Eating habits by my grandmother
I started staying with my grandmother from my
mother’s side at an early age of three together with other grandchildren from
uncles. Every time we were eating my grandmother would say we must finish all
of our food so that we could be fatter. In my language the word fat (Tyebileyo)
is not as ugly as when is said in English. All of this was routed in my mind
that I should finish my plate every time I eat to this day I still finish my
food.
My grandmother did not teach me to eat junk
food and all the foods that we were forced to finish today are called organic
food and I mean organic food, because the food was sawed in the fields with no pesticides whatsoever but only irrigated by the Heavenly Father God by means of rain. Even
though we were mostly eating the staple food Pap (Powdered maize cooked with
water into solid porridge) with salt if there is something to eat pap with
would be peas; beans; potatoes (yes gravy made from potatoes) and some natural green leafy vegetables of which
were seasonal. We were eating meat at least once a month for at least three
conservative days and that’s it back to square one, eating pap with salt.
No one was fat from that diet though. I would
comfortably say we were of healthy weight all of us and we did not look malnourished at all. When I first started
staying with my grandmother, her cows were not with us but with some family
member and the years went by and I don’t know how old I was but I remember
things changed for the better when her cows were brought back and now was pap
with milk. That was a celebration Wow! For a change we have isishebo (something
to eat pap with).
As I am growing I have noticed that I was not
eating the same diet but still stuck with the finish your food syndrome.I have a big portion problem and as long the food is in front
of me I will finish it. To monitor this habit, I make sure my portion size is
served from the onset. When at home I am the one who
dishes food therefore will dish what’s right for me, even use kitchen scale if I am getting out of hand. When eating out I share my
food right at the beginning and check the portion sizes as well.
As a mother of three children I do not force my
children to finish their food at least I try not to but thanks God my husband is there
to make sure I do not do that hahahaa. I do not even fuss about it, if they say
they are full that’s it, I put the plate away. I do not want to repeat what
happened to me. I try to ensure that they eat as healthy as possible. If they
want something sweet I give them fruits, they like fruits such as apples and
bananas in the summer season and are affordable and in winter oranges are available
and cheap, I do give them sweets as a treat. I wouldn’t say that I have
perfected my habits when it comes to food but I am slowly getting there.
I make sure that at least once a week we eat rice
or pap with dried beans either kidney beans or sugar beans, peas, lentils as
our supper without meat. I also ensure that there is one day per week where we
eat vegetables with rice such as cabbage; carrots, spinach and or kale taking a
bigger portion in our plates. We have not totally stopped eating the junk food
but we eat it less often now. My portion sizes are a little bit improving and I
am better than before I started being aware of my eating habits. I have started
exactly where I am because conditions are just never perfect to start, so just
start your journey the time is now not tomorrow but now.
