Pareto Principle

Don’t you just love the 80/20 rule! It lets us off the hook somewhat especially when it comes to diet. Eat well 80% of the time and the other 20% we can fall off the wagon so to speak. I wonder is it that simple? The Pareto Principle suggests that 20% of effort yields 80% of results and thus the need to prioritise carefully with tasks and productivity. Not to be too confusing then if we consume a diet with 20% realfood would this mean that we are 80% there in terms of outcome… ie…better health. It would seem to be a fair deal to be honest!
 
In any case to give ourselves a headstart it really does help to be immersed in an environment that supports our efforts. Monitoring the growth of ultra processed products in the supermarkets (taking up the shelf space!) it is more and more difficult to be able to find the real stuff. Our consumption patterns are showing that we are heading past 50% ultra processed foods. Increasing evidence shows that our health problems are strongly linked with the consumption of upfs. Addictive and prolific its so hard to avoid them. Getting to a check out in a supermarket is an exercise in will power…
 
Here at The Urban Co-op we actively adhere to the 80/20 rule. Less than 20% is UPF ( specially selected with the minimal amount of ingredients.) We want to give ourselves a fighting chance to stay as well as possible. This is not about will power, it is about changing our environment to support us along the way. 

Anne Maher