Author: National Ploughing Association

#NDCDome at #ploughing: Block 3/ Row 21/ Stand 306

Broadcaster and designer Brendan Courtney joins the National Dairy Council at the National Ploughing Championships on Wednesday 24th September from 12 noon until 3.00pm.   He will launch two new consumer leaflets on ‘Nutrition and You’ for adults and for children from the NDC which are supported by the INDI (Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute).

Brendan will be live on stage in conversation with Dr. Catherine Logan on ‘Being the Best Version of You’ with guidance on healthy eating, activity, grooming, fashion and communication (12 noon, 1.30pm and 2.00pm).

Celebrating World School Milk Day

Wednesday 24th September is also World School Milk Day, designated by the UN (United Nations, FAO), providing a platform for the NDC to highlight its role in the School Milk Scheme.

“National surveys showed that 42% of Irish teenage girls and 23% of Irish teenage boys have insufficient calcium intakes; and that 37% of girls and 28% of boys aged from 5 – 12 years of age in Ireland had insufficient calcium intakes in their diet,” says Caroline O’Donovan, Nutritionist with the NDC.

“These trends are worrying.   Milk is among the best dietary sources of calcium and the School Milk Scheme has a significant role to play in terms of influencing dietary habits and thereby helping alleviate some of the nutrition related public health issues facing Irish society,” says Caroline O’Donovan.
“Children and teenagers need effective encouragement to switch to healthier eating and snacking habits and to get back to the basics of the Food Pyramid.”

A team of TY students from Ard Scoil na Tríonóide, Rathstewart, Athy, Co. Kildare who won the top prize in the National Dairy Council’s Milk It Awards in May 2014, will see their winning project featured in a television advert ‘sMoolicious’ on TV3/3e, to coincide with World School Milk Day.

Dairy Diversity & Action Packed Programme at NDC Dome

Chef Phelim Byrne will showcase the many versatile ways we can enjoy Irish milk, yogurt, cheese, butter and cream in some tasty recipe ideas at four free cookery demonstrations each day of the ploughing.  They are taking place in the NDC Dome at 11.00am, 1.00pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm, with themes including “Baking Bliss,” “Love The Leftovers,”  “Meals in Minutes” and “Afternoon Tea.”

Food and farming broadcaster Suzanne Campbell and eight-time All-Ireland hurling Champion Eddie Brennan will be with the National Dairy Council at the ploughing on Thursday, 25th September, from 12 noon until 3.00pm.

You can find out more about the work of the National Dairy Council on its website www.ndc.ie.  You can also find the National Dairy Council on Facebook/NDCIreland or follow on Twitter @NDC_ie

Turning up the heat on pests!

To celebrate its pest control heritage and 80 years’ experience in providing professional pest control services throughout Ireland, Rentokil will unveil a ‘Pop-Up Pestaurant’ at the National Ploughing Championship this September 23rd to 25th at Ratheniska, Stradbally, Co Laois.

Over the three day event, which is the pinnacle of the Irish agriculture calendar, Rentokil will be serving up an array of exotic cuisine including edible insects such as Salted Weaver Ants, BBQ Mole Crickets and Chocolate-dipped Worms to celebrate the hard work that goes into keeping Irish pests under control.
The UN’s Food & Agriculture Organisation have tipped insects as a potentially valuable source of food for the world’s rapidly growing population.
Farmers may be interested to hear how insects also have a high ‘feed conversion rate’, meaning that they can be farmed using relatively little land, water and energy compared to livestock. Many insects are rich in protein, zinc, calcium and iron whilst also being low in fat.

Food at the Pestaurant will be free to all, and a number of Rentokil experts will be on-hand to discuss the food being served, answer any pest-related questions from members of the public and pass on their top tips for avoiding pest problems. Today Rentokil is the largest and most trusted provider of pest control services in Ireland.
Michael O’ Mahoney, MD Rentokil Initial Ireland, said:“The Pestaurant is all about celebrating the hard work that goes into keeping Ireland’s pests under control. Common Irish pests like wasps, mice, rats, bed bugs, cockroaches, fleas and pigeons can become problems for anyone, Stand Location: Rentokil Initial Block 3 Row 32 Stand 570 and can affect both the farming community and commercial and residential properties.

Much like the rest of us, they are focused on looking for food and shelter. Once they find a good supply of food and an environment where they feel safe, then they will happily set-up home indefinitely. The Pestaurant is here to raise awareness of common pest issues and demonstrate our commitment to keeping up the heat on Ireland’s pests.”

All of the edible insects and grubs are properly sourced and are nut-free and gluten free. However, some insects have been known to provide reactions among those who are allergic to shellfish and crustaceans, so people who suffer from this allergy are advised not to sample edible insects.

Foodie Facts about edible insects:

1. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, over two billion people worldwide already supplement their diet with insects
2. 100g of crickets contains just 121 calories, compared to 288 calories in the same amount of beef
3. Common house crickets contain four times as much protein as the same weight of chicken
4. Cattle require twelve times more feed to produce the same amount of protein as crickets
5. The correct term for eating insects is ‘entomophagy’
6. Many insects contain substantial levels of macro-minerals such as magnesium, sodium, potassium and chloride. They are also good sources of the trace minerals of iron, zinc, copper, manganese and selenium.

Pestaurant Menu in full:
Savoury:

• Salt and vinegar crickets
• Crispy BBQ mealworms
• Plain roasted locusts
• Plain roasted mealworms
• Plain roasted crickets
• Mexican spice mealworms
• Curry crickets

Sweet

• Chocolate-covered mixed bugs
• Chocolate bug bars
• Scorpion lollipops (assorted flavours)
• Mealworm lollipops (assorted flavours)
• Cricket lollipops (assorted flavours)
• Ant candy (Cherry flavour)
• Ant candy (Apple flavours)