There is a strong reason why I hold Mr. Gupta, my office colleague, in high regard. Not just because he is my senior but also because it was he who inspired me to change my unhealthy eating habits. I shall always remain grateful to him and his family and shall never forget my first visit to his home when he invited me to breakfast. That breakfast meeting with Guptaji and Bhabiji (Mrs. Gupta) absolutely changed my perspective about food and eating habits. Add to that, I had a very nutritious breakfast that was not only something very novel, very innovative but also tasted so good.
As much as it proves to be a learning and growing experience, but life as a bachelor, living alone, can be tough at times as well, more so when it comes to food and if you do not know how to cook. It was December 2014. I had just started to live on my own, away from my family, when I came to Delhi to join my new company. I had never been away from my family before and so it took me some time to get used to my new city of residence. But as I didn’t know how to cook, I used to rely on the dabba food (packaged food) or else ate at my office cafeteria. However that was mostly for lunch and dinner. Often I used to just skip my breakfast altogether, not only because of my inability to cook but also because of the time constraints. As a result of this unhealthy practice, my body's metabolism got affected and I started suffering from hypertension and over-anxiety. I would often feel very tired and lethargic. I also noticed that I had added kilos around my waist in a matter of just a few days! I was obviously depressed about my worsening health and my unhealthy eating habits but just didn't know how to correct them. That's when I ran into Guptaji one day at our colony's park. I had gone there for a morning jog as I wished to shed my extra kilos. I didn't know then that Guptaji lives just a few blocks away from my apartment. When I told him everything regarding my health issues, he simply smiled and instead only asked me to join him for breakfast. I was hesitant at first but since I was feeling hungry as well after the jog, so I agreed.
The Guptas are very warm and friendly people as I found out that day. After Shalu Bhabhi (Mrs. Gupta) got to know about my health problems from her husband, not only did she treat me with some really innovative and lip-smacking coconut laddoos -- that had
Kellogg's cornflakes added to them -- but she also taught me how to make some other really easy and healthy breakfast items, so that I didn't skip my breakfast. I never knew that preparing a nutritious and yummy breakfast could be so easy with the
Kellogg's cornflakes. More over one can prepare them in no time!
Shalu Bhabhi truly has magic in her fingers. For instance, she taught me how to make Sitaphal Cornflakes in which the pulp of custard apple was to be added to a cup of Kellogg's Corn Flakes and milk and walnuts and one could have such a scrumptious breakfast! No wonder Mr. Gupta looks so fit and young. She taught me a few other breakfast items too like the crunchy chidwa mixed with corn flakes, strawberry and banana cornflakes and many other innovative breakfast recipes. I had felt so depressed and confused the previous evening after my tests, when the doctor told me that I was deficient of vitamin B and iron but after meeting Shalu Bhabhi and having learnt the breakfast recipes, I was now feeling so much assured. She also showed me the
youtube channel of Kellogg India which has got over a 100 healthy recipes. Following her advice and instructions, I started preparing and eating Kellogg's breakfast regularly and the results were there to see. Ever since I started eating the healthy and light Kelloggs Corn flakes for breakfast, not only did I feel energised the whole day through but it also helped me in losing those extra kilos.
It's just amazing what a healthy breakfast does to you. Not without reason is breakfast often described as the most important meal of the day. We often underestimate its value and sometimes skip it altogether, in order to lose weight. But in reality, eating breakfast regularly actually helps one to maintain a healthy weight. It also provides energy to power our entire day!
I still frequent Guptaji's house every now and then and more so to have breakfast at his place. Shalu Bhabhi is always ready with a new, innovative but easy to make breakfast recipe every time I go there. I couldn't have got a better teacher for learning healthy recipes.
