QOTW 10.6 || What should we be eating to be healthy and vibrant?

_{It´s the Ecotrain´s Question of the Week 10.6 and if you are interested to join us, you can click the link for more instructions.}

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_{Anh Nguyen on Unsplash}

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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WHAT FOOD SHOULD WE BE EATING TO REMAIN HEALTHY AND VIBRANT?

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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.

_{Heather on Unsplash}

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Junks food

_{Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash}

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.