On Drinking Milk Without Sugar

I can only think of our childhood with nostalgia...

Appa, you persuaded us very convincingly to have our milk without sugar ('empty calories' you said) and eat vegetables like paavakkai with relish. Every time you went to Ooty or to any western supermarket you got us different types of cheese, bread and cereal, so much so that we all have an eclectic taste in food. You also insisted that we rinse our mouth thoroughly after every meal or drink and this had helped us all have relatively good teeth. And who can forget your 'calling to order' the milk routine every morning and afternoon?

Amma, you were always wise beyond your years with regard to our nutrition. It is from you both we learned to sit at the table and eat in a disciplined way. I remember 2-year old Vasu eating finger foods very sweetly - you'd have little bits of boiled veggies or fruit and he'd feed himself. You always, ensured we had a balanced diet - never too much carbohydrates; never too much sweet and cake: these were treats and mostly made by you at home. You never stuffed us with food like I see some mothers do - it is now proven that this leads to obesity. You'd rather have us down a glass of milk if we missed a meal and this is exactly what doctors advise these days. Amma, you read up every bit about medicine, nutrition and health and you still do and always give us good advice on how to eat and take care of our children.

The 5 of us owe our awareness of health and nutrition to the two of you.
Love
Usha Venkat

Usha Venkatachalam