I forgot to mention about my birthday celebrations this year,2010.
It was the best birthday ever! ( Do I say this every year? Maybe I do.) But I swear, I never had such a relaxed and free birthday ever. Thanks to my loving husband and my lovely kids.... I didn't enter the kitchen at all. I woke up to my favourite smell, that of coffee, made by my hubby dear. Then, maggi was cooked by my little one with the help of my husband. The pampering didn't stop there, my older one made lunch ... she made jeera rice and rajma looking at my recipe. What a day, it was for me. I was feeling so overwhelmed and very proud of them.
A bouquet of roses, a beautiful card with meaningful words was presented by my husband. My kids made cards for me with their artistic hands, and they sang a song for me. My older daughter had put together a slide show with my pictures and wonderful captions to enhance them. I felt so emotional, not looking at the pictures, but at the thought of my daughter giving me such a thoughful gift.
In the evening we went to the temple as usual, and then from there we went to dinner to a new indian reatuarant, Mehfil, elegantly decorated with crystal God idols and lovely pastel color curtains. The food was not as good as the restuarant, but it was not bad either, just a bit bland, I guess.
So another year has passed by, making me another year younger at heart!!
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Kids' Palate
I never understand when someone says that their kids don’t eat this vegetable or that vegetable. I have two kids and my kids eat all vegetables and that too without me forcing them. I understand when an American says that, as they don’t have curries like us, they just boil the vegetables and eat or eat them raw, both of which don’t taste good, I agree. But for an Indian, saying that your kid doesn’t eat vegetables is not excusable.
We have so many different ways to cook, so many different varieties to make, to eat with rice or rotis, or just make yummy patties to make a burger. I think we have the largest variety of vegetables in India. Each vegetable can be cooked in 101 ways and the kids do like variety and sure appreciate spices rather than bland food.
Giving up is something we parents should never do. When a kid doesn’t like a vegetable it may not mean that he or she doesn’t like that particular vegetable, it could be that they don’t like it the way it is made. Next time when you use that vegetable make it in a different way, and you never know, your kid might like that vegetable very much. Trail and patience is all it takes to make a kid eat.
It is said that whatever a kid eats before it is one year old is not remembered, but from the age of one to five is the crucial age, when the kid develops tastes, likes and dislikes. This is the age when you should make them try all vegetables; make them try all varieties of food. It is a wrong notion that you should feed a toddler certain types of food only; they don’t digest all kinds of food. You bet they do! It is very easy for babies and kids to digest everything. There is a saying, “Kids can digest stones too.” Very true, though not literally. So never fear about the little tummy, it never troubles your toddler!
I never give my kids a choice of vegetables, whatever I cook, they have got to eat, though I do understand when they eat more of a certain vegetable and a little of another. If it is on their plate, they have got to eat it, that’s a rule. Well, incidentally, my kids love my cooking, and so the most unusual vegetable is also liked by them if I make it to suit their palate. No repetition of vegetables frequently, or stale food, I cook twice a day, and so the freshness of taste is the key ingredient. And of course, a generous dash of my love too!
We have so many different ways to cook, so many different varieties to make, to eat with rice or rotis, or just make yummy patties to make a burger. I think we have the largest variety of vegetables in India. Each vegetable can be cooked in 101 ways and the kids do like variety and sure appreciate spices rather than bland food.
Giving up is something we parents should never do. When a kid doesn’t like a vegetable it may not mean that he or she doesn’t like that particular vegetable, it could be that they don’t like it the way it is made. Next time when you use that vegetable make it in a different way, and you never know, your kid might like that vegetable very much. Trail and patience is all it takes to make a kid eat.
It is said that whatever a kid eats before it is one year old is not remembered, but from the age of one to five is the crucial age, when the kid develops tastes, likes and dislikes. This is the age when you should make them try all vegetables; make them try all varieties of food. It is a wrong notion that you should feed a toddler certain types of food only; they don’t digest all kinds of food. You bet they do! It is very easy for babies and kids to digest everything. There is a saying, “Kids can digest stones too.” Very true, though not literally. So never fear about the little tummy, it never troubles your toddler!
I never give my kids a choice of vegetables, whatever I cook, they have got to eat, though I do understand when they eat more of a certain vegetable and a little of another. If it is on their plate, they have got to eat it, that’s a rule. Well, incidentally, my kids love my cooking, and so the most unusual vegetable is also liked by them if I make it to suit their palate. No repetition of vegetables frequently, or stale food, I cook twice a day, and so the freshness of taste is the key ingredient. And of course, a generous dash of my love too!
NRI Mindset!
It is so strange that when people are in India, they don’t care for a lot of things! They don’t participate in many good causes regularly. They go about their life as normal as can be and wouldn’t even want to hear about these things. They say that they are busy! But, surprisingly, when they move out of the country, everybody is interested in things going on in India, they want to participate in everything, and they start forums and debates to support or go against every cause, every problem and every organization in India.
I have never understood this stand of an Indian. They donate to eye banks, they sit outside in some other country and send SMS to support some girl raped in India. They support all the religious groups back in India in all their endeavors. They send old clothes to some natural calamity like the floods or earthquakes in India. Not that this is wrong, it is a very noble cause, but why is it that to arouse your consciousness, you need to step out of your country? Doesn’t it come naturally to you when you stay in India?
One argument would definitely be that we earn in Dollars or Euros or Yens and so are able to donate. Agreed. But then that is just monetary help. What about all the support by word of mouth or by rallies and campaigns? Why don’t you do that on a daily basis when staying in India? Why do people come out to help only when calamities strike?
Take the case of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. For the first time perhaps in the history of India, common man came out on to the streets with a genuine cause of changing the political scenario, raising voice against terrorism. Not even Movie makers take time to make movies about these terror attacks. They would rather make a movie for the US audience about 9/11. Irony of life, indeed! You can’t wake up the conscience of an Indian in India, but want to show that you care to the US people? Why? Would any American even care to know whether you support them in their troubles? For them, you will remain an immigrant forever, even if you are a citizen. Some food to your thoughts guys!
I have never understood this stand of an Indian. They donate to eye banks, they sit outside in some other country and send SMS to support some girl raped in India. They support all the religious groups back in India in all their endeavors. They send old clothes to some natural calamity like the floods or earthquakes in India. Not that this is wrong, it is a very noble cause, but why is it that to arouse your consciousness, you need to step out of your country? Doesn’t it come naturally to you when you stay in India?
One argument would definitely be that we earn in Dollars or Euros or Yens and so are able to donate. Agreed. But then that is just monetary help. What about all the support by word of mouth or by rallies and campaigns? Why don’t you do that on a daily basis when staying in India? Why do people come out to help only when calamities strike?
Take the case of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. For the first time perhaps in the history of India, common man came out on to the streets with a genuine cause of changing the political scenario, raising voice against terrorism. Not even Movie makers take time to make movies about these terror attacks. They would rather make a movie for the US audience about 9/11. Irony of life, indeed! You can’t wake up the conscience of an Indian in India, but want to show that you care to the US people? Why? Would any American even care to know whether you support them in their troubles? For them, you will remain an immigrant forever, even if you are a citizen. Some food to your thoughts guys!
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