For Your Brain's Sake! (I)

Recently, on his way out for a tea-break between his tuition sessions with me, CY shared another observation with everybody.

"I notice there is a stark difference between Asian diet and Western diet. Over here, our Asian diet has a "fast-food" culture. When we look around, there is a lot of deep-fried food, such as fried chicken wings, fried fishballs, curry puffs. And we tend to eat very fast. It's like, you eat-and-go. But, in those European countries, people seem to eat slowly. They sit and talk. Look at their food. It's like fine dining style..."

And I think he wanted to add "Al-fresco".

Some reactions from his tuition mates:

"It's the weather here. It's very warm!"

"Fried food is more convenient...and tastier!"

"Ageing population. There are more old people there, who eat slowly--part of enjoying life!"

"Lack of time. Even at school, during recess, we have been acclimatised to finish a meal in less than 25minutes."

Picture from https://www.misstamchiak.com/cedar-point-food-centre-johor/

I mentioned, whether good times or bad times, in developed countries or less developed countries, fast-food restaurant business stays afloat. All the students agreed and off they went, to buy their $5 Student Meals at Subway.

See, student meal rocks.

CY's insightful observation has been staying at the back of my mind for the last few days. On one hand, it is evident that this young man is paying attention to social and cultural norms. On the other, he has pointed out a phenomenon: there is something not-quite-healthy about Asian diet.

I am neither a dietician nor a doctor. But, I do have some insights of my own to share for a healthy child's life. I will share some of them in the next few posts in the series entitled, "For Your Brain's Sake!"

Read on!