I see most people celebrating the victory of Naya Pakistan, and they rightly deserve so. But one of the habits that aren’t as old but need to be ‘revolutionized’ are our eating habits. People devour huge-ass meals in one sitting (giving a new meaning to being able to “eat a horse”). The biggest issue is that even though we are consuming, we’re not nourishing out bodies. We are so dependent on food that is overly processed and manufactured. That isn’t real food, it’s the ingredients and real organic nutritious things that are real food. In the resolution that I drafted for my “Naya Pakistan”, I decided to change my eating habits as well. Thus my trip to the local Farmer’s market or the “Sabzi Mandi” for all those sasti sasti treats!
My trip to the Sabzi Mandi was honestly welcomed. It was refreshing to see all those green vegetables piled at different places on the road. I was amazed at the number of people there, although I thought I went fairly early at around 9:00 am. (My Naya Pakistan Resolution should also have waking up early). I started exploring and filtering the kinds of vegetables I wanted in my kapray ka bag (I decided to go green fully). My mother wasn’t as pleased seeing the kinds of vegetables I started stocking up. Unko laga pooray mahinay as bas kaddu, bengan aur karailay hi banain gay. But honestly, compared to all the benefits that she is getting, she should be happy she won’t get high blood pressure or diabetes in the years to come. Especially in the family like mine, where heart diseases run in the family (yes, yes, because no one runs).
I also felt adventurous so I ended up buying a pumpkin, experimenting with it. I made both a nice sweet halwa with it and roasted it with other vegetables as well.
There are many benefits to eating healthy. There are reduced risks to heart diseases, strokes, certain types of cancers, obesity, Type II Diabetes, kidney stones, and bone loss. So next time you decide to eat out somewhere, do visit your local farmer’s market as well. It’s not only good for your health, but also for your wallet.
