A Better Diet for Scotland

Abstract

In an attempt both to identify the origins of today's harmful food habits and to learn useful lessons from good ones, a backward look is taken at the Scots diet of past centuries. In view of the apparent contrast between the vigour of the rural Scots from around 1800 onwards and the generally poor health record today, a plea is made for a return to a simpler diet, modified to suit modern palates, but essentially based on the old rural pattern of wholegrain cereals and dairy foods supplemented by potatoes, pulses, vegetables and fruits, eggs, fish and occasional or small amounts of meat; and this plan is “defended” on the counts of nutrition and health, economy, creativity, conservation, and compassion in the face of world hunger.