Debmita Dutta's Blog, page 107

How to keep colds from spreading? - Tip 3 - Go Disposable!!

​There is no way you can allow a nose to run and drip.
 
And so - when a cold has you in its grip - mopping up is the primary task at hand.
 
And it is important tomop up right.
 
Containing the discharges from sneezes and coughs is really important because every droplet of snot and phlegm is laden with the infectious virus and most of us know that.
 
So as soon as we feel the aaaaaachooo aproach………….. we reach for our handkerchiefs or tissues……….we manage to avert the disastrous spread of snot and phlegm by placing our handkerchiefs and tissues in the path of our coughs and sneezes just in time……...and then with a grateful sigh of relief …………..deposit the handkerchiefs and tissues that have just successfully averted disaster……….. back in our pockets or on the nearest available surface.
 
And as we do that - we help the virus find its next victim.
 
The common cold can be caused by many different viruses - and the one thing that these viruses have in common - is their resilience to destruction.
 
So viruses like the Rhinovirus - that cause the common cold - can survive for up to 24 hours after they leave your body in a cough or a sneeze.
 
When a used tissue or handkerchief is placed on a table or chair - the virus from the tissue gets transferred to the table or chair. From there - it moves to the hands of the next person who touches the table or chair - and infects her / him.
 
And that is just TERRIBLE !!!
 
You cannot and should not allow this to happen - and you can prevent it - if you go DISPOSABLE !!!
 
Use disposable tissues to mop up!
 
And as soon as you mop up - make sure the tissues make their way into a dustbin.
 
When you carry virus laden handkerchiefs or tissues around or leave them lying around on tables or other surfaces - you allow the virus to get onto these surfaces - and infect other people who touch these surfaces and then their noses and eyes.
 
And that is how you help the virus find new victims.
 
Getting up to find a dustbin to drop your tissue into - when you are in the clutches of a viral malaise - however is certainly not easy.
 
Make life easier for the sick. Place enough boxes of tissues at handy spots around the house - and place dustbins next to them. And then - to be doubly sure that you are one step ahead of the virus - place a hand sanitizer there as well to ensure clean hands.

When the common cold virus encounters all this it will soon beat a hasty retreat.

Warning!! Your child may be feeling unloved

Do you love your child?

Of course you do!!

But does your child feel loved ?

Unfortunately – the answer to that probably is – “Maybe not”

To be a parent and not love your child – is impossible. But as I go about interacting with children during my consultations and workshops – I am amazed as I discover how many children go through life feeling unloved.

At a recent workshop for Teenagers – I had a slide that asked the question – “What is the chief cause of Teenage stress?” and I was shocked and dismayed when the unanimous answer turned out to be “Parents”.

These are children from affectionate families. Children of parents who have spent their lives doing EVERYTHING for their children. And yet these children are growing up feeling stressed instead of loved.

This is certainly a very sorry state of events.

The cause for this – is a mismatch between what parents view as a demonstration of love and what children read as love.
If you express your love for your child by doing one or more of the following things – your child may be feeling stifled instead of loved.

“I have left EVERYTHING for my baby” – Do you set aside all your own needs for your child?One of the first things that parents vow to do as soon as they hold their little ones in their arms is – to set aside all their own interests and needs for their youngsters. While setting aside your own needs to become your child’s personal satellite – may appear loving at first – it can never last. Living like a martyr inevitably builds resentment in you - which is invariably communicated by body language. When you set aside all your needs - most often you are attempting to compensate for your own low self-esteem. Living with martyrdom is not living with love.


“I am with my child all the time” – Do you compel yourself to spend all your time with your child?Parents are constantly advised to spend more time with their children. And they are asked to make the time spent “Quality Time”. Most parents interpret this to mean that every moment they spend with their child should be spent doing something or teaching something. What this results in is - that the hours that parents spend with their youngsters are filled with high demands (which are often age inappropriate) in order to utilize the time being spent most effectively and ensure that it meets the definition of ‘Quality Time’. The conversation during this time therefore ends up consisting primarily of criticisms, comparisons, demeaning statements and eventual lack of respect.
Remember - the time you spend with your child becomes counterproductive when comments like these become part of the conversation.
“You are not doing it properly! How many times do I have to show you?”
“Oh! You are making such a mess! Come let me do it.”
“Look at your brother – why can’t you do it like him?”
“Stop dawdling – you are wasting time!”


“I am always very careful with my child” – Do you over-protect your child?Being a watchful parent is essential – but over protection is not the right way to express love. When you are over-protective - your prime purpose of being with your child becomes - guiding and directing him/her at every turn. Instead of conveying love – over protection undermines self-respect. Over protection does not say – “you are loveable” – it says – “you are not competent.” When you over protect your child you convey the idea that the world is full of dangers that your child is incapable of handling alone. Feeling loved is about feeling respected for being who you are and having the abilities that you have. And the first step towards feeling respected - is developing a deep sense of self-respect. Over protection then is not an expression of love – but a sure fire way of stunting the growth of self-respect.


