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Photo: M. Vedhan

Crispy calories Good to eat and not so good for health

It is one of those eternal, everlasting universal questions. Why are things that taste good, naturally bad for health? Think of the yummy, crisp potato chip and simultaneously think of piling on the pounds. So when the ad makers came up with the popular tagline for a brand of potato chips, “No one can eat just one,” they completely forgot to mention the battle of the bulge.

Tomorrow is Potato Chip Day and MetroPlus does a check on the eating habits of Gen X and talks to people about the couch potato trend that is sweeping across our country.

Says 15-year-old Sudheer Banna, “Although we are aware that oily finger chips are unhealthy, school children often don’t have a healthy substitute.” He adds, “Especially during a fifteen-minute morning break, one cannot but grab a packet of chips to satisfy one’s hunger. That’s all we have the time for.”

Many mothers around the city do not pass the buck when asked who should be held responsible for the unhealthy eating habits of children these days.

Devashree Nair, a lawyer and mother of two admits: “I am to be blamed for not keeping a check on what my children are eating outside. What happens most often is that working mothers do not have the time to cook two meals at 7 a.m. for a family of four. This gives children the chance to indulge in junk food during the day.”

Obesity is a major health concern among today’s teenagers. While gluttony gives way to high cholesterol levels, business people whose existence depends on the consumption of fried food are elated that these packets of temptation fetch them good money.

Says Ameen, owner of one such shop: “School and college-going children are our prime customers. Often they not only buy one bag of chips during their lunch break, they even carry at least two packets with them back to school.”

Hotelier Babu Mohanty says: “People constantly criticize burgers and vadas. What they fail to realize is that the modest finger chip can cause as much harm to one’s body.”

“Gone are the days when one could expect only the elderly to suffer a heart attack,” says Jeevitha Rani, a doctor. Apart from bad eating habits, she says: Lack of physical exercise is another major cause for obesity.”

She also stresses that “those who are obese as a result of some genetic disorder must not use this as an excuse for not exercising.”

Practically the only good thing coming out of the size zero debate is youngsters are more careful of what they eat. Nutritionist Shirley Thomas claims to know “youngsters who have cut down on fatty food, not because of health reasons but mostly to improve their appearance.” She feels that “awareness must be spread in educational institutions about the dangers of overeating.”

If you believe that health is wealth, without further ado, take appropriate steps to curb your intake of junk food. On the other hand if you feel you cannot say no to that crispy golden brown fried delight, then here is wishing you a Happy Potato Chip Day!

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