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Canarian cuisine is a fusion of native Guanche, Spanish, Latin American and African foods. Because of the warm climate light meals are usually eaten as they are more easy to digest. Fish, fruit and fresh vegetables form the main diet with meat used in stews or eaten as steaks.

FOOD

Plantain Bananas
The Canary Islands are Europe's only plantain banana exporter. These delicious bananas are small and aromatic and are usually fried, they are very common in the West Indies. Mousse de Gofio is a desert made from gofio (grain flour), miel de palma (palm honey) and plantains and is absolutely delicious.

Tapas
Tapas is a Spanish concept, usually eaten before lunch or dinner with a beer or glass of wine. Tapa is a small light piece of food presented as a canape, pincho (on a stick) or as a mini-dish of a tradition recipe.

Papas Arrugadas or Papa Sancochada
Often used as a tapa, this is a dish of potatoes which have been boiled in very salty water and then served with mojo picon, a cold spicy sauce made with chilli, garlic, paprika and oil.

Arepas
These are tortas (Mexican sandwich) made from fine corn flour and filled with meat, cheese or sweet mango.

Fish
With fish being caught locally, you will find fish and seafood widely used in local and international dishes. Varieties of fish include sea bass, white sea bream, mackerel, parrot fish, wreckfish, damselfish and bogue. Fish is usually prepared in one of three ways - covered in salt, baked, fried or jareado (sun-dried and then seasoned). A popular fish dish from Tenerife is Sancocho Canario, a salted white fish served in a 'mojo' sauce.

Sampling the varied cuisine of the Canary Islands is a must when on one of the many travel deals available to these amazing islands.

DRINK

Beer
The Canary Islands have three locally brewed beers which are Dorada, Reina and Tropical.

Wine
Winemaking is a part of Canarian tradition. Many local people make their own wine with fruit from their own vines. The traditional sweet Malmsey wine is produced in the volcanic fields on Lanzarote.

Rum
Gran Canaria is well known for its rum factories. Ronmiel (honeyed rum) is a sweet drink made from rum and honey.

Barraquito
Also known as barraco, this is a coffee speciality from the Canary Islands and is very popular on Tenerife and La Palma. A barraquito is made from coffee, milk, condensed milk and a syrupy liquer called Cuarenta y Tres (43).

The Canary Islands are blessed with great weather, beautiful beaches, plenty of history, culture and traditional and welcoming friendly people who will go out of their way to make sure you enjoy your package holidays to these wonderful islands.

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Water constitutes 60 per cent of your body. It is present in your skin, hair and even in your teeth and bones. Water acts as a universal solvent that dissolves minerals and other compounds and carries them throughout your body. Water carries nutrients and other necessary building materials to each cell in the body, besides being an integral part of the cells themselves. Water is critical to the body's chemical reactions and also removes impurities from the blood stream and vital organs.

Water acts as an ideal cushion between joints, organs and sensitive tissues. It maintains pressure on the optic nerves enabling vision, helps to stabilize blood pressure and regulate body temperature. It also cools the body by getting converted into water vapour due to body heat.

Did you know that your body loses about 1,000 ml of water daily through sweating and by passing urine? This amount needs to be replenished daily by drinking fluids and food that contain moisture. Drinking eight glasses of water a day is a must to keep the cleaning and cooling systems of the body in prime condition.

Alcohol

Unfortunately, drinking is too often associated with hard liquor, beer or wine. However, it is wiser to opt for non-alcoholic beverages and water. Juices and squashes are better than aerated drinks. If you do drink alcohol, it should be in moderation. One drink means a small peg of hard liquor, a single cocktail, or a glass or two of wine or beer. But remember to eat before you consume alcohol. Ifyou have not eaten for the last couple of hours, the liver's capacity to handle liquor will diminish, thereby increasing the effect of alcohol on your body.

For most people, two drinks in less than an hour will affect their judgment. After four standard drinks, a person loses all emotional control and eight drinks will affect your vision. Any more than this and the person could go totally haywire.

If you are hoping to lose weight, then your daily wine is a soul mate you can do without. Whether you like it or not, the fact remains that alcohol is fattening. Before you guzzle some more, cast an eye on the number of calories you take in with each sip. On an average, a peg of whiskey has 97 calories while a vodka martini will add anywhere between 105-125 calories to your frame. If you are fond of liquers, be prepared for at least 75-100 calories and with beer, anywhere between 90-145 calories.

While alcohol consumed in moderate quantities i.e. controlled and regulated drinking, is an accepted part of urban lifestyles today and may not necessarily be harmful, the consumption of excess liquor can be extremely damaging to one's health as well as one's mental equilibrium.