“I never scold / criticize my child” – Do you constantly and needlessly lavish praise?Every child is unique and special in his/her own way and needs to feel good about himself and his achievements. Demeaning or criticising children is certainly extremely damaging to a child’s self-esteem. But when, in an attempt to make children feel good – parents exaggerate the child’s qualities and achievements and say that they expect him /her to do earth shaking things – what they achieve – is equally damaging.  On the surface – praising a child may appear like the ultimate expression of love. But if the child knows that this picture is untrue and knows that it will be impossible for him to live up his parent’s expectations – it is certain to make the child feel inadequate and unloved as he really is. Casting a child in a role that meets our requirements rather than his – does not build love. Each child needs to be valued apart from his/her achievements. A quiet companionable expression of love in private – is likely to be much more effective than an elaborate charade
​

“I give my child the best of everything” – Do you express your love with material gifts?In today’s world it seems like the most natural thing on earth to express your love with gifts. And while it may be the ‘done’ thing – with everyone else doing it and your child demanding it – it is important to remember that every ‘thing’ that you give to show your love – either has, or will soon have a bigger better version. When you teach your child to measure your love by a comparative analysis of the ‘things’ you give him – there is no way he will ever feel fulfilled.

All that a child really wants – is your focused attention – that is what children read as love.

But what is focus?

Many parents imagine that they are focussed on their children – just by being physically present. Physical presence is pointless if mental focus is elsewhere

Mental focus also needs to be repeatedly brought back to the child. Often – we imagine that we are focused on the child – when actually we are focused on our child’s schedule or things or on what he/she is doing/achieving.

Children require inner presence – they require you to be there with them in that moment. Without that – time together is wasted or even harmful.

Don’t focus so much on doing things for your child that you forget to focus on him.

When you do that - paradoxically – in your effort to make your child feel loved – you are probably making him/her – feel just the opposite.

Love is the feeling of being valued because you ARE – not because of what you DO.
And when you focus too much on doing – you lose the chance to just be.

Find a time each day to just be with your child – it is sure to make him/her feel more loved.
 

What Every Parent should know about Viral Fever

If you are a parent – you hate the word ‘fever’. It scares you and gives you nightmares.

And because fever is so frightening – as a parent you want your child to have nothing at all to do with that ominous word.

But in your enthusiasm to keep the thermometer reading normal – should you do....... just anything?

NO YOU SHOULD NOT!

What is fever?
Fever is the manifestation of disease – rather than a disease itself. Fever can be caused by a variety of disease processes – Malaria, Typhoid, Hepatitis, Dengue etc. – but in the case of children - it is by and large caused by an array of viruses.
 
What should you do when your child has a viral fever

Most childhood fevers are viral – and viral infections usually do not require aggressive treatment. So, when you first take a child with fever to a doctor – all doctors usually prescribe mild medication to relieve the child’s symptoms while waiting for the illness to run its course.

However, when you are an anxious parent, desperate for your child to recover immediately, you are often unhappy with such treatment and urge doctors to prescribe antibiotics. What is important to realize here is - that antibiotics are for bacterial infections and are useless and superfluous in case of viral infections.

It is a tough to swallow – but what is crucial to understand is – that sick episodes are like extra coaching for the child’s immunity.

When a child is born – he / she has very little immunity. And "sickness" is the school the immune system goes to, to graduate to eventual good health. It is best then - to grit your teeth and get over viral episodes.

As a conscientious parent then - resist the temptation to over treat with medicines and overwhelm with love and comfort.

Beware of excessive antibiotics

Remember that antibiotics are two edged swords. Unnecessarily using an antibiotic is like sharing war strategies with the enemy. Every time an antibiotic is used, the bacteria learn how to fight it and develop new resistance mechanisms. The next time the antibiotic is used, it is not as effective.

Also antibiotics are indiscriminate killers who do not care about the identity of the bacteria they kill. They not only kill disease causing bacteria, they also wipe out other bacteria that keep the body healthy.

Fever is not necessarily always the “Bad Guy”

Fever is extremely discomfiting, but as hard as it maybe to believe - it is actually a protective mechanism. The elevation of body temperature that one reads as fever is protective because it does not allow the disease causing organism to thrive in the body  which is therefore compelled to leave the body.

Also fever ensures that the child is compelled to rest thus enabling the body to use all its resources to fight the pathogen.

