Adapt to a change – On diet pattern

 

Introduction 

The age of staple food and what was considered healthy by our grandparents is taken over by the mixture of multi-national and traditional cuisines. Here are some thoughts to ponder for the struggling traditional minded parents who are forced to accept the modern food habits.

 

First move from parents..

Why don’t we think of adding flavor to our traditional food which attracts our children to healthy and economical dishes? A change in flavor may change the life forever. Most of the parents find it difficult to make their children eat vegetables. An example for a modified vegetarian recipe is beetroot or carrot dosa. The normal dosa with a carrot or beetroot grated over the dough as in a “thoran” form makes it colourful as well as healthy. Never to forget ghee or oil at least up to 5 years of age- “the growing age of nervous system”.

 

How Subtle changes turn into life changers….

Overnutrition is always the victim for emerging non-communicable diseases. The co-culprit is undernutrition which is always in disguise. The usual concern we come across in an outpatient department is,  “Doctor, We consume less food still we have hypertension or Diabetes”. The concept of “balanced diet” has to be instilled into the minds of the people and has to be made flexible according to the physique, the availability of raw materials or formed food, the work pattern and presently the changing environment.

Our body has a wonderful coping as well as balancing mechanism. We have to realize it to use it resourcefully. Binge consume the foods rich in vitamins which are stored in the body (Vitamin A, D) according to the availability. This helps us to take breaks from consumption according to our work pattern. Similarly, binge consume carbohydrates and fat if the availability is doubtful, but never to forget converting it to energy by physical activity or restructuring and rebuilding our system by consuming vitamins and minerals.

One of the common Vitamin deficiencies these days is Vitamin D deficiency. Closed space work places, travel in closed vehicles, dressing pattern, climate change is some of the evident causes. The difficulty in modifying these to our needs may not be practical. Those who have extra fat are lucky when it comes to Vitamin D. The have to give regular “doses” of sunlight as medicine to convert into Vitamin D. Supplementation of Calcium and Vitamin D, a routine for children, during pregnancy, breast feeding and post-menopause may be considered for those adults with a non-modifiable working pattern.

 

Be the influence in your child….

We always hesitate or give excuses for not explaining to the innocent child population what they are given to eat. Informed diet to children will be a useful start for the future. The child can make rationale choices of what they consume. The adaptation starts from early life. The description of the raw materials, methods of cooking to the benefits of each of the component explained gives a complete healthy tip to the child on which they can develop, make variations and customize to their flavor and aroma in the future. It is a first step towards making oneself healthy and happy, moreover to helping others in deciding their diet.

 

The Saver post-chaos…

Illnesses are enemies to our perfect diet plans. The turning stone to overcome the situation is what we consume during and after the fall down. Keeping a low-profile diet during the illness does not cause any havoc. The honeymoon phase of the sick period is post-illness where careful choices help in boosting ourselves. An increased quantity and frequency of balanced diet make the person recover faster with less debility.

Home-made ice-cream 

A new beginning from the endpoint….

Approaching a doctor for decrease consumption of food is not the real beginning but bringing a change to the routine and normal, makes the difference, which is our starting point. It is time for us to modify our traditional food habits to suit the changing cultural patterns. Be it our staple food or our traditional dishes, adding beauty and value to it is the key to the minds of our children. A holistic sophistication is unavoidable, so why don’t we accept the change and grow ourselves to adapt and bring out results which satisfy us as well as the society.