Eat local, give farmers their due, says Rujuta Diwekar

Nutritionist

Rujuta Diwekar

did not have her audience running on the treadmill at the

Times Litfest

Delhi on Saturday — her simple advice, “Throw away your weighing scales and banish TV from bedrooms.”

She said one should focus on metabolic health. “It implies we are waking up fresh, sleeping better, have high levels of energy throughout the day. Another parameter is to be sensitive to hunger and satiety signals.”

Exercise compliance is paramount, according to Diwekar. “Work out regularly and don’t reduce food to protein, carbohydrates and fats. The more we look at food through this narrow window, the food industry will get more profit but it will be terrible for your waistline,” she said.

Referring to the farmers’ rally in Delhi, she added, “People like us are responsible for this mess because we are not eating local, seasonal and what belongs to our food heritage. Our grandmothers looked at food through a multidisciplinary point and not from a reductionist view… Nutrition science at the highest level states that they have goofed up by looking at food like carbs, proteins and fat. Consequently, every new diet theory is proved wrong in two to five years.

“Our children don’t eat guavas or sweet potatoes. But they won’t bat an eyelid before picking a juice tetra pack or eating a bag full of air/chips. Eat more food which is straight from the farm.”

Diwekar suggests consuming kaanji made from black carrot that helps with our deficiency of B12. B12 is a co-factor in assimilating iron. "You don’t need additional B12 shots from your fancy grocery stores in that way. Bloating problems will also go away if you have adequate B12 levels," she says. Drink your black carrot and drink it with pride.

For ample fibre, Rujuta recommends sweet potato/yam/jimikand. “Because we avoid it thinking it in terms of carbs and sugar we are missing major fibres and nutrients and as a result taking lots of Isabgol, “she further adds.

“The third thing that is in season right now is homemade white makkhan. You will have an adequate level of Vitamin D. Top it up on makai roti and sarson ka saag,” she added. “Encourage your children to run around and stay active and take inspiration from them. Lastly, sleep is important and make sure you sleep on time. Throw your TV, iPad and Kindles out of the bedroom – it is bound to keep you fat. Your peace and harmony will soon return."