Is Your Child Eating Right?-Track Your and Your Child's Eating Habits!

You are working parents with a successful career graph. You have everything in your life-plum account,aesthetic home,valuables-everything else which you need to lead an excellent life. Hold on! Is it all you need? No, the most important aspect of life is 'Health'. It is not wrong to state that health is wealth. If you are not healthy I tell you your wealth doesn't make any sense. It is not your wealth which you have to pass on to your kids but your wisdom on leading a healthy lifestyle. Trust me your kids are going to be really grateful to you but if you pass this valuable wisdom of leading a healthy lifestyle to your kids. This time I will be disclosing another big reality about bad eating habits which have taken a toll over our health. You see if you are not maintaining good eating habits then forget to set any ideal for your kids. For making sure that your kids lead a healthy life you have to take your first step and see to it that you are making significant changes in your eating habits. Over the years I have realized how important role food plays in our life. If there is any answer to your and your child's health problem then it is without any doubt your and your child's eating habits. We all have set parameters for our life but setting those parameters we can't let our health take a backseat. Why be callous about your health if you take yourself seriously? If you are not taking your health seriously then it is evident enough that you are just not bothered about yourself. If this is true then you surely need SHM technique(this is how I define it) to deal with yourself-

Stop there itself,

Have a look at yourself and your family members,

Make Changes in your lifestyle.

Let me start with a real life experience. I got to see a little boy who came at our place after a long gap of time. This little boy hardly ate or drink anything except chips, cold drink. I was wondering what he would be like when he would grow up. The worst part was that his parents never gave a damn to his habits. I mean they were simply not concerned that their child was all the while consuming processed foodstuffs which might lead to further health problems like intestinal disease,liver and stomach infections. A friend of mine related a very sorry story to me about two such kids. She and her husband were invited to attend a dinner party at a city's famous restaurant. There she came across two kids who didn't eat anything at the party. No,they were not on fast. They had grown up on things like Pizza and burgers. These were not the food items which were part of the menu. So, they didn't feel like eating anything. The parents were all praise for their children and were boasting about the bad eating habits of their children. They revealed that their kids were studying in one of the city's best school which had a big Pizza center within their school campus. Children in the school are allowed cell phones. All the child is supposed to do is call up at the number of the delivery boy and within few minutes delivery boy delivers Pizza in the class room itself. The child is not even supposed to walk a bit to reach to the Pizza center and burn few calories. The parents of those kids with bad eating habits revealed that their kids eat pizza and burgers on a daily basis. So, when they go out with their kids for a holiday they have to make sure that they are going to such a place where outlets selling such food items are readily available. I mean now you can very well imagine that this is seriously not a thing which one should boast about. If your children are like this then I must say that you must be ashamed to boast about the spendthrift nature of your kids. You have to realize that no doubt how much you own,how much you and your children can spend on such fast foods the fact is that the more ignorantly you boast the more foolish you will appear. The others might be convinced that you have the strength to bear with the tantrums of your kids but they will also be convinced that you are just not concerned about the health of your kids. Pizza and burgers might be expensive food items for you but in most of the western countries they are ordinary fast food items. For instance, when a famous brand first brought their exotic style hamburgers to Moscow and Beijing, they were accepted as exotic foods for special occasions because they were relatively expensive. In countries like America and developed super powers they have a very different meaning--they are ordinary daily fast food products. Cold drinks,burgers and pizzas are all hazardous for you and your child's health. You must be very careful about the calories which you consume. The products made from refined flours(Maida) are neither good for your or your child's health. Fried foodstuffs prepared at home can be good for consumption but they must not have refined flour as an ingredient in them. If you are baking cakes make sure that you are using whole wheat. I know an aunt who bakes cakes and breads using whole wheat flours. I tell you that her cakes and breads are yummier than those ordinary refined flour cakes and breads available in the market. 

To keep yourself and your children healthy you have to cut down on the things below:

Fried fritters available by the roadside and for that matter available in big fast food restaurants-Either you give importance to your taste buds or your health. I hope health comes first to you. The reason why you are supposed to cut on such food items is the oil which is used in making such food items. I have seen that in most of the places the oil used for making fritters is used again and again. Reused oil is not good for the functioning of liver and heart. 

Refined flour food items like cakes,burgers,pizzas-You must know that refined flour(Maida) is very difficult to digest for those people who have a sedentary lifestyle. Refined flour blocks intestines and even leads to anaemia. It blocks your attempts of reducing weight and it harms your liver. Most of the stomach problems, obesity and constipation is caused by such food products which are made from refined flour. If your child is having constipation then he or she might have boils on his or her face, will complain about stomach pain and lack of appetite. This further can complicate your child's health problems. The children who eat such food items on a daily basis are obese and find it extremely difficult in stretching their limbs. Once in a bluemoon is fine but you need to work out excessively and sweat out to make sure that you digest what you had.

