The politics of Dining

I wonder what kind of discipline we apply to our respective eating habits or the ones we apply in our families (I believe some of us have those)?

I’m going to be hypocritical here for the sake of this post because without that I might as well not bother writing about today’s subject matter.  Let’s just assume for today that I have the healthiest eating habit and therefore take it as a point of duty to address you all, for your own good.

First of all I’d like you to ask yourselves the honest question; are you eating well? When I mean well I mean are you on a daily basis adhering to a decent balanced diet like the doctor ordered. We easily forget how terrible our healthcare system is in this country because we wake up feeling healthy in the morning but the unfortunate truth is our bodies need certain things that we deprive it of to keep going at its optimum level else at some point in time (God forbid soon), reason why regular medical check-ups are advised. 

Seeing as we are in a less than ideal condition where the hustle and bustle of making ends meet coupled with the added responsibility of raising a family stays top of the priority list most of us find it difficult to stick to a true medical check-up routine. In order to be pre-emptive don’t you think it would be then sensible to be on the safe side and live healthy? That too can’t obviously be thrown out the window. So what are your eating habits, honestly? If you’re like me who grew up on a steady daily helping of rice/eba/amala/pounded yam etc, then maybe we really should tone it down a bit. That’s the kind of diet that definitely reigns in most homes I can bet you considering how filling and readily available the components of the various meals are.

It’s never too much to stress the importance of a balanced diet. A bit of carbs, protein, oils and vitamins in each meal could go a long way in saving our lives which is something we Nigerians usually ignore. It took me a while to grow into this habit but so far I think I’m glad I did. Not only do I find that I have a better immune system, injuries and cuts tend to heal faster. Then there’s also the timing. A lot of us tend to ignore what time of the day we’re supposed to stop or start eating which is one of the causes of unwanted garbage in our system but I’m guessing most of us know that. It’s easy for most of you to read this piece and ignore what I’ve said but deep down you know I’m right.

In your mind you might be going; “oh, I don’t eat junk food or late dinners all the time”, but trust me, the few times you do, they really count. Weight complaints arise from various factors and can easily be managed. All it takes is determination and a little self-discipline. You never know if that pounded yam is the root cause of your problems. I for one usually tell my mates who are pushing 30 and over that it’s time to cut down on the carbs. If you’re a gym rat or a fitness buff maybe you can keep the weight gain at bay for a few more years but sooner or later it’ll start showing. Keep your potions moderate and the beer at the barest minimum. I for one stay off the beer completely and ensure I take just a handful of rice or swallow. Yes, I mean a handful. If the size of rice or pounded yam exceeds your palm surface when clenched then you’re clearly asking for it.

Eat meat, especially red meat in moderation as well. It’s a great source of protein but fish is way better. We all still need our hearts working at full capacity. So whenever you’re thinking food, try and consider it like who you’re voting for; the one that’ll make you better or the one that’s going to make you worse.