Why Do We Need to Consider Nutrition and Eat Healthy Foods? (A Lecture for Nutrition Month)

I was tasked to deliver a short lecture last Monday (July 14) for our students to commemorate Nutrition Month.  This was how it roughly went…

Good morning.

I am here to deliver a short lecture on the significance of being concerned with eating nutritious foods.  Some of the details I will be sharing here are merely taken from your Health lessons.   Nonetheless, I hope that at the end of this short lecture, you will realize the relevance of eating healthy in your lives and be compelled to do your best to maintain a healthy diet.

   

Part 1 – The Body’s Need for Proper Nutrition

Let us start this with a simple question.     

It’s a misconception to think that one is “malnourished” when he or she is thin, and someone is “healthy” when he or she is fat.  Being “well-nourished” is NOT defined by how thin or fat you are, but whether you have the right amount – emphasis on “right amount” – of vitamins, minerals, and other nutritional components that the body requires to function.  Both being too thin and too fat are usually indications of malnourishment – meaning the “right amount” of nutrition is not being met. 

How can we make sure that we are getting the right amount of nutrition from our food intakes?  That’s what the food pyramid is for…

Many nutritionists consider this as the most definite, most comprehensive way of determining the right amount of food intake to ensure that we get the appropriate amount of nutrition that the body needs.  It’s very easy to understand: those that are in the base are the kind of foods that you need to take the most, and as it grows closer to the tip, the less you have to eat such kind of foods.  I will not discuss the food pyramid in detail.  It’s just to introduce or remind you of what guide you can use for a healthy diet.

Part 2 – Some Consequences of Not Getting Proper Nutrition

Now, let us proceed to look at some of the most common diseases that arose whenever there is lack of nutrition in the body, and some of the foods you can eat to avoid them. 

Part 3 – There is a Reason Why They Are Called “Junk” Foods

When we eat healthy foods, the body gains access to and breaks down necessary nutritional components like vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, and amino acids so it can repair bodily wear-and-tear and refurbish cells.  However, in junk foods, there is a deficiency of nutritional components in them or none at all.  Aside from that, the toxins in junk foods put strain on the body because it has to work extra hard to flush them out of itself. 

Eating too much junk food can also lead to serious conditions…

Part 4 – Some Tips for Eating Healthy

Here are some basic tips for you as you start adopting a healthy diet…  

 

Part 5 – The Theology of Eating Healthy

As Christians, the Scriptures have provided some implicit insights with regards to the need to eat healthy.   I found four.  Let us read...

      

As Christians, our bodies are the temple of God.  We have a responsibility to take care of it, to keep it healthy.  Moreover, we need to glorify God in all our actions – and the Scripture openly includes eating, since it was the chosen example.  Do you think we are glorifying God in our eating if we are deliberately and gratuitously consuming stuff that can give harm to “God’s temple”?  There are consequences if we are not faithful stewards of these bodies God has given us. 

Eating should not be an end itself.  We should be conscious that eating is designed by God to give “fuel” to our bodies so that we can do the tasks that He entrusted to us and carry on His will in our lives.  I am not saying that it isn’t right to derive pleasure from eating, but, again, it should not be the end purpose itself.  We don’t enjoy earthly delights just for the sake of enjoying earthly delights itself.  Every pleasure we choose to partake in should always lead us to the glory of God (that is for another topic).    So, as we enjoy eating fried chicken, we always need to remember to thank God with each bite for the pleasure it gives us (delicious foods and meals in general are God’s gifts) and remind ourselves that the enjoyment we are deriving from eating  fried chicken is nothing compared to the enjoyment found in God alone. 

Lastly, there is no actual forbiddance in eating junk food.  It is not sinful to eat chips or drink soft drinks.  But, again, whenever we allow ourselves to exercise our freedom – and that includes eating junk foods – we need to think well if it’s beneficial to us, if it will help our purpose of glorifying God.        

It is up to you to make a decision out of your personal conviction from the Holy Spirit.  But let these Scriptures be your “food for thought” on your choices regarding your diet.  A Christian will always need to consider the glory of God in everything that his life touches on.     

Part 6 – Conclusion

In closing, I guarantee you this: Eating healthy will greatly help you in your school work.  I want you to ponder on this.

