Try not to be OOTA-cratic!

The lives of urban working Bengalureans have become fast-paced and with it comes a slew of problems. The most important one — forgetting meals. In a rush to meet deadlines and get to work on time, we tend to skip meals, which have dire consequences in the long run. We talk to city-based professionals and ask them if this has ever happened to them, and also what steps they are taking to ensure that they eat on time.

We take care of our cars, and gadgets but we forget to take care of our very own precious machine i.e. our body.  Mayank Sharma, who works with an MNC, says, “This has happened to me a number of times. I think the major reasons are meeting deadlines, and also completing tasks with efficiency. Our body is like a machine, and it requires fuel at regular intervals just like a vehicle. One other reason that keeps me from eating is traffic. I felt that if I had to eat, I would have to wait longer at traffic signals. Now I ensure I carry home cooked food and that box returns home empty.”

Today, everyone has easy access to smart phones. Why not use this to keep a check on your meals? City-based entrepreneur Tabasum N Damani says, “Being an entrepreneur there are a lot of deadlines that I need to meet. The Bengaluru traffic is also of no help. When I am not travelling, I am either meeting clients or talking to them over the phone. Skipping meals is definitely something I would never recommend as it has started affecting my health. In order to avoid this, I have asked my friends to remind me and have also set alarms on my phone to eat my meals on time.”

Putting your own health first can help you take care of the health of the people around you.  Priya Sharma, who works with an IT company, says, “Living in a city like Bengaluru where people are rushing every second, I used to focus more on work and neglect health. I think we have to set priorities. While completing company goals and business agendas, I had put my nutrition and health on the backseat. I follow the principle ‘love yourself.’ I ensure that I am hydrated during office hours, and also pack in a lot of vegetables with home-cooked food.”

City-based nutritionist Dr Aruna Vijay says, “The first thing that happens when you skip a meal is that it will make you look for unhealthy options. The body starts giving out insulin the minute we start eating. So when we skip meals, it affects hormonal balance. When we consume food at the same time, the body is able to produce insulin at the slotted time daily. And this will lead to lesser problems like obesity, diabetes and ensure proper hormonal function as well. These professionals eat their first meal when the sun rises, and their last meal when the sun sets. Create a specific meal time, work around the meal with just one look at the phone to see messages. Be sure to see the time when the meal is supposed to be taken.”