Reader’s chit
Early grave or eat fresh?
I Sometimes watch the food channel on television to get tips on keeping up with a healthy food eating habit and to see what the chefs around the world are cooking up. A lot of people find cooking shows fascinating to watch; insomniacs even at the dead end of the night. I personally find it a great stress releaser.
I have been waiting for the farmer's market to re-open for the summer where I get locally grown fresh produce for a fraction of a price that I normally pay for organic vegetables in the supermarket. The local farmers, here in the United States, do not use pesticides and the vegetables invariably taste better.
These days when it comes to losing weight, the emphasis is on eating healthy first, then to get started with a rigorous exercise program. From the health experts to super chefs across the globe, the campaign carries a different message now. They emphasise on eating right by using fresh ingredients.
Recently, when I turned on the TV to watch the most viewed food channel, I learnt that there is a campaign on revolutionary change in food habits going on here in America and the ringleader is none other than British chef turned celebrity, Jamie Oliver.
I vaguely remember the buzz that he started when he crossed the Atlantic. His British mission was a hard sale at first, when he pitched his idea to the government. After four years of relentless campaign he was able to convince the government to come up with a billion dollar shortage to improvise his lunch program for elementary school children. As a result, the British children now get green vegetables, salad and completely natural food products for school lunch.
Jamie is now like a messiah. His mantra is simple. He is not a diet guru; he is a chef. His mission is to end child obesity across the globe. In a recent interview he said he crossed the Atlantic to help the Americans, where obesity in young children is growing at an alarming rate. He came to teach the average American parents how to cook a decent meal just by using fresh vegetables and by avoiding processed food altogether.
To carry out his experiment he chose Huntington, West Virginia, which has the highest population of obese people in America.
When Jamie Oliver first went to Huntington he received a cold welcome. The whole town resented his presence and did not appreciate his telling them how to change their eating habits in order to live longer.
The radio DJ named Rod in that town was very critical of him in his show. He announced Jamie was there to get rich quick. Jamie was determined and did not take it personally. To prove his point he invited Rod to come along with him to the local mortuary. Rod was curious and went. There at the funeral parlour the director showed them a double size coffin that an overweight person needs during burial. That coffin also occupies double graveyard space. Rod was stupefied and saw how much he himself needed to change his own eating habit.
Obesity is a universal problem. Just by following few simple steps and by not giving into frequent indulgences to satisfy one's taste bud, one can avoid packing on the extra pounds. By avoiding overly processed food in restaurants can also be a good start. One can very easily cook a healthy meal at home. Obesity leads to diabetes and other health problems. It causes early death.
Jamie became a success story in Huntington. He went to homes of several Americans where he took over the kitchens, cleaned out their freezers that were stuffed with processed and ready to eat dinner. He showed the Huntington parents how to go back to old ways of cooking by using only fresh ingredients. He uses a simple mantra in losing weight, " You do not lose weight by dieting but by cooking food without anything processed."
Researchers at Georgetown University in Washington, DC has done a recent study where it is shown that along with decreasing consumption of unhealthy foods, using natural ingredients also reduces the obesity problem significantly. The obesity capital of the world, Huntington has taken the first step in living well and living longer. If it can be done there then it is possible everywhere.
By Zeenat Khan
Ls shuffle
Weekly buzz
INTO the second week of Junne and we experience a southern breeze and along with it, showers of a promising monsoon. On the global frontier, the climate heats up with 32 teams vying for the coveted FIFA World Cup 2010.
Waka waka (this time for Africa)
Don't miss out the opening ceremony of World Cup 2010 featuring Shakira singing some vibrant African beats along with her signature hip thrust. The percussion heavy music is good for the tracks as well as the dance floor.
And of course there will be a good display of traditional dances followed by some quality football destined to make a mark in our minds for years to come.
Look out
“We don't want to leave the tournament just with experience” Jong Tae Se.
North Korea reached the quarter-finals in their only other FIFA World Cup finals appearance, in England in 1966, when they famously beat Italy before losing to a Eusebio-inspired Portugal in the last eight. And this time, this country are not appearing in only their second FIFA World Cup finals in 44 years just to make up the numbers. Their first outing with giants Brazil may just well be the cracker of a game, fuelling to the football fervour. Watch out!
Music frontiers
Young readers would be able to resonate to the sounds of the Stone Temple Pilots (STP). One of the most successful rock bands of the 1990s, STP have recently released a self-titled album, their sixth, and as it seems, yet another sound of success. All studio releases of the band made it to the billboard top 200 chart, only its greatest hits package "Thank You" missed the top 10.
Clapstick
This was the first film from the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan and the first film in the Tibetan language, to get worldwide distribution. The story, which is based on fact, begins in 1998 and circles around the World Cup Football and how two young boys Palden and Nyima instil the football fever inside a Buddhist monastery.
'The Cup' received acclaim, critically and although not a commercial success, is well worth a view, especially at a time when the World Cup is on, once again.
Good read
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold is look into life and death with a fresh perspective. "It is the story of a teenage girl who, after being murdered, watches from heaven as her family and friends go on with their lives, while she herself comes to terms with her own death."
The novel received a great deal of critical praise and became an instant bestseller. Our suggested read.
By Mannan Mashhur Zarif