Cold Drinks and Processed juices-This is one big no when it comes to drinking. Opt for fresh  fruit juices without salt and sugar. I mean when you prepare your fruit juice or get it prepared then see to it that you are not adding things like salt,black salt and sugar to your drinks. You can opt for lemonades-yes for lemonades you can add salt and sugar. Cold drinks are not good for liver,stomach and body growth. Processed juices are not so good because you never know the amount of sugar which has been added to your favorite juice which is available in cans in the market.I remember as a child I would carry that big 3 litre bottle of Milton filled with cold drink and share it with my friends at school. All my friends would drink to their fill but there was this one girl who would drink a bit and then say no. I would find her weird then but when I got to know about the facts I made sure not to carry cold drinks. From next time I started carrying home made sherbets made from fruits,sugar and water.

Biscuits,chips and Namkeens-Avoid eating such things wherever you are. You won't die if you won't eat these things. If your friends compel you tell them politely that you are concerned about your health. 

Avoid all Processed and frozen food items- Such foods are not good for health and they can obstruct your child's healthy growth.

SAY NO TO ALCOHOL and PRODUCTS CONTAINING ALCOHOL!-I can't say much on it for you as parents know it better than anyone else.

What you should eat when it comes to snacking?

Eat healthy home made foodstuffs. Snack on fruits, fresh wholewheat cakes,upma,uttapam, idlis, dhoklas, dosa, mishti doi.

One good recipe of Mishti Doi can be with fruits in it. I really love this recipe and Mishti Doi with fruits is my all time favorite desert. Another good snack is Dhokla which is very light to digest.

Hope this would help you and I wish it redefines your child's lifestyle and choices as well.

Children are not so fussy and dumb that they can't make good choices once they are told about the repercussions of their choices. All what children need is direction,they need someone to guide them and show them the way. Once they get to know about the benefits of eating and drinking right foodstuffs. Once again I would like to state that it is you as a parent who is required to take the first step. If you do so your children without any doubt will follow your footsteps.

Yes, I do follow all the above things. I am a vegetarian as well. I believe in eating right and I seriously find problems if I break my regime. By my master's(Sri Sathya Sai Baba) grace I have tuned my body in such a manner that I hardly feel like eating out. If I have to eat out without any choice I make healthy choices.

~Sai Aanchal

image author: Nauzer,
image source:http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:AnnaPrashan_%28Anna_Prashan%29_-_Hindu_First_Rice_Eating_Ceremony.JPG

There are Men Who Drive Worst than Women!!!

Ever came across men and women who gave your car a way; allowing you to get through in heavy traffic when they would have opted not to give you the way? No,...but I have had such pleasant experiences where men and women have been courteous enough to let my car cross first...Wow! Isn't that amazing? REALLY ROAD TRAFFIC DELIGHT. Yes, I respect such people a lot who understand traffic rules...who understand that if someone out there is waiting for long on the road or is in a hurry then that someone must be allowed to have his or her way. I remember one incident which occurred while I was graduating. I was with my father in his car. He had to drop me that day(officially I got my car keys at the age of twenty though I learnt driving a car at the age of eighteen). My father is a very patient and an excellent driver. I still remember how we had to pass this Roundabout, there was a lot of traffic, there were no traffic lights and we were required to find out our way among other vehicles. Without any alternatives we were put on the wait, halfway on the road. There was this BMW which came straight and I knew it was going to be another impediment for us but it slowed down and halted to our surprise. There was a young gentleman in the car who directed his chauffeur to halt and let us have our way. My father focused on his steering. I mean we didn't know each other, he didn't know my father and there is nothing which linked us to him. I still remember how his chauffeur made a repelling face and looked at his master. The young gentleman dressed up in a black business suit smiled and indicated my father to cross through first. It was a decent meeting with perhaps one of the best man in this world. For those who might take it other way I need to clear this that we didn't see him again. He didn't follow us-neither I nor my father were disturbed by his kindness. I knew it then itself that it was a sheer act of humanity which was selfless in all contexts. I mean I felt so belittled by the gracious act of that gentleman that whenever I come across such a situation, I too give way to others. He was not the only one good man on the road for I came across many such good men and women while in the car or while driving myself. When I learnt driving I realized that yes, good men do exist albeit I didn't come across a man like the gentleman whom I have mentioned above but yes a little courtesy always accompanied in most of the cases with good driving skills. Over the years I have mastered the skill of driving and I would warmly extend my gratitude to my Guru, my father, my father's company driver(who often exclaimed that I was as dumb as an ass on the road when it came to driving-a big zero), my family members who often boosted my spirits. But still whenever I am on the road I actually come across such men who are with their cars on the road without knowing the ABC of driving skills. Such men are amateurs for me. You will be surprised to know that thrice my car was hit from behind by such ignorant men who didn't know that a Red traffic light by the roadside shouts out loud that we are required to halt. I even had an argument with two such men. What surprised me that they were elderly and educated enough to understand the meaning of Red Light! I often feel like laughing at the person who passes stereotype comments that women are at their worst when it comes to driving. For the men and women I suggest that for dealing with such mischief mongers one must click their and their car's number plate pictures because such men really flee away at the sight of traffic police. It is best to have a handy proof to catch up these people and see to it that they are punished for what they do. So, with all my experiences I can state that yes there are women who might not be good when it comes to driving but without being biased I would like to express that men are not less in violating the traffic rules. I feel you have to follow traffic rules no matter what you are and where you are. Why? Just for the sake of proving the fact that you are responsible citizen of India. I have seen that there are such men and women who violate traffic rules without any shame or fear. When I see such people I realize that either they don't consider themselves worthy enough to live on this earth or they regard others as worthless. Following Traffic rules is as much important as respecting your Boss and your loved ones. For men and women who might go through this-Please,follow traffic rules. :)

