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WOMAN OF THE WEEK

It's time to weigh and watch

Dietician Dharini Krishnan underscores the need for a balanced diet and exercise for youngsters

TIPS FOR TEENS Dharini Krishnan

The Indian elephant may be trumpeting the economic boom, but Dharini Krishnan, former president, Indian Dietetic Association, Chennai Chapter, isn't applauding. The elephant, she might tell you, is an unfortunate choice as a symbol for the demographically youthful India. Size does matter. Look at the larger editions hanging out at coffee joints, beaches and multiplexes. Teens today have a lot more weight to throw around. It is not GenX we are dealing with. It is Gen XL.

With a Masters in Foods, Nutrition and Dietetics, research, a book on "wheaty treats" and a diploma in Software Systems Analysis and Design, Dharini has been monitoring lifestyle changes and their impact on our diets; and has been serving hospital administrations, students, nurses, doctors, visitors at a couple of websites, post-graduate research scholars, corporate employees living on computer bytes, and droves of young ones who huff and puff up the steps of her Mylapore clinic an unpalatable truth: "learn what to eat and when to stop."

"Food for thought?" she joked as she answered questions:

What major food trends do you see among youth today?

Every time I hear the pizza boy go past our road, I feel a sting inside me. It is not wrong to eat junk food. It is how often you eat it and how much you eat. Chennai has junk food joints at every nook and corner. School and college canteens thrive on chips and fried foods. Aerated drinks are regular in most children's diets. Do we have any school or college canteen emphasising vegetables soups or vegetable rice?

Eating habits have moved towards high calorie, high fat, low fibre food, lacking in fruits and vegetables. Add stress and lack of exercise, and you have a host of chronic problems. We do not have medical insurance. There are no rules related to curbing of obesity.

Isn't improvement in the standard of living reflected in our eating habits?

Yes. Earlier rice was the staple food. Fried foods were made only for celebrations. Cheese and paneer were non-existent in our diet. Today, different types of cuisines are tried, but none are followed fully. Combo foods are invariably high calorie and deficient in micro-nutrients and vitamins. Most of us are overfed but undernourished. Eating out is a high calorie experience. Ghee or masala dosa and tandoori items served in restaurants float in oil. Idli and idiappam are served with high calorie kurma or coconut chutney. Improving the standard, we have increased the empty calories. We cook vegetables with more oil. Maida products have found a major place in our diet.

Kids lead busy lives now. Is that a problem?

Kids have a tough life today. They sleep late and get up early to go to school. With little time to grab a glass of milk, they are at the mercy of canteens for food. In their small lunch boxes, they carry bread or noodles hurriedly prepared in the morning. All are carbohydrates and have little proteins, vitamins or minerals. Kids in day care get back home by 6 p.m., children in higher classes reach home even later after tuitions. Instead of a full meal, they end up snacking.

Children should have breakfast before leaving for school. They should carry lunch which has vegetable and protein. They have to have at least 500 ml of milk or curd to meet the calcium needs. About 30 per cent of our children and adolescents are anaemic. Children who exercise a lot or train for sports do not eat right. This might affect their potential height. They have to balance their proportions of nutrients.

Studies tell us that diabetes is on the rise. What should the young be doing now?

The young should eat right, exercise, and de-stress. Infants as young as 2 or 3 months old are in stress when left in a crèche. It continues into school and adolescence. Children should have outlets like music, dance or some extra-curricular activity to de-stress. Everyone should eat generous quantities of fruits and green coloured vegetables. Use banana stem and banana flower regularly in the diet. Indians have a genetic predisposition to diabetes and cardiac disease. We precipitate them with wrong diets, lack of exercise and stressful lives.

Long hours of work, night work — how can we stay healthy?

Eat a balanced meal before you leave for work. Snack on chilled fresh fruits (or sundal) to keep awake. Avoid tea, coffee, puffs and pastries. When you get home early in the morning, have a big bowl of home-made vegetable soup before going to bed. Afternoon, freshen up and go for a workout for half an hour or do stretching exercises. De-stress for 10 minutes doing meditation as you're working against the biological clock.

GEETA PADMANABHAN

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