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We dedicate this cookbook to all the beautiful Pacific Islanders out there who love food and love life. You can’t have one without the other, but your enjoyment of each depends on balance. Many of us are turning away from the most perfect, healthy, natural and nutritious foods that thrive on our islands. Instead, we are eating nutrient poor, packaged foods, high in unhealthy fats, added sugar and salt. These foods are making our lives less beautiful; they are making us sick.
Every day, Pacific Islanders die from non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as heart disease and diabetes, because of unhealthy diets and unwise lifestyle changes. In turning away from the traditional Pacific lifestyle and diet, we are inviting NCDs into our lives and our children’s lives. Many of the young generation are growing up surrounded by NCD risk factors such as obesity, not enough physical activity and unhealthy diets.
These risk factors and diseases can be prevented. Eating a balanced and healthy diet, exercising every day and refraining from eating unhealthy foods and behaviours like smoking cigarettes, betel nut chewing and drinking too much alcohol or kava can help protect our health and let us live life to its fullest.
Whether you’re living in the islands or spreading your Pacific flavour abroad, we hope this cookbook inspires you and your family to live a healthy life, full of nutritious Pacific foods. Live Healthy, Stay Healthy!