image source:http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Traffic_Congestion_-_Mathura_Road_-_New_Delhi_2014-05-13_2736.JPG, photographer:Biswarup Ganguly

RAND'S 'THE FOUNTAINHEAD' - AS I LIKE IT !

"Happiness is that state of consciousness which proceeds from the achievement of one's values." ~Ayn Rand

Long time back my English teacher at MCM asked me to read Ayn Rand’s famous Novel- The Fountainhead. I didn't know anything about Ms. Ayn Rand then. I didn't even think of this that she is the one who didn't believe in God. I read her work without being concerned about her or without knowing about her background, I read her work without analyzing her personality, without discovering if she actually believes in doing what she preaches, I read her work as it is-without preferring censored editions available online. I even have a copy of ‘The Fountainhead’ and I have given it the same respect which I give to the works of other people. Just because Ayn Rand didn't believe in God or felt doing good is equivalent to praying it would be a folly on our part to state that she deserves less respect. She had that aspect of personality and character which I guess ordinary people fail to comprehend. According to me Ayn Rand is immortal for she believed in doing the right, being original, being innovative-being The Fountainhead-the source of original things. I personally feel no matter what people say this author was right on few points. Let’s have a look at the quotes taken from 'The Fountainhead' and try to understand what is that which makes The Fountainhead worth reading-

   There is a strong emphasis on Freedom from Bondage when Roark in the Fountainhead states, “Freedom (n.): To ask nothing. To expect nothing. To depend on nothing.”

A quote which reveals Ayn’s philosophy of knowing a person which holds true for almost everyone of us- “There’s nothing as significant as a human face. Nor as eloquent. We can never really know another person, except by our first glance at him. Because, in that glance, we know everything. Even though we’re not always wise enough to unravel the knowledge."

 A quote which truly reveals the truth about human society and desires which human beings nourish is not something within their hearts which propels them to desire but others around them- “Listen to what is being preached today. Look at everyone around us. You've wondered why they suffer, why they seek happiness and never find it. If any man stopped and asked himself whether he's ever held a truly personal desire, he'd find the answer. He'd see that all his wishes, his efforts, his dreams, his ambitions are motivated by other men. He's not really struggling even for material wealth, but for the second-hander's delusion - prestige. A stamp of approval, not his own. He can find no joy in the struggle and no joy when he has succeeded. He can't say about a single thing: 'This is what I wanted because I wanted it, not because it made my neighbors gape at me'. Then he wonders why he's unhappy.”

   

          Another quote which depicts Ayn Rand’s idea of self-respect- “It's said that the worst thing one can do to a man is to kill his self-respect. But that's not true. Self respect is something that can't be killed. The worst thing is to kill a man's pretense at it.”

   

     I really admire Ayn Rand’s idea of True Love. A quote on that from The Fountainhead- “Love is reverence, and worship, and glory, and the upward glance. Not a bandage for dirty sores. But they don't know it. Those who speak of love most promiscuously are the ones who've never felt it. They make some sort of feeble stew out of sympathy, compassion, contempt and general indifference, and they call it love. Once you've felt what it means to love as you and I know it - total passion for the total height - you're incapable of anything less.”

