A recent news item said that Samoa Air will charge the passengers according to their weight. It’s the first airline to do so.  Although, not many people across the globe fly this airline, perhaps there’s a message in this decision – you’re better off with less weight.

Talking about weight, when was the last time you weighed yourself on a weighing machine?  If you know your weight in kg and your height in meters, apply this formula to calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) – weight (in kg) / height (in meters squared).  If your BMI falls within 23, your weight is normal.  If your BMI is above 23, you are overweight and need to reduce.  Excess weight increases the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, adult diabetes, some types of cancer, osteoarthritis, and many other health problems.

Check your weight at least once a month and maintain it within the normal range.

A few weeks ago, during my consulting session, I came across a person who ate aloo (potato) as a vegetable accompaniment almost everyday in his meal.  When asked why, he said that he had no idea what other vegetables he could eat and his cook didn’t know to prepare any other vegetable dish.  It seemed to me that he had never seen a vegetable market in his life!  When I mentioned about the need for using other vegetables in his daily diet, he said “But I’m not fat, so why can’t I eat aloo everyday?  I love it.”

Hmmm.  After some explanation, he agreed to try out other vegetables.  But the idea that aloo needs to be eaten only if you’re slim is so not true.  Aloo has gained a bad name because potato chips, French fries, aloo bonda and aloo bhajia are deep fried and are loaded with fat & calories.  But the humble aloo when eaten boiled, steamed or in the form of a sabji, sambar, raita, contains very little fat unless you douse it with butter / oil.  Aloo can be eaten by slim as well as not so slim people provided it’s cooked in a healthy manner.

Share your ‘aloo’ experiences, if you wish.