The last time my mom visited my home here in Lagos State, she was in awe of how much sugar I consume during my breakfast. The next thing I discovered was that I couldn't find my container of sugar in my cabinet; obviously she had hidden it. Mom forced me to take my tea without sugar, like seriously? I was taking the tea reluctantly because the taste wasn't tasting at all.
Diabetes runs in my family, so even without so much sugar intake, it takes grace to escape the sickness in my family as one continues to age, not to mention someone who is addicted to taking sugary things. This is what Mom is trying to protect me from because, for years now, she has been managing diabetes, including her blood brothers. Whenever she visits, my activities in the kitchen increase due to double cooking. She is on a diet because of diabetes, so apparently she doesn't eat most of the food I eat with my family. Managing diabetes isn't so simple, and this is why I should tread with caution when it comes to sugar intake, but unfortunately, I am not yet so disciplined enough to control my sugar cravings, I will be sincere, even though I know all the health implications.
Here in Africa, most of the foods we eat are carbohydrates, which have a natural sugar content in them. The likes of yam, potatoes, plantains, etc. all contain natural sugar, and while we consume these every time, we also consume carbonated drinks filled with sugar plus the raw sugar added to our pap and tea, not to mention cookies, candies, cakes, and other lots of sugary snacks we take every now and then. Taking drinks free from sugar has proven so difficult for me, lolz. Sugar stores energy in our body system, and so it's quite beneficial but also becomes dangerous to our health when consumed excessively.
I will be sincere to say that I need help, or better say, I need to be more disciplined when it comes to sugar intake because obviously I am aware of everything knowledgeable surrounding sugary things. I am aware of how much intake of it can send someone to the hospital consistently, but what I haven't done is observe moderation to a large extent.
But something happened recently...
I attended a parent meeting in my kids school, and there, we had a nutritionist who lectured us about healthy living. Before parents were invited, students already took their own dozes of knowledge on that, and so to be on the page on the new policy the school was introducing, parents were invited. The session was a kind of reminder because, obviously, you and I know that nothing beats a healthy lifestyle. We all know that excessive intake of sugar isn't healthy, but we are so attached to its sweetness without considering the negative effect in the long run. So the nutritionist made a smoothie here during the session.
Also, replacing the snacks we give the kids while coming to school with fruits was another topic on its own and part of the new policy from the school. Parents agitated that fruits are expensive to buy daily; however, some days in a week were made compulsory for us to give the children fruits instead of snacks and and give them fruits juice instead of carbonated drinks always!
That session became a turning point for me, but I wouldn't say that I have totally stayed away from so much sugar intake. But then, the funny part is that my kids, who are supposed to request more sugary things, are the ones reminding me to reduce my sugar intake because they were taught about it. They demand fruit more than snacks due to the way their school consistently advocates for healthy living.
In conclusion, it's been a work in progress for me trying to limit my sugar intake, embracing moderation, and sticking to healthy living.
All images are mine.
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