The world of Tzu Chi September-October 2021 (Vol.137)

TZU CHI 137 47 Ng Hui Ling A nutritionist with a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and a Master’s degree in Sports Science. She had served with the Singapore Heart Foundation before becoming a self-employed dietary consultant to vegetarians and a contributor to a health magazine. weigh me down, all I need is to make a pot of vegetable soup and sip on it quietly, feeding my stomach and warming my heart at the same time. Things that bother me will naturally pass after a good night’s sleep. Once, my daughter, Rui Jia, was wronged and felt really down. As I felt no words of comfort could uplift her mood at that moment, I decided to distract her by inviting her to make a pot of hearty pumpkin soup together. After cutting and steaming the pumpkin, I passed Rui Jia the masher for her to puree it slowly. Then, I heated a pan, and sauté the onions and garlic. Next, I added the mashed pumpkin and vegetable broth that I had prepared earlier and continued stirring the mixture until it boiled. The plus point of using homemade vegetable broth is that we can decide how much salt to add. However, if there is a time constraint, try to use readymade vegetable stock with lower sodium content. As my family members prefer soup with a smoother texture, using a blender helps. When the soup is ready, just add in some coriander and enjoy. Thick soups served inWestern restaurants often have higher calories. Those who are calorie-conscious might want to prepare soup made at home, and replace butter with yogurt or soymilk, to help increase protein content. It is also a good idea to use protein-rich lentils as an alternative to yogurt and soymilk. For me, unpleasant emotions will slowly melt away as I focus my hands and mind on food preparation and savour the natural aroma of the cooked dish. It provides me added comfort and relaxation sitting down quietly and sipping on a hearty bowl of soup, rather than to overstuff my stomach in a restaurant. Knowing that offering untimely feedback will not be well received, thus not helping to relieve the situation, I decided to invite Rui Jia to make a simple pot of soup and enjoy it together. This is my way of caring for her, so that she can learn to let go of yesterday and embrace tomorrow with open arms.