Not that you would bring your low carb ?How To? book with you to Mauritius, but just in case you thought you could get started on your low carb diet while you were here, think again!

Mauritius is a notorious haven for carb lovers. Not only is it a sugar producing island but it has some of the best carbs in the world disguised as uniquely Mauritian cuisine.

Just to give you an idea of how futile it would be to go ?ow carb? here, imagine how breakfast starts off in most Mauritian homes. Centuries of French influence have perfected the ?baguette? with a crunchy, golden crust and pillowy soft interior. You?ll find a line up for it in the morning at most local bakeries or it?ll probably be brought to your front door by a man on a bike for only RS 4 !

The streets are also carb treacherous...regardless of which town, you will always find street vendors selling delicious, savoury goodies like gateau arwi (deep fried arwi balls) or roti and dohl puree (classic whole wheat breads, flattened and fried on a grill) served hot with a dab of vegetable puree.

Lunch and dinner are also relentless carb villains, posing a special threat of ?min frit?, a stir fried egg noodle dish ? varieties of which can include vegetables, chicken, pork and shrimp? or ?briani? ? Mauritian style with chicken, fish or meat marianated in special traditional spices and baked in fragrant rice.

Lurking around the corner is dessert. On the top of the ?most-wanted? carb list could very well be ?Napolitaines?, shortbread type cookies glued together with strawberry jam and topped with a hard pink icing. Or banana cakes laced up beautifully in a crunchy pastry tart, or ?pie d?amour? with its? custard and coconut filling and topped with icing and sugar. Need I go on?

Take it from someone who has given up counting carbs in Mauritius. Return your ticket to your travel agent, find another destination or cancel your vacation altogether but don?t come to Mauritius. Its food is seductive to say the least and with any luck they won?t find a word for ?carb free? in Creole for a long time. In fact, the only way you could probably loose weight in Mauritius would be if you were to swim back home! Happy Vacationing

<B>Angela KEESSOONDYAL </B>