The world of Tzu Chi April 2020 (Vol.121)

TZU CHI 121 59 Ng Hui Ling A nutritionist with a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and a Master’s degree in Sports Science, who served at the Singapore Heart Foundation before becoming self-employed, providing dietary consultations to vegetarians and writing a nutrition column for a health magazine. Spending wisely on nutrition I have heard my friend complaining of her 7-year-old child spending her pocket money on either erasers, stickers, building blocks or other unnecessary novelties at the school stationery store, or junk food that ruined her appetite for proper meals. Meanwhile, another friend of mine shared an entirely different approach to her child’s consumption habits. She would prepare lunchboxes for her child to bring to school in lieu of pocket money. If the child ever requires something in particular, she would have to consult her parents, who would then consider the necessity of the requested item before deciding whether to purchase it. This method prevents the child from spending excessively. My husband and I believe in allowing Rui Jia to learn to manage her own finances from an early age. Hence, we entrust Rui Jia with her own pocket money, besides preparing a lunchbox for her to bring to school. We also instilled in her the importance of a healthy diet, cautioning her against exhausting her savings on impractical whims that leave her with little to spend on wholesome meals. Furthermore, I have been continuously guiding Rui Jia in spending wisely on nutritious food. For instance, I would encourage her to choose plain drinking water over sweetened beverages or bubble tea; I would also advise her to prioritize fruits over cookies, cakes and titbits, however enticing, for after-meal snacks. Substituting proper meals for pastries and junk food is strongly discouraged. In addition, I would draw charts to demonstrate the ideal allocation of her pocket money between necessities, especially the optimal share to be invested in nutritious food and beverages. It is perfectly acceptable to treat herself to cake every once in a while with the amount left over; or better still, save the remainder and look forward to a substantial sum at the end of the year. I have been keeping a close eye on Rui Jia; she is still young, after all. Sometimes, she would be tempted to try the seemingly tasty snacks that her classmates brought to school. In that case, I would suggest her to buy a small portion for sampling, or otherwise share the snacks with her friends if they come in large portions. Many of my acquaintances assumed that I would prohibit Rui Jia from consuming junk food, which is far from the truth. All I imparted to her were guidelines; the final decision rests upon her judgment. Instead of coaxing, coercing, threatening or pressuring my child into submission, I would rather focus my energy on patiently explaining the rationale behind my actions. Once, Rui Jia was feeling peckish and craved for a particular variant of snacks often spotted in her friend’s possession. After the first mouthful, her reaction called for contemplation: "The taste is overwhelming. I wonder why my friend would have an appetite for it."