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When we were young, our parents made sure we were given healthy meals and many times in the morning, we take Pap and Beans cake or Bean pudding as breakfast. We eat rice or beans in the afternoon and most times go for a solid meal at night. This has been our routine every day but many times are different. The food we eat as breakfast today might be different from the breakfast for tomorrow.
Another thing Mom would mandate for us is taking herbs before eating because we consume a lot of sugar and the bitter herb is what prevents us from getting sick. There is no day without taking herb even though we tried ignoring it, but mom was smart to make sure we don't miss it. She will say "If you don't drink this herb, you will not eat" and we love food so much, who wouldn't comply with the condition when there is a delicious meal staring at you and the only way to eat it is to drink the bitter herb.
While growing up too, we were taught the six classes of food by our teachers which are Carbohydrates, Proteins, Vitamins, Mineral Salt, Fats and Oil, and Water.
We were taught the right proportion of food to take and how much of the combination to make a balanced diet.
We were always cautious of the food we eat and when I grew up to become a lady and was living alone, my routine changed and I was careful of the food I eat.
Food is really important for the body to be vibrant and without food, there is no possibility of staying healthy. We eat food to stay alive and as they say that once there is food in the stomach, there is no limit to discussions to engage in, but if there is no food and one is hungry, there is nothing you will say that will be useful.
According to Abraham Maslow´s hierarchy of needs, physiological needs are important such as food and others.
We eat good food to prevent sickness
We eat good food to grow healthily
We eat good food to make our skin fresh and good looking.
Not eating good food will surely make you sick unless you take the right food consisting of the six classes of food. This means when you are eating carbohydrates, you must add proteins and vitamins to it to make it balanced.
We all have different meals that make us healthy. The food you take might be different from mine and we would still be looking healthy and vibrant. So, what I will be talking about here is based on what I eat and has kept me vibrant till today without getting sick and also in good shape.
I love eating vegetables and I add them to my meal. I got to learn this method from my parents because they would surely add a lot of vegetables to foods like rice and beans. At least twice a week, I take vegetables like spinach. I know the benefits of veggies especially boosting your immune system, giving you a clear vision, reducing high blood pressure, decreasing the high risk of hypertension etc
My grandma has a little garden where she has always plucked different kinds of vegetables for her food and despite being an old woman of 90+, she is still looking fresh and healthy with good eyesight.
I do skip breakfast a lot because I am someone who does not eat early even though I was brought up to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner but now, I don't seem to love the pattern because I assume it´s kind of too much for me, especially as someone who still watches her weight. I eat in a little quantity too and maintain a well-balanced meal consisting of the six classes of food.
I am cautious of what I take most times in the morning especially drinking water or preparing tea and milk which makes me strong to do the day's work.
In the afternoon, I love taking solid meals because I don't take hard food at night since it won't digest before going to bed. So, I prefer eating it for lunch and finding something light like fruits at night.
Fruits are beneficial and important to the body. So, I make sure every day, I take watermelon, cucumber and pineapple which are my favourite fruits. Though that was when I was in school, since I came to my hometown, it has been cashew and mango. We have these fruits planted in our garden and I take them every day so as to maintain my consumption of fruits. Fruits make me stronger and relieve stress whenever I feel tired or weak.
I stopped taking sugar because of the possibility of having diabetes and whatever that has to do with sugar, I moved away from it. This doesn't mean I don't take it but it's once in a while.
The only drink I take instead of constant Coke or Pepsi is to take milk and tea as a complement.
Junks food
Junk food is not beneficial to the body but causes a lot of diseases especially when you take them often and often. I am always afraid of eating junk because there are times these foods aren't cooked very well and it is not hygienic.
There was a time I bought snacks outside and when I opened one of them, I found a small insect in it from that day onward, I stopped eating junk.
Though I visit restaurants to eat food and not snacks because apart from taking too much flour which isn't good, I don't know how they prepare the snacks and this is why it is important to make them yourself at home to avoid stories like this.
I prepare my meal myself and do not eat outside especially buying food from canteens.
Lastly, I eat natural food from the garden or farm as these are the best nutrients to eat instead of buying outside which a lot of them have been added with chemicals and additives.
Eating fresh food gotten from the garden or farm is the best and can make one live a healthy life.
These are my own ways of eating healthy meals to make me vibrant too.
Much sugar should be avoided and not taken every time.
Eating vegetables are important and ideal for the body
Constant drinking of water and beverages like milk, tea and coffee are good for the body
Avoiding junks food would make you live longer and prevent sickness
Take a lot of fruits every day as it helps in smooth digestion.
Thanks for reading.
