It was 7 p.m. when Anaya’s mum began preparing dinner for the family. Everyone in the house loved her cooking except Anaya, who had a fondness for junk food. She often ordered pizza or pasta, enjoying both equally.

Her elders regularly advised her to eat a balanced diet, emphasising that indulging in junk food occasionally was acceptable. However, it could never replace the fresh, home-cooked meals that provided essential carbohydrates and proteins. Anaya, however, never listened.

One Saturday evening, she ordered pasta for herself while the rest of the family enjoyed her mum’s delicious meal. After finishing her pasta, she went to bed without brushing her teeth. Late that night, she woke up with severe abdominal pain. The pain persisted and worsened, accompanied by vomiting. Anaya had a gut feeling that it might be because of the pasta because everyone told her that junk food could lead to such health problems. So instead of telling her parents she remained quiet and tried to control and appear normal to her parents the next day. At breakfast, she was already feeling sick. She didn’t eat anything and went to school on an empty stomach. By lunch time, she was very hungry and bought snacks from the canteen, eating more than she needed. Within an hour, she felt dizzy and had an upset stomach, eventually resulting in diarrhoea. Her parents were called immediately, and they rushed her to the hospital’s emergency department. The on-duty doctors monitored her condition, and after tests, it was diagnosed as food poisoning.

When asked what had happened, she admitted she had been feeling sick since the previous night, but didn’t tell her parents because she feared they wouldn’t let her eat food bought from outside. She realised it was the abundance of processed food she had consumed that made her sick, proving her parents were right. She remained hospitalised for two days. During this time, the doctors checked her regularly. Although her diarrhoea and vomiting had stopped, she felt deeply ashamed in front of her parents, knowing it was her own mistake.

When Anaya felt better, she was discharged. The doctor advised her to drink plenty of water, eat a balanced diet, avoid junk food as it isn’t health-friendly, and go for a walk every morning. That day, Anaya realised her mistake and learnt her lesson.

The following morning, as her mum prepared a healthy breakfast, Anaya took a deep breath and said, “Mum, I’m sorry for my careless behaviour that caused trouble for everyone.”

“Trouble for everyone? Not at all, dear! It was trouble for your health, for us, it was heart-wrenching to see you in such pain!” her mum replied in concern. “Just remember, we love you and want to see our daughter strong and healthy. That’s why we always advise you against unhealthy foods.”

“Mum, I’ve realised my mistake. I promise I will do my best to follow the doctor’s advice,” Anaya replied earnestly.

“I’m so happy to hear that, my love! Now hurry up and finish your breakfast,” her mum encouraged.

Anaya understood the importance of health and decided not to repeat her mistakes.

Dear readers, that’s why it is often said, “Health is wealth.” Eat healthy to stay healthy, and take care of your well-being, nothing can substitute for good health.

Published in Dawn, Young World, January 4th, 2025