Kim John, stand up and please read the slide…

Zion, please read the next slide…

Next, David Daniel, please stand up and read…

Lastly, students, let us all read together…

Amen.  You can forget everything what T. Bernel has said to you, but just remember this one thing: to glorify God in all things, even your food choices, fitness, health, everything.  Glorify God in all things.      

Thank you very much for listening.   

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Thoughts on Magnum

I finally tasted Magnum.  Thrice already in fact, as of this review.  Twice with Almond and once with Classic (Almond >>> Classic).  My review:

I got curious with Magnum because of how it went trending in my Facebook wall.   Plenty of talk on how awesome Magnum is.  People proudly upload pictures of themselves eating Magnum.  They boast on their status updates whenever they eat one.  Even to the extent on mentioning the amount, that they had shelved 50 pesos for it.  It’s a new fad!

Questions flooded in my mind.  Why is this stuff not advertized on TV or posters at all (haven’t seen yet if there are any)?  Is this some sort of marketing experiment, by relying on some sort of viral “Internet word of mouth” strategy to create its popularity? Is this merely a meme, with all the picture taking done with it?  I did some researching and found that prior to being launched in the Philippines, Magnum is quite a popular brand around the world.  All this made me more curious.    

So I decided to try it.  Not to join the “in” crowd, but because all the hype about Magnum being ridiculously delicious was too much.  I wanted to have the same experience of ice cream ecstasy as what others had implied when they tasted it.  And that was what I was expecting.         

I expected too much.  It’s definitely a very delicious ice cream, but I was expecting to get my mind and taste buds blown away by it.  However, the hype was not equal to the actual.  I also find 50 pesos too much for it, though many will probably disagree with me on this (Any “Belgian chocolates are expensive, you big ignoramus!” thrown at me will be responded with the “Whatever” fingers from me).  But, consider this, I tried this Korean melon flavored green ice-cream bar worth 40 pesos, and I find the price just right for the quality of that ice cream.

Magnum, though great as its quality is, for me, should only be in the 30 to 40 pesos range.  I could be wrong.  But that’s just my opinion. 

Overall assessment:  slightly overpriced, greatly overhyped, but not overly overrated.  (I hope I made sense with that one.)    

To be fair, I haven’t tried the Chocolate Truffles Magnum yet.  Could it be possible that this is what the Magnum hype is mostly about?

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Fried Chicken

Fried chicken is truly one of the most beloved food on earth. I am very fond of it, though it’s not my favorite food - but it used to be when I was a little boy. Now, my lil’ sis is the one who loves fried chicken like I used to when I was her age – it’s the only thing she orders when we go out.
I don’t know why most children are very fond of fried chicken. It’s a fact. Fried chicken is the most popular food among kids. And when they grow up, they may put other kinds of food above fried chicken but they will never forget fried chicken. It’s still going to be in their list of preferred food.
The best meat for me is beef, followed by pork, and fish and seafood, and lastly, poultry – chicken in particular. But when it comes to being fried to crispy brown perfection… I’ll go with chicken. How would you like chicken be cooked? Grilled? Roasted? “Tinola”? Great ideas, but I’ll go with “fried”… most people will answer the same.
You can eat fried chicken with anything you like. With rice, or pasta, or baked goods. Gravy, ketchup, mayonnaise, sauce, or nothing at all. It is also a great finger food. And it can be eaten anytime - in snacks, meals, luncheons, picnics, etc.
There might be some instances when someone gets tired, or sick of it (probably because of eating too much, or eating one with e coli bacteria, or the chicken was inferiorly fried). But often it is only temporary. Given some time, fried chicken will be back on his diet, simply because he can’t resist.
Fried chicken comes in different tastes, because there is a lot of ways to marinate it… or depending on a restaurant’s trademark recipe. Me, I use flour, salt, egg, some vinegar or “kalamansi” – preferably “kalamansi” than vinegar – on it. If I get lazy, just salt and vinegar. I make good fried chicken – and my number one is my sister.
I think the best fried chicken restaurant in the country is KFC. I can’t wait for it to open a branch here in Legazpi. I love KFC’s chicken strips. KFC is one good thing those Americans brought us.
Come to think of it, fried chicken is an American influence on us. Americans love it. Filipinos love it. And probably everyone.
Ah, fried chicken. If you just think about it, there’s something fascinating in all of this about fried chicken… the smell… the recipes… deep fried… the crispness… the taste in your mouth… it’s appeal… it’s popularity… everything.
Maybe the loneliest people on Earth are those who can’t eat fried chicken because of some reasons (like they are allergic to it). They’re missing out something big. Fried chicken is one of the best things out of life.