           According to me the sense of humor depicts the attitude of the person. Rand I feel was right when she wrote,“One loses everything when one loses one's sense of humor.”

         With reference to Howard Roark –“I often think that he's the only one of us who's achieved immortality. I don't mean in the sense of fame and I don't mean he won't die someday. But he's living it. I think he is what the conception really means. You know how people long to be eternal. But they die with everyday that passes. . . They change, they deny, they contradict- and they call it growth. At the end there is nothing left, nothing unreveresed or unbetrayed; as if there had never been an entity, only a succession of adjectives fading in and out of an unformed mass. How do they expect a permanence which they never held for a single moment? But Howard- one can imagine him living forever.”

    Ayn Rand, I feel was right expressing her view on first-hand people or the originality personified individuals- “Throughout the centuries there were men who took first steps down new roads armed with nothing but their own vision. Their goals differed, but they all had this in common: that the step was first, the road new, the vision unborrowed, and the response they received — hatred. The great creators — the thinkers, the artists, the scientists, the inventors — stood alone against the men of their time. Every great new thought was opposed. Every great new invention was denounced. The first motor was considered foolish. The airplane was considered impossible. The power loom was considered vicious. Anesthesia was considered sinful. But the men of unborrowed vision went ahead. They fought, they suffered and they paid. But they won.”

     “Don't think. Believe. Trust your heart, not your brain. Don't think. Feel. Believe.”

 I truly go by this- “No speech is ever considered, but only the speaker. It's so much easier to pass judgement on a man than on an idea.” When Rand wrote this she probably knew that usually people lay stress on the popularity or the appearance of the individual rather than his or her idea, virtues or thoughts.

Her idea on the state of directionless in the human society is not only valid till date but also appreciated. I really appreciate her for that-“People want nothing but mirrors around them. To reflect them while they’re reflecting too ... Reflections of reflections and echoes of echoes. No beginning and no end. No center and no purpose.”

What makes Ayn Rand lovable and popular is her idea on the originality. She no doubt appreciated the ones who originally started with the things without being influenced by the people around them. Let’s have a look- “That, precisely, is the deadliness of second-handers. They have no concern for facts, ideas, work. They're concerned only with people. They don't ask: 'Is this true?' They ask: 'Is this what others think is true?' Not to judge, but to repeat. Not to do, but to give the impression of doing. Not creation, but show. Not ability, but friendship. Not merit, but pull. What would happen to the world without those who do, think, work, produce? Those are the egotists. You don't think through another's brain and you don't work through another's hands. When you suspend your faculty of independent judgment, you suspend consciousness. To stop consciousness is to stop life…

Yes! And isn't that the root of every despicable action? Not selfishness, but precisely the absence of a self. Look at them. The man who cheats and lies, but preserves a respectable front. He knows himself to be dishonest, but others think he's honest and he derives his self-respect from that, second-hand. The man who takes credit for an achievement which is not his own. He knows himself to be mediocre, but he's great in the eyes of others. The frustrated wretch who professes love for the inferior and clings to those less endowed, in order to establish his own superiority by comparison. The man whose sole aim is to make money. Now I don't see anything evil in a desire to make money. But money is only a means to some end. If a man wants it for a personal purpose--to invest in his industry, to create, to study, to travel, to enjoy luxury--he's completely moral. But the men who place money first go much beyond that. Personal luxury is a limited endeavor. What they want is ostentation: to show, to stun, to entertain, to impress others. They're second-handers. Look at our so-called cultural endeavors. A lecturer who spouts some borrowed rehash of nothing at all that means nothing at all to him--and the people who listen and don't give a damn, but sit there in order to tell their friends that they have attended a lecture by a famous name. All second-handers.”

We must never believe in taking revenge. This was portrayed in Roark’s character who didn’t believe in taking revenge. We must never get angry, no matter what people think of us or no matter the manner in which people criticize us. This again was portrayed in Roark’s character. I know this one might be too hard to carry on but yes if we do we transform ourselves for better.

Ayn Rand states that enemies are fragment of our imagination. Truly speaking no one is your enemy. This again was portrayed in Roark’s character, when people plotted against him, tried to pull him down, this man kept his calm, and when he faced his enemies he faced them with a smile which appeared weird to his enemies. There is a point where one of Roark’s enemy asks Roark and pleads Roark to show his hatred and anger towards him but Roark smiles silently stating that getting angry or hating someone is not an aspect of his nature. When Gail, his other enemy asks him to forgive him for his mistake then Roark simply smiles and tells him that forgiveness is given only when we express our anger. Such was the calmness exhibited by the Howard Roark's character- zero anger and zero hatred.

