Fast fitness
I used to be a very fat kid, like really fat. When I was in preparatory school, I would often pick fights with my classmates would call me names such as "baboy" (pig) and "tambok" (fat). When I was outnumbered by them, I would cry and run to my teacher for help -a skill which I have learned to master so they would eventually apologize. It was only then when I was older that I realized, sometimes you have to fight back.
So I went on a dieting spree, jumping from one lifestyle to another. My parents were determined to make me lose weight and eventually have healthy eating habits. There was this book called "Fit for Life" where the author recommended eating no rice at all and substituting it with whole wheat or grains. Red meat was also not allowed, only white meat and vegetables. For months I shunned all sugary food that an elementary kid would want and stuck to my tuna-vegetable sandwich. I was the subject of criticism by my so-called classmates, but in the end I was back to having normal weight.
The generation today is more keen on trying to shed the fat in any way possible. There are those who are into the trend of using fat to fuel the body, what we all know as the ketogenic diet. Others are going full vegan while there are those who maintain a pescatarian diet.
Like many other things, there is no fast rule for a diet but with the current situation of rice supply in our country it is high time that we look for alternatives. Carbs does not only mean rice -it could be root crops, corn grits, and the like if we only get used to it. Research also tells us that rice, when not burned, could easily become stored fat which makes us obese. Cups of rice could make one fat as well, it is also sugar.
We can change our lifestyle if we want to with many various reasons; health, lifestyle change and what not. But the most meaningful reason is to choose to be strong for the next generation. When we get older, the children today will need all our strength and our might as we lead them to their paths. This mindset is the best motivation there is.
When it comes to the price of rice, I'd like to leave the authorities to that. Food that has been a staple in the Philippine cuisine has never been this alarming in years. Whether or not there is a manipulation by the cartels, their conscience will guide them through. Instead of us complaining on the rising price of commercial rice and the depleting supply of NFA rice, I'd go back to my point that finding alternatives is the answer. There are a lot of options that are healthier and cheaper. Having a new staple on the table wouldn't hurt, just like exploring other things as well.
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