|
Meet the
Pediatrician - in a conversational mood - PERIODIC UPDATES :
|
JUNK FOOD , TELEVISION ,
COMPUTER ... WE HAVE IT ALL !
( duniya meri mutthi mein )
STYLISH & WESTERN - DO WE WANT IT SO ?
All the registered parents have received these updates already. In
case you want a specific Update again -please e mail the request. In
case you wish to delist from these updates, you may e mail
accordingly.
We may be appearing to be going at a tangent from the previous
Updates. There might be an undercurrent of philosophy, sociology to
the medical write up. However, we all may agree that this issue is
getting quite a problem. We as health professionals are rather
concerned about the medical aspects of obesity, eyesight issues and
the like. We are even more concerned about their
social ramifications.
Interestingly, the younger generation of our children is born in a
glittering World and you as parents have almost all to provide them.
Ask for it - Presto, here it is. The present mind boggling global
exposure they have was not ours in our times. I do not recall the
concept of 'getting bored' while I was a child. At the same time there
was so very little apart from the bicycle, school, novels, sports and
some friends.
India Today - TV, Internet, telephone, cell phone, computer, home
delivery of goods and goodies.....and yet there is this NEW concept of
'getting bored'.
What it is gradually and imperceptibly doing is:
- A creeping in of isolation...' duniya meri
aankhon ke saamne'
- Preference to stay indoors when it is the age
to be up and about and frolic with Nature
-
Steady hammering of
commercials, their unrealistic claims, their lure and a consequent
desire by the child to have it. The real product may not eventually
turn out to " smashing" - frustration builds up. Do we note that
through this gradual process the young impressionable mind is
developing a lack of faith, skepticism !
- Lack of interest in regular ( standard home
food ) food. Then, logically enough, sneak in the potato wafers, the
crunchiest, the heavily advertised soft heavenly softy drinks...
- Lack of interest in reading story books,
fiction and other textual matter that enriches the imagination and
generates an urge to know more.
Whatever we have outlined here is nothing unique
or new but I suspect each
parent shares our concern.
What worries me especially is that these are temptations that I myself
can
not resist. With what moral conviction and inherent strength do I try
to
impose what is wrong and what is right ? I invite your suggestions on
it.
What I can make out of the whole scenario is :
1. I can not put an absolute NO to it
2. My family and I myself do not actually get the time to spend with
the young one/s.Hence we often 'allow' these indulgences as ' if a
child
shall not have these, who else shall'. Escapism ?
So it makes me sit back and think - what after all is so wrong with
"junkfood".
May we begin with a working definition of Junk Food. It is so named
since it
contains 'empty calories' and lots of starch. Empty calories are
calories
alone , with virtually no other nutritive element ( protein,
fats, minerals
etc ).These would naturally tend to add weight to the child and later
on
fat.
No wonder we Doctors are seeing a far larger number of
overgrown, fluffy
children, often bespectacled too. Not at all a happy sight, not what we
call
a ' healthy child'.
May we next figure out what harm junk foods can cause :
1. obesity
2. the caffeine content of fizzy soft drinks may cause irritability
and
restlessness
3. dental problems
4. constipation
Thus we are clear that the balance is tipped against the consumption
of junk
food - so we are convinced that we are not being 'heartless' in
denying our
child these.
Once I understand my incapability to ban it and I also understand the
actual
background of junk food , I draw a plan of moderation - a path of
least
resistance too !
I divide the segment of children into two halves - I fear they will be
unequal halves !
For the child who is active otherwise, plays and stays out of doors a
goodish
length of time , I do not mind these - but in moderation.
For the other child, who refuses to get into physical activity, I am
concerned. I have to be rather stern with him. I have to make him
understand, and understand well, that he can NOT afford all this so
long as
he is not prepared to get more physically active. We are going to make
a
deal - it is for him to understand and accept it. Trust me , if we
spend time
and explain the matter tactfully he is bound to respect your
suggestion.
We also understand that calories coming from these sources are warmly
welcome as long as they are utilized.
After having spent so much time on this issue , I guess what we have
gathered is that :
1. path of moderation
2. banning not possible - not needed ( perhaps try and convince about
a
healthy selection of food)
3. dental hygiene important ( rinse mouth after each adventure )
4. eye hygiene very important - view TV from atleast 20 feet distance
5. some sittings on our part as parents needed with the child where we
explain and not reprimand or make judgmental comments. A unilateral and
didactic approach may not work. Nor may our nostalgic sermons about
"our
times".
I realize my powerlessness. So, I feel when you can not beat it , okay
let
him eat it.
And then we offer some solutions / alternatives that satiate the urge
for
these foods at the same time maintains some nutritive value.
OKAY ,LET'S DO IT YOUR WAY :
- Mixed vegetable cutlet to replace potato
cutlet
- Pao-bhaji, mixed vegetable burger, mixed
vegetable sandwich to take
place of cheese burgers, pizzas,potato sandwiches
- Green fresh home made chutney to replace
tomato ketchup
- Milk based shakes, lemonade, fresh lime
soda, buttermilk to wean
off from fizzy soft drinks,ice cream shakes, coffee etc.
- South Indian dishes like
idli-sambhar, rasam, dosa to cut away
aloo-parantha, samosa, kachori, pakoras.
It may also help if you try and make it a point
to manage time such that the
whole family sits together for a proper meal. The role model shall help
as it
will strengthen family bonding. And then, getting you with the thin
edge of
the wedge - how about a family walk after dinner !
I guess we have got a reasonable solution.
I would warmly welcome your comments on this issue - every family has
its
own circumstances and beliefs. Every family evolves its own value
systems. It
pains me when I see mothers proudly claiming intelligence of the child
saying " ask him any Channel and he knows it...he's terrific at video
games"
.I hide my painful half smile and compliment the mother and the child.
Your input is what we learn from. And from this bilateralism evolves a
scientific approach to an issue. This then percolates as
solution, knowledge, treatment and benefit for all involved.
We Doctors basically have disease-centric minds and when we delve into
social or philosophical issues we tread on untried territory and thin
ice. I
hope I have not made any slip somewhere down the line. Please excuse me
if I
have.
You shall be hearing more from us.
till then, happy parenting
from Dr Jindal & team healthybaccha.com
Back To Top |