Truly speaking I got to learn one thing; every person has something good to offer. We must take the good things forward without analyzing, judging or criticizing.

If not anything else one can surely appreciate  Ayn Rand for her unique style of writing and narration of events.

~Sai Aanchal

Writing for God!

Writing for God!

When I started writing my first Novel, my Maa asked me to write something about God...I didn't know why she had that role expectation from me. 'Is it not enough that I'm writing?',I thought. But as I proceeded further to explore the mysterious world of writing I realized that one cannot write without Love in his or her heart. Love is essential for you to write and that Love is God. Bhagvan Sri Sathya Sai Baba once said, 'Love is God. Live in Love.' Needless to say,I realized that I must surely add up chunk of emotions with a dose of spiritualism to my work for that was the demand of the plot. It was really a miracle for my Maa for she didn't even think that I would actually go by her advice so seriously to the extent of influencing my whole work.

Who can write for God?

I believe that the individuals who write about God are not ordinary individuals. Writing for God or spreading the message of God's name is not an easy task. No one can think of doing it unless he or she is blessed by the Grace of God.

Unless one is empowered by the God,one cannot spread the holy names of God throughout the world.

I have seen such people who write for their chosen God's but most of them prefer not getting their works published for such people believe that writing is for self-purification. Long time back I went out for buying a dress for myself and I came across a very beautiful image of Lord Krishna which was made out of semi-gemstones and it was so captivating that I wished to buy it. I asked my father to ask the owner of the Showroom, if he could sell that picture of Krishna to us. What happened next was unbelievable! The owner got up from his chair and said, "I can sell everything but not Krishna. It might be just a portrait to you but for me it is a blessing bestowed upon me by my mother." Later he revealed to us that once an old woman whom he started regarding as his mother traveled all the way from Vrindavan to Chandigarh. The best part about the portrait was that she had made that portrait with her own hands. She took so much of time in making that masterpiece but she didn't desire any money,name or fame for what she created. We got to know that the owner when met an old woman accidentally at a spiritual meeting. He saw that she was carrying that portrait of Lord Krishna with her. Realizing that it would be difficult for a woman of her age to hold on to the portrait for long he offered to carry it for her but to his surprise the old woman replied, "If you can carry him then take him forever along with you. I can't carry off his weight anymore.I have got old and these days he is taking care of me. When he is there with me then why do I need to carry his photo frame like this?" Hearing the words of the old woman the man's joy multiplied for him the image of Krishna was not just an image but Krishna himself in the form of an image.

Little KRISHNA

When the owner finished with his story not only he but I and my father too were moved to tears. I mean the manner in which he narrated the story was not only intriguing but touching indeed. Moreover I learnt an important lesson in my life that Lord Krishna-Lord Of the Universe cannot be bought by money but can be won over by love. That was not my last encounter with a true devotee of Lord. Next time I came across another human being who has written Hare Krishna Mantra in different forms not once but lakhs of time and this person is just not keen on displaying his work to the public. There are those who write for God without desiring their works to get published-they write because they love writing for God. Isn't that commendable? I feel that one should not write for God unless one has experienced him, and unless one has been initiated into spiritual discipline by one's Master. Those who write on God are surely blessed. Some people think that anyone can write on God but I don't think so, writing on God demands perfection on the part of your consciousness and a pure heart. You can't just think and start writing on God. Firstly, you need to develop that love in your heart. Secondly,you need to dive deep into the ocean of that pure and unsullied divine love. Finally,you need to surrender all your actions at the lotus feet of the Lord without raising any expectations. Writing on God is and must be selfless for it not only purifies our soul but the souls of others. I have gone through most of the major books on the life of Bhagvan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. I personally feel that all the books are supremely divine and their authors are divine too. I feel that devotees who took up writing on Swami's life have to be applauded for they brought to light the great works which Bhagvan did for the sake of humanity. My grandfather once revealed to me that once Swami said, "Write my name,write on me if you desire to for that will strengthen your faith in me but see to it that you write with love." 

I have great regard for all the people who write specifically for God without diverting their focus. I do believe that "God Is One But Paths Are Many".

I dedicate this post to all those who have dedicated their writing skills at the Lotus feet of God and who believe in following the 'Pursuit of Bliss-Writing For God and On God.'

Lots of Love,

~Sai Aanchal