Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 40, Chandigarh on Wednesday organized a seminar on healthy lifestyle and career opportunities for the young students. The keynote speaker of the seminar was Ms. Lavleen Kaur, a leading dietitian and clinical nutritionist. Ms. Lavleen threw light on the career opportunities in the field of Diet and Nutrition and guided senior students with diet and lifestyle tips during exams and stress periods.
Lavleen Kaur began the seminar and emphasized how the wrong eating habits lead to an unhealthy path. The most visible and major side effect of such lifestyle is the increasing number of obesity cases. It is quite common in our country today and the root cause as well of many underlying health issues. "Stress, study pressure and lack of physical activity reduces the fat burning capacity of the body, and what you eat in private gets visible in public," says Kaur.
Obesity leads way to underlying diseases related to liver, heart, asthma, type-2 diabetes and many more. All of this can be taken care of easily with slight lifestyle modification, regular exercise, good diet and sleep, optimal water, and reduced stress. Eating right to manage stress and boost brain functioning is very important. Lavleen suggested the students to always start their day with fruit for improving concentration in class and during exam. She also asked them not to skip homemade breakfast as that helps to stay alert and productive throughout the day.
Try and carry portable quick meals in your bags. Students can carry super foods like peanuts, fox nuts (makhana), roasted chickpea (chana), fruits to munch in between lectures when you feel hungry. These small meals are not just healthy but also keep one active throughout the day. She suggested while staying up late at night to study, children can have fruit smoothie or grilled sandwich or chapati with jaggery and ghee. Eat simple food that gives productive results to the body. Avoid eating chips, biscuits, baked, processed or packaged products as they do no good.
Addressing the gathering of young minds Lavleen suggested them to increase the intake of green leafy vegetables, sprouts, amla, and lemon as they are good source of iron. Including brain food in diet like walnuts, almonds, flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds gives a boost to the body. She said that healthy snacks can be made delicious too and suggested the students to indulge in sprouts or chana chat, paneer or egg salad over junk or street food. While you are out with friends, opt for healthy options like choosing south Indian cuisine instead of burgers & pizzas.
Lavleen says, "Watching TV, using mobile phone or laptop while having food interferes in absorption of good nutrients in body. Stop the usage of gadgets 60 minutes before going to be for a soothing mind and body".
Going ahead in the discussion Lavleen Kaur explained students the career opportunities in Dietetics and Food Science Technology. She discussed with the students the various roles they would wish to opt for as career. Going specific she suggested them the following:
- Research field; as Phd.
- Teaching; being a professor in any food technology college
- Lab assistant
- Lab technician in government or private labs
- Food safety officer
- Dietitian or nutritionist
She concluded the seminar and motivated students to exercise 150 minutes per week as habits formed in young age goes forever with us. She encouraged them to step in for healthy and happy lifestyle.
