Breakfast Important,Lunch Essential to Stay Healthy:Experts

By 121 News

Chandigarh 07^th September:- To mark National Nutrition Week, an exclusive 'Nutrition Food Mela' was organized at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Mohali today. With week's theme 'Savor the Flavor of Eating Right' the mela was organized to raise awareness about the role of nutrition in human development. 

Around 25 nutritious food items were displayed during mela . The main items include idli and chutney , butter milk, coconut balls, apple rabri, chappati noodles, corn spinach cake, tikona parantha, nutritious chikki, rice and cucumber pancake, vegie yummy bites, chocolate wrap, corn salad, pav bhaji etc.

The highlights of mela were; functional food display, nutrition counseling desk, food donation campaign, jingle and skit on healthy eating and a master chef competition on health tiffin. A healthy tiffin competition was also held in which doctors and dieticians of tricity also participated.

Addressing participants, Shivani Gulati, head, clinical nutrition said that while breakfast is given the reputation of being the most important meal of the day, eating lunch is just as essential to staying healthy.

Shivani Gulati further said that going too long without food denies your body glucose, the sugar that supplies your brain with energy. Skipping lunch also slows down your metabolism, leads to overeating and makes it difficult to meet your nutrient needs for the day.

Talking on healthy lunch tiffin ideas, Shivani Gulati said that eating more fruits and veggies, lowering calories and eating less fat should be the prime focus.

Shivani Gulati advised that if weight loss is your goal, prepare healthy, satiating meals that provide your body with plenty of nutrients and little sugar and saturated fat, instead of skipping meals. Opt for a sandwich made with lean protein, like chicken or tuna, on whole wheat bread. Prepare a salad with plenty of vegetables, a handful of nuts and a hard-boiled egg.

Meanwhile at the end of mela, Chandni and Kavita Mehta were adjudged  'Mallika Kitchen' and 'Shahenshah Kitchen' respectively.