Fever therefore should be medicated prudently on the doctor’s advice. It is not uncommon for parents to indulge in the misuse of fever lowering drugs. This can prolong the illness and result in a harmful overdose.

Suppressing fevers indiscriminately – without consulting a doctor can also result in some major illnesses going undetected for too long and becoming difficult to cure as a result.

A wary – wait and watch approach is what is best employed with a childhood fever.

Build a fortress against infection

As your body builds up your immunity the hard way – contribute to its efforts in really easy ways.

Ensure that your child has a clean healthy environment. Ensure adequate age appropriate vaccination for your child. Emphasize a balanced diet, exercise and sufficient sleep. Remain stress free and ensure your child is too.

4 Easy ways to build your child's self esteem - right now!!

As I park my car and begin to make my way to the staircase in my apartment block – I hear a baby voice giving instructions...........

“Yes…..come on……flap your wings…….yes……..yes…..you’re getting it….just try……….Ohhhhhhh!…….its ok…….try again……..come on……………”

Intrigued – I make my way towards the baby voice.

As I reach the spot where the sounds are coming from – I find my neighbor's five year old daughter crouched in a corner. The voice giving encouraging instructions – is hers.

“What are doing darling?” I ask

“Aunty – this baby pigeon has fallen out of its nest” she says. “I am teaching it how to fly”

I pat the little teacher on her back to encourage her in her endeavor and then make my way up the stairs.

Ah! The beauty of being a child. I think.
The magic of believing that you can do whatever you put your mind to.
The power of being enveloped in positive self-esteem and believing that you are invincible.

Children are born fearless – they believe they are all powerful – they are convinced that they are capable of just anything.

Then why as they grow – do they lose faith in themselves? Why do they begin to think they are not good at this – or can’t do that?
Is it because we do nothing to keep their positive self-esteem alive?

Well here are 4 things that you can do to build your child’s self esteem Always praise effort, intention and persistence - do not wait for your child to attain perfection.
Never tell children – “Oh you can’t do that.” Or “That is impossible – no one can do that.” You never know where effort and persistence can take you.
Always say – “I like it that you tried so hard”
 Lead from the front . Attempt things that you think you don’t have a knack for – put your own positive self-esteem out there for them to see and copy.
Would you attempt a song in public – if you aren’t a good singer? Would you run a race even if you knew you were going to come last? If you answer these questions with a ‘no’ – then you need to build your own self esteem. Building your own self esteem will help you discover how self-esteem is really built – and then you will be able to help your child build his or hers

Teach children to admire others for what they do well and teach them not to compare. Admiring a positive trait makes you feel good about yourself – comparing makes you feel inferior.Always team up with your child when you admire something or someone. Say “Wow! Look at that lovely picture of the sunrise that your friend has painted. I like it. Do you?” Say it with genuine enthusiasm and joy without sounding jealous and bitter. 
​
Remind yourself and your child that you love him/her for who they are and not what they do.When you are consoling a disappointed child – let your hugs and kisses do the talking. Your voice may convey your own hurt and disappointment.

Helping your child to build positive self-esteem is one of the greatest gifts you can give your child.

When you build healthy self-esteem into a child – you have a cheerful optimistic socially well-adjusted child – who is aware of his weaknesses but not intimidated by them.
No challenge is too great for a child with healthy self-esteem.
So if there is one thing you vow to do today for your child – vow to build his/her self-esteem – begin RIGHT NOW!!

A Diwali gift your child will love

This Diwali it has been raining discounts and offers. In the weeks leading up to the festival of lights the newspaper supplement has become thicker than the main newspaper as it struggles to contain all the advertisements announcing all that you can buy at shops and online.
The festival of lights appears to have morphed into the festival of buying. Buying to gift – buying for yourself – buying, buying and buying!!

And suddenly - a question that is frequently asked by parents at my Parenting workshops – has begun to make sense.
How much should a gift/toy that we buy our child cost?
A question that has compelled me to wonder ……..Has what we can give our children – become only about purchasing power?
Has every occasion for celebration – become about possessing something bigger and better?

As a child – I can’t remember ever having received a wrapped up gift from my parents – not on my birthdays – and certainly not on Diwali.
I am not sure how it made me feel at that time – but I can’t remember ever feeling unhappy or deprived.

So - I have wondered - what did parents like mine give us?
And the answer has suddenly come to me now.

In the week leading up to my fortieth Diwali – I have been a little tired and listless.
After having been immersed in celebrations for almost all of last month (with my daughter’s birthday coming up first,  followed by the Bengali Durga Pujo) - by the time the Diwali buzz began making the rounds – I had begun to feel tired just thinking of the word “Celebrate”
I am not sure it is possible to tire of celebrations – but it certainly looked like I was tired of celebrating. Perhaps – I thought – this was what being forty was all about.
It felt strange however – to not feel excited.
Diwali has always been a very favourite festival and in the years bygone I have always been a tornado of inexhaustible energy around this magical festival of lights.
I have no idea what used to trigger my mad frenzy of activity – but as Diwali inched closer this year, I have to say that I was waiting for something to shake me out of my listless stupor.

