How bad are processed foods really and do we have a lot of it, enough to ensure that we make unhealthy choices? Goa has not yet gone the way of the metros and the fast food ethos there but are we eating too much processed foods already?
Photo Credits: magson store __19
Stephen Rodrigues was always a man who love his food. From the time he was growing up in Goa, where he would feast on the different chilly frys and boiled sausages, as well as the mandatory piece of fried fish every day, to when he worked in Bangalore for a few years and pigged out on the street food there. His wife still loved the occasional burger, but shies away from eating out too much or munching on packaged snacks. However, when it came to regulating their son’s eating habits, things got a little serious.
This packaged life
Now living in Taleigao, Stephen and Lyla felt that their son Christopher wasn’t exactly eating right. He loved his packaged noodles, until the ban set in. He also couldn’t do without a fried something, whether it was nuggets, potato smileys, or whatever else you can pick up at the frozen foods section in a supermarket. “We realized that it was us who encouraged him to eat all these processed and packaged foods,” says Christopher, adding, “After a health scare in the family, all of us started to think and eat healthier foods. Judging by the amount of younger people succumbing to heart attacks or getting diagnosed with lifestyle diseases, we decided to not only start a healthier lifestyle but also ensure that our son gets a good foundation too.”
The Rodrigues family are not the only ones to move away from processed foods and towards fresh and home- cooked options. There are many in Goa who have made many course corrections in their lifestyle. Processed foods, ranging from frozen ‘goodies’ that need to be microwaved or deep fried, to anything that comes out of a packet or box, contains a lot of preservatives and other ingredients that not just take away from the nutritional value of the product but also result in a lot of chemicals that get absorbed in the body, chemicals that are harmful in the long run.
Natural state of mind
But, how do you manage to stay away from processed foods completely? Some manage to do it. Owner of Studio 101, Nivedita Dempo is one of them. “Apart from the occasional bowl of muesli, which is very rare, I do not have anything that comes out of a box or a packet,” she says. It still isn’t easy, especially when it comes to children, who do get faced with some amount of peer pressure.
The chemicals eventually lead to a hormonal imbalance, eating disorders and increase chances of obesity, which is the reason why so many countries like America and in Europe, are now dealing with a large part of the population that is extremely obese and are now advocating organic and free range foods. In India, it’s just the opposite. People are moving away from home-cooked fare and are option for quick fixes, most of which are loaded with chemicals.
This is the reason why students at Bhatikar Model school in Margao are not allowed to bring anything in their tiffin boxes that is not home cooked. Anju Kamat, the supervisor at the school explains. “We started this around 10 years ago when many students were complaining of stomach pain and we realized it was due to a bad diet. Now we have a list of things that students cannot bring to school to eat, from noodles to pizza. We ask parents to ensure that the food is home cooked,” says Kamat.
So, students at the school bring sheera, or chapattis. Even on special occasions, if someone has to bring cake, it has to be balanced out by something healthy.
“Processed food has a lot of preservatives that harm the body, from nitrates to citric acid. Even high amounts of sodium are not good for the human body. Technically, a child needs just three grams of salt per day, and an adult needs five grams. But, we tend to hit that mark by lunch itself,” says Ryan Fernando, owner and founder of Qua Nutrition.
A fine balance
For Anjali Naik, it’s hard to refuse to give your child processed foods but there is a way to ensure that your child knows that it’s not a regular thing. “We tend to eat healthy at home. We have a good breakfast, eat small meals and cut down on oil, salt, sugar etc through the day. This way, my husband and I show our children that we too follow these rules and it’s not just them. However, with the way kids are these days, it’s not fair to deprive them of having an aerated beverage once in a while, or take them out for fried chicken. What we do is slowly cut down on the regularity that we do this. So, from going out every week for it, we now do once every fortnight and soon, we’ll do it once a month,” says the Dona Paula resident.
For Nivedita Dempo, there are many things she asks her son to stay away from. “He doesn’t have aerated beverages, even at parties.” Many parents are now recognizing the danger in certain beverages and foods. “I was happy when they took noodles off the shelves. There are many products that claim to be healthier with no atta and the likes, but they have preservatives too,” says Stephen, who sheepishly admits that noodles were a regular meal when he was younger and living alone, but he can now feel the effects of those decisions.
Read and eat
For those who want to cheat on occasion and head down to the supermarket for a packet or a box of their favourite snack, there are options. “There are occasions when convenience in a packet can be justified. I would advise people to look for foods that say ‘no added preservatives’, and even those that have natural flavours instead of added flavours. If you are doing five servings or fruit and vegetables a day, then cheating with processed foods for a snack is ok, but limit the portion of your cheat,” says Ryan Fernando, stressing on the fact that those at work can have a fruit for their 5pm snack instead of munching on chips.
But eating healthy is not inexpensive. In fact, for the Naik family as well as the Rodrigues, you do tend to spend a little more than you would have. “You buy olive oil or rice bran oil instead of vegetable oil, more fruit than normal. All this is not cheap. But, the way I look at it, is that it will probably balance itself out in the long run when it comes to medical expenses,” says Anjali Naik.
To get out of the processed life and start eating organic and natural food, awareness is a must. Speak to your doctor, or consult a dietician or a nutritionist. “You have to lead by example,” says Nivedita Dempo, adding, “There are a lot of misconceptions that come with a lack of information. Once you read up and understand it, you’ll end up making conscious choices and looking at healthier options.”
So, the next time you feel like reaching out for that bag of chips, perhaps it’s time to make a good smoothie instead?
