UPDATE - 7
JUNK FOOD ,
TELEVISION , COMPUTER ……… WE HAVE IT ALL !
( duniya meri mutthi mein )
STYLISH &
WESTERN – DO WE WANT IT SO ?
e 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 “junk
food”.
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
Dr Jindal and team Healthybaccha.com |