I preach the benefits of vegetables and herbs a lot especially if people want to lose weight and ask me what to do. Or people who have for example rheumatism or arthritis which comes from inflammations which can be lowered by eating less red meat and eating more vegetables and herbs (also tumeric and ashwaganda will help for example). Some people don't believe this, they don't believe that eating just carbohydrates and meat will increase the inflammation. I think I don't need to talk about sweets and how bad they are. Sugar is like poison and should be reduced to a minimum. I could write so much more since this is a huge topic.
Thank you for sharing your experience. It shows me again that eating habits from most people here in Europe are bad. That said, I give you a !PIZZA with some veggies on it. 😏
Hahahaha, thanks for the pizza and I am sure adding veggies too would be the perfect combo 😆
Sweets? I abstained from them a long time ago because they have a lot of sugar which isn´t good for the health and I know consuming a lot of vegetables helps to lose weight. Some people actually do not know this works and prefer to et what cab damage their health and this is a lack of orientation and awareness. Thank you for your comment.
This got me laughing so hard because I remember running away from those herbs. They make me hate waking up in the morning but you this herbs are good for the body. I was brought up with strict diet and hence why I don't take sugar at all.
Love your post. It was a wonderful read.
😂
Yes, our parents tried their bests to give us healthy meals and help us with the herbs since we took a lot of sugar too. There was no day we don´t drink herbs and most times, we pray my mom forget and we won´t even remind her 😆 but she eventually get to remember before the end of the day
The food we ate while growing up isn't what we are seeing today, they exist but the world is stylish leaving healthy meals for unhealthy ones.
The impact of fruits and vegetables can't be overlooked because they place a huge role in keeping us healthy.
Yes, there was noting as adding chemicals then not until now that things have changed a lot thereby affecting us and depriving us of good health. Fruits and Vegetables are really good for the health.
Nice that your grandma is still going strong. Eating foods that are from smaller gardens is much better than the mass produced version. I also love mangoes.
Yes, the vegetables made her strong. This is why we need to keep eating natural foods from the garden. Thank you for reading.
I'm crying right now because I love junk a lot. I hate cooking and so go for the fast foods. 😩😩. I'll change, I promise myself. I really want to live long please 🥺.
Try and be cooking and you will definitely see the difference too. Too much of eating junk food can deteriorate the body system.
I totally understand and will put cooking often into consideration. Thank you for the advice.
Sounds like you’ve got good genes; your gradmother attaining such an age, and healthy to boot. A balanced diet is the way to go. Glad that you love veggies, they’re so good for you❤️💕🤗
Yes, I love eating vegetables because of the benefits too and I am always looking good just like grandma. Thank you ma ❤
PIZZA Holders sent $PIZZA tips in this post's comments:
@chaosmagic23(1/15) tipped @princessbusayo (x1)
Please vote for pizza.witness!
Wow! we have some kind of similarities though, while growing up, my parents really believed in giving us herbs to drink most especially one herb we know as loconjaro and bitter leaf. The most funniest thing was that most times this was being served to us as breakfast immediately we are being woken up from sleep.
It will look like a "good morning" drink which can´t be avoided or refused 😆 Our mothers were so great then.
I say o🤣
Wise food reflection @princesa busayo, in essence of health we are what we eat. Great
Exactly. We shoud always crave the best meal. Thank you for reading
Lol... That stuff about herbs is not going to work on me. Haha. I'm one of those that can't drink herbal meds to save my life. It feels so awkward whenever it comes close to my mouth. haha. But that's me. My Dad doesn't joke with those kinda stuff.
Grannies and gardens are inseparable. My granny from my maternal home also has a lot of gardens. Like, the whole compound is surrounded by gardens. Haha. She cooks with so much fresh veges and the taste is always noticable. So sumptuous.
Nice reading from you.
Thanks for sharing this on DreemPort.
Dreemport brought me to your blog again.
Your post was an interesting insight into life in Nigeria and your Mum sounds like an amazing woman providing for her family.
I agree homegrown farm food is the way to go. In Western countries we eat far too much processed rubbish and it has a detrimental affect on people's health without doubt.
Yes, the food we eat makes us who we are and we should be careful not to damage our bodies with the processed food we consume too much. Thank you for stopping by.
Yes definitely, our microbiome is influenced by what we eat and another thing to consider is eating diverse foods which benefit of gut microbiome
Interesting. I like the fact that you recognize healthy eating doesn't have to be the standard. You can determine what works for your body and go with it. Just like you are doing fine without breakfast.
Eating right is quite expensive. Imagine having to always take milk instead of coke and pepsi but then most of these milk are even unhealthy themselves as they contain high calorie contents.
As for vegetables, having your own garden is one way to maintain a constant supply of it in your diet.
You have a very good food background but the thing is it will be very hard for you to resist some sweet food but you just have to learn.
Came via Dreemport.
You are right. It's not easy stopping your sweet and craving food but as you said, we should learn, and eat in moderate.
Yeah, let's keep helping ourselves 😊😊