Kavita Devgan talks about how we should go the traditional way in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle
We are nearing the end of 2018 and 2019 does not seem very far. In the last couple of years, a lot has changed about what and how we eat. Omega 3’s have become more commonplace, trans-fats have become a common food villain, probiotic milk have raided our fridge space getting pride of place along with humble homemade dahi, the egg (whole egg mind you) and good fats like ghee and coconut oil have made a come back and wisdom of following a low-fat diet is being questioned extensively.
Carbs are no longer being branded as clear cut villains anymore, and even though new diets are breaking the internet and joining the bookstore rack masses weekly (and there are multiple takers for these fad diets still), people are now beginning to question their very veracity. These are all healthy signs of healthy times! But there’s still lots more that is about to happen. Here’s what we will see more going forward:
Focus on nutrition
There is a non-diet approach towards seeking wellness. The focus has always been on habit changes. Only sustainable way to gain health is to live a life and lifestyle where your good habits outnumber the bad ones. This is what I write about in the book Don’t Diet! 50 Habits of Thin People Too and reiterate in my new book Ultimate Grandmother Hacks Too. There is more acceptance for this way of gaining health (and losing weight). Millennials, although a little confused, are driven by logic and looking to put health first.
Back to the past
Today, everyone is taking a hard look at how they are eating, moving away from our traditional way of eating, and cooking is gaining ground. People are going back to our roots to find the right way of eating and living. Nutrition science is simply trying to catch up with many age-old nuggets of wisdom and observation-led beliefs that we have been following since yesteryears.
Protein matters!
There’s also now far more understanding about the importance of protein in our diet and thus, I see a renewed push for protein. Plus the talk has moved from just protein quantity to protein quality — the kind of amino acids the food delivers, and this is good news, as quality always scores over quantity.
Plants win
We will see a perceptive shift towards eating a more plant-based diet, and mindless gorging on meat will become a thing of the past. I foresee a rise in the numbers of part-time vegetarians, who will reduce their meat consumption. And that is a good way to eat and live.
Eat Local
Some local trends that gaining strength are:
It’s time to slow down a bit and choose how we want to live our life. Our health will become a priority only when we make it a priority.
The writer is a nutritionist and author of Ultimate Grandmother Hacks