Eat right and stay active
January 6, 2011 (Thursday)
Looking for a snack for a wintry afternoon? How about this recipe? “Ants- 1/2 Cup. Rice- 1/2 Cup.Onion- 1 Large…” Whoa! Back up! Did you say, “Ants?” Yep, it’s true. Many people eat ants. Preferably fried. Hot and spicey. When cooked, serve on a bed of rice that has been garnished with a small amount of chilli flakes. Yum, yum, yuk.
When I was a small child, I joined with the little kids of the neighborhood in exploring the world–the world, that is, of our yards. We ate all kinds of things, including dirt and grass. (I suppose that’s how humans learned what to eat, through trial and error). We were not much older than babies, so it’s understandable that we may have eaten unwisely.
Now we know better, I think. We know all about the various food groups, about protein, fat and carbohydrates, about meats, vegetables and fruits. We know about eating right, but the sad truth is, we don’t always eat according to our better judgment and knowledge of nutritional facts.
There are basically two essential requirements for maintaining good health: eat right and live an active life. If you prefer the more common one-word answers: “diet and exercise.”
Our modern society has worked against our good health by providing foods that are unhealthy and inventions that work against physical exertion. Think about what all the inventions of our time have in common: air conditioning, automatic washers, automobiles, televisions, computers, etc. They all either require or allow us to live passively without much physical involvement.
If we want to be healthy and strong, we must take the initiative, expand our knowledge, get up and do something, if possible. Much is at stake. It’s up to us.