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Food For Thought

Who hates eating? Nobody... except maybe babies and small children that thinks eating is torture. Me, I love eating. Food is essential. Eating is not only a process in which you take in food for energy but also a great way to meditate and appreciate blessings in your life. I really appreciate good food and a good meal. And I am sometimes guilty of overeating. In social events or other events, especially those that has no interest in me, I only look forward to the "chow time" after or during the event. I can eat a lot, especially if hungry. That is why fiestas and parties are what I like going to best. Plenty of food to eat.
I have many favorite foods. But pizza is what I really love to eat. I rarely eat pizza, that is why it is my favorite. I love also love burgers and sandwiches. I have many favorite dishes but I think tenderloin tips is my most favorite. I can eat almost everything... fish, beef, pork, chicken, vegetables, fruits, baked goods, junk foods, etc.Piaya is also a favorite of mine. In the past, It is really very rare for me to be able to eat it because you can only find it in the Visayas. But a few years back, it became available in some local mall. Piaya is really good. Desserts are also a favorite of mine, especially halo-halo, ice-cream and ref cake (or mango float). The best dessert I really like is ref cake, topped with cookies and cream ice cream, sprinkled with crushed polvoron. I urge you to try it. It is really great. I prefer chocolates from any other kind of sweets. The taste of chocolate is good. Solid or liquid (hot or cold) chocolate is heavenly. White chocolates are my favorite. But I like other kinds of chocolates, too. Ofcourse, chocolates are the best. Everybody loves chocolate. I cannot enumerate all my favorite foods here. There is a lot of them. I am not a "choosy" eater. I will anything when I am hungry.
Experimenting with food is great experience. I have very limited knowledge in cooking, that is why I do not experiment in cooking. I only experiment with cooked or made food. I mix them, or eat them together. That is why midnight snacks are a go for me. I am really lucky that my room is near our kitchen, talk about convenience. I only have to prepare myself the food I want to eat. One night, I prepared myself sandwiches of the left over corned beef and egg, then I took some pancit, the last slice of buko pie, some crackers that I put some peanut butter on and a cold fried chicken. After the good meal, I finished it with some salad and a glass of coke. That was one of the best meals I ever had. My grand midnight snacks are rare because it is seldom that you will find me still awake very late, and rarely you will find the ref stocked with goods. But I really love those nights when I eat those grand meals, while reading a book or finishing some work or project.
Eating outside is also cool. Restaurants and fast food chains are good places to eat a good meal. My dream is to eat in some top class restaurant. But street vendors have some great street foods to offer as well, though maybe harmful. I often eat here, I like street foods. When my friends, or my mother,and I have some night "gimiks" or activities, we often browse around the vendors and have a great meal. You cannot find this kind of good meal and thrill in some fancy restaurant
Food trips with my friends are really great. Either with shiawarmas, tacos, fishballs or the like. But I learned a really cool food trip from my classmates back in high school. We buy some potato chips, cookies, corn chips, peanuts and other "chichirias", then proceed to the food court. We take a food tray and pour and mix what we bought in the tray. We make something like a "junk food salad" and share. After the meal, we drink water from the food court. People around us stare at us amusingly. We did this several times and it is really a fun "food trip".
Eating, wild or tame, is a great experience. Eating can make you realize that life is good. The enjoyment of eating can be doubled if you are with your family and/or friends. It is a great experince eating with someone. We do not only eat just for the sake of survival. We do not eat just to feed the body. But we eat also eat to feed the soul. Eating physical food can feed the soul. It makes you think about the goodness of God in providing you with good food. Then the thoughts will shift to all the blessing and goodness in your life, and thanking God for it. That is what is unique with humans, we are not animals who only eat for the sake of satisfying the stomach. God gave us the gift of meditating, thinking of life, appreciating blessings, improving relationships and simply enjoying the food with others or with only ourselves as we satisfy the stomach.

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