Food, glorious food! And...exercise 🙄

GA Day 78 (Feb 18, 2024). One of the things I was a bit ambivalent about in coming to Brazil was adjusting to eating and customs around foods here. Most people who know me appreciate how peculiar I am when it comes to food items I like, dislike, or just have a challenge with. I am always wanting to eat Keto-ish and, when at home, do pretty well cutting out carbs, especially unrefined sugars. Textures of foods often turn me off. For instance, while I like the flavour of bananas and can eat them in cooked food like a banana loaf I cannot eat them raw - I feel like I am choking. I was once told that this might be indicative of an impending latex allergy, given the plants share similar genetics; however, I have been OK in latex environments. As it turns out bananas are a very sugary food so not such a great loss for me from a diet perspective. And while I love tapioca pudding, the thought of caviar grosses me out as does the slurpy bits of oysters, mussels, and clams.

Since coming to Brazil, I have actually done very well adapting to new foods and eating other foods I have been texturally challenged with. Avocados and guacamole were something I did not warm up to before here but when freshly made with nicely ripened ingredients it is such a different experience. I have had guacamole dip for appetizer at supper and then on toast for breakfast. There is no shortage of fresh fruit and produce at this time of the year, and the local farmer’s market on Wednesday and Saturday mornings means a regular supply. And contrary to the stereotype perpetuated by restaurants and advertising in Canada endless meat on swords is not a thing here or, at least, not so far in my experience. I have yet to experience my first Brazilian BBQ - two offers are on the horizon.

Brazilians certainly do like meat with their main meals - essentially they eat the same things we have at home…chicken, beef, and pork. And lots and lots of seafood. While oysters will remain off my personal menu they are a huge thing in Florianópolis given the oyster farm industry between south Santa Catarina island and the mainland. There is an abundance and great variety of fresh fish everywhere and an endless supply of shrimp. Fortunately, I do like most fish, especially white fishes and salmon. And I think I have eaten more shrimp in the weeks I have been here than in the whole last year - that includes on the cruises where I had double portions of shrimp cocktail for almost every meal! There is a “fishman” who sells many types of fresh and frozen seafood at the farmer’s market but to get a real selection one must go to the public market in centro Floripa. There you will see squid, octopi, shark, and other things I have no desire to ingest.

Lunch is the big meal of the day in Brazil and this is a routine I quite enjoy. First, it nicely breaks up the day for two productive halves…excepting, of course, for the post-prandial nod. And second, at least for me, it means food will be well-digested before bedtime. Not sure if it has been scientifically proven, but it seems to me that having this routine must be good to ensure full digestion and result in less instance of gastric-esophageal reflux episodes at night. Lunch is usually served a bit later than at home (about 1 to 2 p.m.) and then supper is also served a bit later in the evening.

One thing that is a bit of a challenge for me here is the amount of starchy carbs that are served with most meals. Almost every lunch and supper will involve rice and/or potatoes - in restaurants it is not uncommon to get both and fries. As well, for breakfast and sometimes for other meals there will be bread. At first I felt obligated to eat these items to fit in but of late have started to wean off them. And then there are pastries and wonderful gelato to be had….I do try to resist but sometimes have the need to reward myself. The other inescapable addition to food is the amount of salt that is added to everything. This is a problem for me in the control of my blood pressure but it is so surprising that so much salt is used given that hypertension and cardiac consequences are, apparently, a problem in the Brazilian population just as it is at home. And there is usually not a pepper mill to be seen.

One observation I made early on is there seems to be a relatively low obesity rate here. Part of this likely is diet related since, although there are lots of carbs, the meals do tend to be balanced and people consume smaller portions. I have only seen one McDonalds here and not much else in the way of fast food outlets  like home. The other is that most people here seem pretty active. Within about 4 blocks of the condo where I am staying there are 4 gyms, one which is an intense crossfit centre that is always packed; all the other gyms have a steady stream of people going in and out. As well, most mornings when I go out for my long walks there are many people out walking, running, and cycling. Along many of the pathways are outdoor mini-gyms where groups of people are doing their thing with weights, aerobic machines, and resistance machines. And another observation is that there seem to be very few smokers compared to the other South American countries and at home; far fewer young people seem to smoke or vape.

For my part, I have been ramping up my exercise with long walks most days. If I do not make it to the beach to do about 6 - 7 km and a swim, I have established some regular walking routes that now extend anywhere between 10 and 14 km. One day this past week I did over 14 km from the condo along what I call the “Portobello Trail” but, in reality, is sponsored by a company of that name. It is a nice walk as a large portion of it is along the Bornhaussen Boulevard that follows the shoreline around Florianópolis city centre. Between my walking, healthier diet, and changed eating pattern I seem to be shedding the pounds as evidenced by the fit of my clothes…and comments from people who are noticing it. As well, my blood pressure is now the lowest it has been in quite a while, no doubt due to the drop in weight and regular exercise but likely also related to a more balanced work schedule and not being physically back in the workplace. Among the benefits of being in Floripa and missing an entire Canadian prairie winter is the ability to be outside every single day - I have not enjoyed this much outdoor exercise and fresh air since having lived in Vancouver. Yup - there is something truly healthier about coastal living.