The nip in the air I thought - would entice me into the kitchen and plunge me into creating my usual spread of sinful Diwali delicacies................but no - that didn’t happen.
The twinkling fairy lights in the surrounding houses I thought would galvanize me into action and make me dig into black fauji trunks to fish out my own..................but no - they didn’t.

Then – just as things were beginning to look frighteningly bleak – a trip to the Diwali bazaar changed it all.

Excitement literally grabbed me with both hands as soon I stepped out of the car . In those crooked crowded streets – excitement was not a word anymore. It was almost like a living being – that shook me up until my mind began chanting “Come on let’s celebrate – come on – come on – let’s celebrate!!”

It was magical. As we pushed through the crowds – bent, knelt and scrambled through the roadside displays I was injected with an infectious happiness.
Every sensation that I encountered there brought on a smile.

The sight of the piles of diyas – the pots the idols and the earthen ware toys – the sounds of the milling crowds and the vendors – the smell of the ghee laden sweets and savouries – being jostled by the crowds - brought my childhood memories rushing back and the spirit of Diwali began coursing through my blood.

And then suddenly it struck me – these sensations linked to the happy memories of Diwali were the gifts my parents had given me over the years.

By taking me to these happy bazaars – over the years - in my mind - they had linked the sights, sounds, smells and sensations of the real world – with happiness.
 And that had resulted in almost everything I encountered – never seeming too bad - whether it was a traffic jam or a crowded elevator.

Have you taken your kids to a Diwali bazaar yet? If you haven’t – you must.
The bazaar is a feast for the senses.
It is an opportunity to teach children - that jostling crowds and noisy buzzing – is fun and not torture.
Make the effort – step out of your homes and offices – brave the traffic and the crowds.

As the festival of lights turns into the festival of gifting – let it not just be about buying.
Gift your child sensations and experiences that translate into joy and not just expensive gifts.
​
One day when they are forty and dying to feel excited – they may thank you profusely for that.
 

Discovering an age old Indian Remedy - Haldi Doodh (Turmeric and Milk)

Being Mom is no easy job.

It is tough enough on regular days – but at least it is a lot of fun

The job however becomes heart wrenchingly painful and really difficult to handle – when little ones are ill. I am Mom to an eight year old and I can vouch for that.

When you are a Mamma – your little one suffering from fever – is TERRIBLE! And coughs, colds or throat pains are sometimes just as bad. An upset stomach can upset you terribly. And an injury on their person can leave you aching and hurting more than you can ever imagine.

You want to do something to make things better. Something – anything!
But WHAT?

I have often found myself asking this question in desperation when my daughter is ill.

As a doctor – I know that most coughs, colds and fevers are caused by viruses and that - viral infections do not require to be treated with antibiotics. All that one really needs to do to treat a viral infection is – to take lots and lots of rest – and do nothing else but wait.

But it is tough to see your little one suffer and not do anything about it. And patience is the one virtue that is really put to the test when your little one is ill.

It was once when I was almost running out of patience and resisting the urge to give my baby a drug for a terrible cold that she had caught – that I discovered something that I could actually DO .
I was pacing the corridors of my house with a cranky ill baby – when a neighbourhood Aunty – my neighbour’s mom walked in.
As her kind and gentle eyes probed me – a flood of tears threatened to overcome me and my voice shook as I conveyed how desperate I was to do something and how I could think of nothing to do to alleviate my little ones symptoms.
And she said – “Have you given her Haldi wala doodh (milk with turmeric added) yet?”

Of course I hadn’t.
Home remedies were not something I had ever practised too much of and I didn’t know too much about them – but Aunty insisted – and I thought – why not.

Milk and haldi were both things that could not be classified as drugs. Milk was something I believed in anyway – because it was a complete food that supplied all the nutrients in a glassful. And the goodness of Haldi was what prompted its use in almost every Indian dish. Together they were sure to be even better.  And if they relieved symptoms and helped my baby recover – why not?

And so with Aunty’s help – I went about making and administering Haldi wala doodh that day. It gave me the satisfaction of doing something without doing something wrong (like administering and extra drug – just to tide over the cranky atmosphere in the house). And my baby finally fell asleep – so maybe it worked.

