Annam Brahma

Food is divine

- Smt.Priyamvada Waghmare

Food is a source of energy that provides nutrients to build and repair body tissues. Annam is Sanskrit for food. In the context of the Vedas, food is nothing but a divine gift; it is the major contributor to a healthy mind.

Today, we see food at the level of its nutrients; how much of protein, iron, calcium, carbohydrates, fats, etc. This discriminatory practice is distorting life. We are taking to foods with extraordinary names like quinoa kheer, almond milk or a novel concoction of rice, which may actually be evil. How can we eradicate these trends and take ourselves back to the age old, healthy food that our parents and grandparents ate?

At the Couples class, Miss Karanika Mahendra, a qualified nutritionist and healthcare expert with a BSc and MSc in food science and nutrition who also trained under nutrition Guru Rujuta Diwekar, introduced three simple sustainable tools for a healthy life: meal proportions, portions and preparations.

Meal Proportions: What is a balanced meal? Go, grow and glow, in that order, is the principle applied here.

‘Go’ indicates the level of energy for any physical and mental activity. Eat wisely, according to weather conditions. Food should nourish the brain, e.g. greens and millets. ‘Grow' means food should make us stronger; help build and repair body tissue and muscles, e.g. pulses, nuts, dairy products. ‘Glow’ refers to food that makes skin and hair shiny and helps immunity and general well-being, e.g. vegetables, fruits, dried fruits and oils.