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I am not surprised with the recent article by Kuensel dated 18th of December titled as: 27% of Bhutanese households cannot afford nutritious food, finds WFP report, picking up some national concern.
This topic picked quite a lot of criticism from the educated section with sound knowledge on health and wealth, nutrition and diet. There is one thing certain from the study report –the inadequate assessment, or simply ridiculous report without good baseline data to support the 27% underrated Bhutanese households without much good and nutritious food. The data could be more correct if otherwise stated as –27% of Bhutanese households can only afford nutritious food.
However, the cost of vegetables and fruits are higher in all vegetable markets by vendors. The trend can be changed only with a good and reliable monitoring system in place. Looks like our vendors are too greedy and creepy with the cost, they are simply extracting us penny-by-penny.
Someone expressed that it is time to fix certain reliable rates to vendors by the concerned authority, otherwise this problem won't be solved. Although, everything goes with the market force, there is always room for check and balance and weighing the market rates from place to place and time to time can go a long way to help each consumer.
Let me share my assumption theory based on experience and what I have seen and eaten at my home as a child. The data released by WFP was a bit ambiguous in nature because we know what each household and family, friends and relatives consume for their meals. We are a close-knit society and we know what next door curry is and what they are consuming for their survival.
It isn’t easy to live on a diet of vegetables and fruits. Our pallets are customed differently. Our taste buds are different. Our traditions are different. Our consumption pattern is different. Our preparation methods are different. Our timing is different. Likewise, we have different menus and accordingly we shop and spend our money.
It has been more than a decade now that I am consuming less, or no rice diet for all three meals. With much practice, determination and sacrifice, now I can survive without a rice diet. After all, for a boy who has come from a family who has never been on a vegetable and fruit diet, it doesn’t come so easily!
For the past many years, whether it is good, or bad, I have lived with more vegetables, fruits and soup items than the rice diet. I have personally seen a huge impact especially in cutting off belly fats, and body fitness. Although I am not perfect in health, I have seen many good benefits from a vegetable and fruit diet. One thing is certain with this –you need to make a huge sacrifice in terms of cash and mindset.
Just a few days back I raised my discussion with my ailing father who is with me currently for his medical check up. He is medically unfit to consume red and fatty meats. Except for some occasional wet fish soup, he needs to stay strong with a vegetable and fruit diet. Therefore, I make a point to get him some fresh and green vegetables and fruits as long as he likes the new menu. Two days before, I bought him a new fruit item by name –Dragon Fruit, its new fruit in our market although the existence has long been there in some other countries.
To supplement his weakened nerves, I sliced half of one Dragon fruit and placed it in front of him. It was the very first time that he had seen the fruit. Forget about the taste, he never heard the name of this fruit. How bad is our diet for someone who has lived life with a rice diet. And amazingly the WFP report stated otherwise.
It took my good time and energy to explain to him about the fruit and its existence and more importantly the health benefits. I have to impress him because he needed a good and rich B-Complex supplement for his multiple diseases.
The other day I was quizzically supplying him with a fresh apple. He raised his eyebrow and asked, how can I survive with an apple slice. I have to subdue him with good reasoning because he needs a lot of energy giving fruits and vegetables. I know how good apple and Dragon fruits are for health benefits and more. However, he did not know how much I was spending my hard-earned money on those fruits. All kinds of vegetables are expensive, fruits are more costly!
I personally feel the WFP report needs relook, or more authentic reasons to back 27% is anyway correct for now. If the data was around 70% and above who cannot afford vegetables and fruits rich in nutrition, I can have a peaceful sleep.
More than the health benefit, the cost of our vegetables and fruit are making our diet poor. For a beggar, filling a belly is more important than looking for healthy food. There is no time to think about nutrition in the uncertain battle of survival.
And we all have similar stories, the rest is a mystery!
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