I then read up on Haldi and found an article on the Huffington Post called “5 Ways Modern Science is Embracing Ancient Indian Wisdom” and in that they called Turmeric “A Miracle Cure’. Turmeric the article says is a powerful anti – inflammatory agent – which is probably why it reduces symptoms if you take it when you have a cold or even if you are injured. It also supposed to reduce indigestion and heartburn. That is an added plus point because colds usually also leave one with a gently revolting stomach and if this mix calms that down – even better.

There are of course articles warning against the excessive use of the spice and articles that advice it’s restricted use in certain cases.

But by and large – a tiny pinch of turmeric in a glass of milk – appears to be a time tested and harmless home remedy that is according to ancient Indian wisdom – also very beneficial in many ways.

Mooshake is a brand that has recently come out with turmeric milk in various appealing flavours.
Moms like me will now not need to leave cranky ill children alone to whine while they prepare haldi wala doodh in the kitchen. Luckily for them – the haldi enriched flavoured milk from Mooshake is packaged in Tetra Pak cartons and for them – is now just the ‘snip of a scissors’ or ‘a prick of a straw away’.
​

Shaken up by Mooshake - a healthy version of flavoured milk

The plan was always to parent only one child – but I inadvertently ended up with two.

The younger one of the pair – I must admit has always been much easier to parent – primarily because she was born to me and is aged eight
.
Parenting the older one is a task that has always required much more brain manoeuvring on my part – first, because I acquired him by marriage and second, because he is Forty two.

In the fifteen years that I have been married I have had to parent my husband much more diligently – especially where healthy eating habits are concerned – than I have ever had to parent my daughter.

Like father – like daughter – the taste buds of both - veer in their likes towards anything that is tasty. And so they always try to pick out the tastier versions of Healthy Food.
I however am quite the stickler for genuine taste. I insist that they develop a taste for the unmasked versions of healthy food.

Clouding the taste buds and fooling them into thinking they are eating chocolate or strawberries – when they are actually drinking milk – is something I am very much against.

Father and daughter however are quite unscrupulous in this regard – and do not hesitate to con their taste buds whenever they can.

With this being the prevailing scenario in the house we have always had this raging debate about flavoured milk in the house.
I insist that milk packed in Tetra Pak cartons is so tasty by itself that it does not require any additional flavouring. They argue otherwise. They say that when a tasty thing has been made tastier still by adding flavour to it – why ever should they not consume that?

My warnings - some audible and some not so audible - about the excess sugar that they take in by drinking flavoured milk – follow them around in a steady stream as we wind our way through the aisles of departmental stores. But I am usually badly outnumbered – and we still come back with a stack of flavoured milk.

In the past I have always had the pleasure of being in the right. I used to snootily look down my nose at the lesser mortals in my house as they indulged themselves with flavoured milk. I used to proudly raise my eyebrows, twist my mouth in disgust and fix them with cold stares whenever they decided to actually drink the bought flavoured milk.

But not anymore.

Ever since Mooshake arrived in the market the father daughter duo have had the upper hand. As they drink the flavoured milk of that brand – if I fix them with a cold stare – they challenge me with their questioning – “What?” expressions.

Mooshake is a brand that has added Haldi to the milk they package in Tetra Pak cartons and then they have gone a step ahead and added totally yummy flavours to the Milk and Haldi mix. The result is a delicious delicious drink. Even I have to admit that.

The drink - as is pointed out to me time and again by my family – is endowed with the goodness of Haldi (an ancient Indian spice which is considered an all-round home remedy) and of course Milk (which is almost every nutrient you need for good health in a neat package – as I repeatedly remind them).

What can you not like about it?

Very little – I have to admit.

Of the four available flavours - the family favourite is definitely the Peachy Strawberry flavour with Slurpy Mango coming a close second. We like the Oh So Chocolatee when it is chilled so that has earned it spot number three on the list but Nutty Badam we think tastes a little too rich. It tastes OK however when it is chilled. The other flavours of course are just mind blowing when they are chilled.

And so with the arrival of Mooshake - flavoured milk has found favour in our home at long last.

I have had to replace my downturned grimacing mouth – with a benign upturned smiling mouth. Everyone in my house is delighted. I can’t say – I am not.  

#MilkJustGotSooper

Yippee!! For instant noodles that are safe

At 7 pm on a Wednesday evening – I call my husband with a heavy heart.
I am just starting for home from a meeting at a distant location from home – and the traffic I see on the roads that lead home – tell me that there is no way I will be home in time to fix dinner for the family tonight.

With a drooping heart – drooping shoulders and a drooping mouth – I call home to tell my husband that.

He listens gravely and assures me that I need not worry at all.
All that he says sounds absolutely genuine and above board – but I find my Mom instincts kick in suddenly.
I am suspicious. Do I sense a celebratory mood at the other end of the line?

And then – as I hang up – I hear a shouted word that confirms my doubts.

Before the line goes dead – Father and daughter shout – YIPPEE!!!

