fed through their education and many
went on to find fame not only in their native land but world-wide. But with
some 25% of 21st century Scots being deemed to be obese perhaps
it is time that we got back to the traditional Scottish diet!
The
medieval French chronicler Jean Froisart certainly found a very different
picture when he visited Scotland in 1364 as the guest of David 11, King of
Scots. He very much admired the hardiness and energy of Scottish soldiers
which he put down to their diet. I well remember being told at Primary
School of his description of how the fit Scottish soldiers fed –
‘Under the
flaps of his saddle each man carries a broad plate of metal, and behind the
saddle a little bag of oatmeal. They place the plate over the fire, mix
their oatmeal with water, and, when the plate is heated, they put a little
of the plate upon it, and make a thin cake or biscuit, which they eat to
warm their stomachs.’
The
Scottish Government are making strenuous efforts to promote healthy eating
in schools to help combat the problem. That added to providing more sporting
centres, like independent Norway, would help to stop the projected worsening
obesity problem. The announcement this week by Sports Minister Stewart
Maxwell that the Scottish Government will help fund (£7 m) a new sports
facility on the site of the former Ravenscraig steelworks is a welcome step
in the right direction.
This week’s
recipe has obviously got to be oatmeal based and Quick Orange Porridge For
Two would make a tempting breakfast treat for bairns of all ages!
Quick
Orange Porridge For Two
Ingredients:
80 g (3 oz) porridge oats; 300 ml (1/2 pint) cold unsweetened orange juice
Method:
Mix the porridge oats and orange juice in a medium sized microwave-safe
bowl. Microwave for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the orange is
absorbed. Add more orange juice if necessary. Stir and top with fresh orange
slices.