They are delighted!
My not being home on time will mean that the duo will be able to feast on Yippee noodles tonight.

A wave of indignation sweeps over me – but when that is over – my drooping smile is replaced with a happy laugh.

Yes – it’s going to be a Maida (refined flour) dish – instead of a whole wheat Atta dish on the table tonight.
Yes - the veggies in the noodles are not going to be farm fresh and will come from a packet instead.
Yes - the meal won’t be as high on the nutrition scale as I like daily dinners to be.
But at least it will be a real meal. And more importantly it will fill the house with laughter and smiles.

I can almost hear the joyous shouting – “Yippee!! Yippee!!” – as the noodles cook in my house.

After all the recent controversy and panic – it is good to have instant noodles in the clear at last.

Of course the controversy was never about Yippee noodles – but I have to admit that as one brand of instant noodles (that a whole generation grew up on) – took the beating – I couldn’t but suspect my current family favourite – Yippee noodles – of all the terrible things that the other brand was accused of.
Even though I knew fully well that Yippee Noodles was just an instant bystander in the raging crossfire - I had banned its entry into my house.  
 
Yippee is brand from the ITC group and funnily enough however - suspect it as I may have, of various flaws – I continued to buy and serve other brands from the ITC group with great confidence throughout. Aashirwad whole wheat and multigrain atta continued to make it to the table at every single meal – because quite simply – I just couldn’t home in on a better brand.

Thinking back now – I think the controversy about instant noodles was a quite a typhoon and I think I was just caught up in the wave that was sweeping over all of us.

I have worked in some of the best medical laboratories in the country – labs that have had ISO and NABL accreditation. And I have also set up a good many labs. So – while the controversy was raging -I did have some niggling doubts about what I read and heard – but life being as busy as it is – I never had time to give it that much thought.

Then last Saturday ITC Foods division volunteered to clear these doubts.

In the luxurious environs of the ITC Gardenia Bangalore –at the YAWA (You Ask We Answer) session organized for Bloggers -  I had the pleasure of listening to and interacting with the Divisional Chief Executive of the Foods division of ITC – Mr V L Rajesh, the Head of Marketing for the ITC Foods Division - Ms Kavita Chaturvedi, The Chief Operating Officer of the ITC Foods Division Mr S Ganesh Kumar and several other people on their team.

Sincerity always shines through and it shone like a beacon as these people spoke.

Yes – they stood there in the line of fire and answered all the questions all us gathered bloggers had to ask.

Here are some things that they said that really got me thinking and also answered a lot of questions I had.Packaged food in India – occupies only 12% of the food market and that is all that falls under rules and regulations. Meaning that we don’t know much about 88% of what we eat – and we mostly don’t really careThere is a reason that lead appears in food and that with the stringent regulations governing packaged foods – there is no real reason to worry. More about that here There are several facts that we need to know about MSG – before we jump to conclusions Find out more here Should a concerned Mom like me have doubts and queries about an ITC product such as Yippee noodles – there is a whole website dedicated to us and our worries
As a Mom and Doctor – there is no doubt in my mind – that what we serve our children must be safe and healthy.
But as a Parenting and Wellness Consultant I definitely believe that we must give children “CHOICE” and infuse their meals with “FUN” 

I was delighted to know that the Marketing head of ITC Foods said that – that was what she found in her research. And that these were the two elements she looked to provide as well when she went about creating the Yippee Noodles.

There is something about meeting people who have spent their lives creating brands that they believe in - brands that are part of their personalities and their lives.

I think my Saturday was well spent because I met so many such people of the ITC foods division. People who have invested more than a decade of their lives building products with passion and sticking by them through good times and bad – because they knew what they knew and because they were convinced that they had always been doing what was right.

It would have been the easiest thing in the world for these people to jump ship when instant noodles went through the recent rough patch.
But the faith that they had – to stick by their creations - to sail through that storm that threatened to wipe them out – has reinforced my faith in all the ITC foods brands.

Yippee noodles make it to my table now – because I am convinced – to convince yourselves – look here

​#QualityITCFoods 

How to prepare for successful Breastfeeding

When the long wait is finally over.

And the bump you’ve carried around for 9 nine months has finally morphed into a bundle of joy.

You are still blinking in disbelief – when your neatly wrapped baby is handed over to you.

Around you - cameras of all shapes and sizes – toted by eager friends and relatives – begin to click as you hold your baby for the first time.

Then the photo session ceases.

When you have gazed at your baby long enough with a mixture of pride and amazement – you suddenly begin to wonder – ‘Errrrrrr…….now what do I do?’

The answer to the question stares back at you. And the answer is – ‘Put the baby to your breast and breastfeed’. But even though you know what you should be doing - even though you know that - that is what your baby needs and wants – you hesitate to do it.

Breastfeed?

Seriously?

Actually expose that part of your body that you’ve protected and kept hidden away all these years – and keep it exposed for your baby to feed from?

Not something you are comfortable doing – certainly!!

But of course you know that breastmilk is best for your baby.

In your endeavour to battle your inhibitions – you hunch over your baby, you cover up with a shawl and proceed to feed your baby. Your eyes are on the door, your ears are listening for a knock that will signal an end to your privacy.

The magical time for Blissful Bonding with your baby is thus unfortunately turned into a time for Guilty Glancing.

 You are Stressed – so Stressed.

 And this - is just the first day.

As the weeks go by – the stress mounts, the uncomfortable hunched inhibited feeding positions cause backaches – the stress reduces the milk let down, your baby cries harder and longer because he/she is hungry. That causes even more stress. The stares, glares and raised eyebrows from people who expect you to have the perfect baby – in other words – the silent baby – become difficult to bear.

Unable to take it any longer – you turn to bottle feeding.

Your baby cries less. You no longer panic about being inadequately clothed when someone barges in to see you and your baby.

Aaaah….you sigh in relief……..now I can relax.

But can you really relax?

Can you relax when you know that you are depriving your baby of the ideal nutrition? Breastmilk contains all the nutrients that your baby requires for the first six months. By shifting to bottle feeding you are depriving your baby’s rapidly growing body and brain of the vitamins, minerals and other substances they need to become the best they can.

Can you relax when you know you are depriving your baby of good health? Breastmilk contains protective antibodies that protect your baby from diseases for the first year. Artificial milk on the other hand – makes your baby prone to allergies and obesity.

Washing bottles and nipples – sterilizing them and constantly wondering if there are any germs left in them even after all the scrubbing and boiling. Can that be called relaxing?

Breast milk scored heavily in that area. It was absolutely sterile and required you to do nothing!

As you supplement breastmilk with top feeds – your milk flow decreases further. You feel inadequate as a mother and the stress and depression because of that compromises your milk flow further. A situation that is far from relaxing.

There are problems aplenty when you are the mother of a newborn and no matter what you may do - it is very difficult to relax. You must however resolve to do the best for you and your baby.

The World Health Organization (WHO) – recommends exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months and there is good reason for this. Breastfeeding is the natural way to being the healthy mother of a healthy baby - because breastfeeding has far reaching health benefits for both you and your baby.

As Parenting and Wellness consultant at The Parenting Place – I hand hold parents through pregnancy and infant care - and I say that the key to succeeding with breastfeeding and persisting with it – is – preparation .

It is important to prepare both physically and mentally to Breastfeed

1.       Attend a Breastfeeding class during your pregnancy. In the breastfeeding classes that I conduct at The Parenting Place – I acquaint moms-to-be with - what breastmilk is, how it is produced and what to do to ensure that it flows adequately for as long as it is required. I also show them how to feed, how to gauge that the baby has had enough and how to care for the breasts while they go about producing and delivering milk. Knowing all this can reduce breastfeeding related stress markedly – thus ensuring easier breastfeeding.

2.       Shop for the right clothes. Having the right nursing wear that allows you to feed discreetly - can go a long way in reducing the stress of feeling exposed while nursing. Being comfortable and secure in the knowledge that you are not showing any more than you intend is sure to allow you to relax and bond with your baby as you feed.

3.       Make breastfeeding your priority. Understand that you owe it to yourself and your baby to breastfeed. Do not cave in to the societal pressures of being ‘correct’ or ‘perfect’. Remind yourself that breastfeeding is what is perfect for you and your baby. When you have a healthy baby – you are sure to thank yourself for your determination.

4.       Invest in a Breast pump Not being under pressure to be available to feed your baby at all times can be a big relief (even if you are around your baby all the time). Also if you need to get back to work – having the Breast pump and knowing how to work it can be an excellent Plan B and is sure to envelop you in a reassuring calm. Part of the panic of ‘what will happen to my baby when I go back to work’ is sure to subside when you learn to work a breast pump. And being stress free is the secret to easy breastfeeding.

The best brains and bodies are built on Breastmilk. Invest in the endeavour. 

Dispelling Myths about carton Milk - Clearing Mommy consciences

Super milk can make you Super Mom On my morning walks – when I walked unencumbered by bags or cans – I was always subjected to looks of contempt and pity.

Since I was a mom it was unacceptable that one of my primary concerns in the morning was not – the procurement of milk.

Every other mom was going somewhere to get milk. The more dedicated diligent ones had cans in their hands and were making the trip to a distant dairy to fetch ‘fresh milk’. The ones who couldn’t do that – were going to the local booth to pick up their packets – ‘freshly’ unloaded from the delivering truck.

And the moms – who for some reason or the other couldn’t step out of the house – were compensating by waiting for the doodhwala with bated breath.

I was the only one speeding about in my sneakers - empty handed and unconcerned.

“Do you know? She buys the whole month’s supply at one go in the supermarket” was the whisper that did the rounds about me – and it was true.

I had shifted to milk packaged by Tetra Pak.








I bought milk in cartons – and I bought enough cartons to last me for a month at once.

My daughter found the milk tastier, I didn’t have to boil it, the cartons could be stored without refrigeration until I opened them and the opened cartons fitted easily in the fridge door – unlike pans full of milk – that used to block a lot of shelf space. Also – I didn’t have to stress over the procurement of milk every day – I could sort out that kitchen need – once a month in one trip to the grocery store.

But everyone else seemed to disapprove.

But I believed in Carton milk and when I visited the Tetra Pak factory this year as their Safe Food Ambassador – all my beliefs were strengthened. I now know how the milk in cartons is procured and packaged – and why it remains unspoilt.

I am now ready to counter all arguments against milk in Tetra Pak cartons – I am prepared to dispel all myths

1.     Myth 1 – Milk that remains unspoilt for so long must be full of preservatives

No – Milk packaged in Tetra Pak cartons is preservative free – whether it is plain milk or flavoured milk. The milk that is packaged is sterilised by a special technique called UHT sterilisation – that ensures that there are absolutely no organisms left in the milk - and then packed by a special technique such that no organisms are able to come into contact with the sterile milk as it gets sealed into its pack. Since there are no organisms in the milk – there is no chance of it getting spoilt even when it is kept at room temperature for 6 months. The long shelf life therefore comes without the disadvantage of the milk being preservative laden.

2.     Myth 2 – There is no difference between ordinary milk and Tetra Pak milk

There is a lot of difference between the milk packaged in cartons and ordinary milk. Only the best milk - from the best breed of cows – collected in the most hygienic ways – goes in Tetra Pak cartons. This milk is healthier because it is sterilised by a special technique called UHT sterilisation where the exposure to heat is for a much shorter time – and the vitamins present in milk are thus not destroyed. Because of the minimal exposure to heat – it is also tastier. Flavours and other nutritionally beneficial substances such as Haldi can be added to this packaged milk without compromising the safety of the drink by using state of the art technology while packaging - which makes for a healthier drink without the dangers of contamination and adulteration.

3.     Myth 3 – Fresh milk is ‘Pure and Fresh’ – Tetra Pak milk is stale

Milk becomes stale when it is exposed to air and when bacteria are transferred to it by contact with hands of the person milking the cow or from the cow udders. This is how milk gets spoilt and which is why milk needs to be boiled soon after it is collected. In case of carton milk – the milk coming out of the udders of the cow – has no contact with air and remains untouched by the human hand – because milking is done by a machine and the milk collected moves directly into sealed tubes – and is then sterilised by UHT sterilisation while it is in the tubes and goes on to be packaged in the cartons – without ever being exposed to air or bacteria. In effect – carton milk when it reaches your kitchen is actually udder fresh and sterile. Not something that can be said about the milk from local dairies – even when you see the milking happening – right in front of your eyes.

4.     Myth 4 – Carton milk is synthetic milk

 No - carton milk is not synthetic milk. Carton milk is collected from the udder of cows – just like the milk collected in local dairies. It tastes different or better than locally collected milk for several reasons. First the cows from which the milk is collected are fed with the best quality fodder and kept disease free by close monitoring – they thus produce better milk. Second the milk retains its original molecular structure because it is not spoilt by exposure to air or bacteria. Third – the milk is consumed without boiling – straight from the carton – and so its taste is not marred by open heating.

 5.     Myth 5 – Milk in cartons has lower nutritive value than milk obtained from milking cows

Milk in cartons is much higher in nutritive value than ordinary milk since it is UHT sterilised - which ensures that it is not exposed to heat for a long time. Vitamins that are destroyed by heating are thus preserved and this milk is thus healthier. Taste and health are just a snip of the scissors away when milk comes packaged in cartons because packaged milk comes in various flavours and in many cases with traditionally revered substances like Haldi added to it to increase its nutritional value

Moms have a lot to do – and ensuring that our families remain healthy is one of our key tasks. As dedicated conscientious moms we do what it takes to ensure that.

It is a lot of hard work – but fortunately for us technology is making our lives easier every day.

Let us embrace technology – let’s reach our health destination the easy way.

There are a range of interesting milk shakes that MooShake has come out with. They are packaged in Tetra Pak cartons and their flavours are sure to be big hits with your kids!

Check out their range at various departmental stores in Bangalore.