Celebrate Father’s
Day anyhow
By Oluwatoyin Oluwastoyin
Friday,
June 29, 2007
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Father and daughter
•Pix: Sun News Publishing |
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Father’s day was two Sundays ago. You forgot? No need
to flog yourself. Some fathers did not even realize it was their day. Imagine
sending a Father’s day greeting text to a father and the following conversation
ensuing:
“Are you a Catholic?”
“Why
are you asking if I am a Catholic Sir?”
“Because it is the Catholics
that have Fathers (that is Rev Fathers) or why are you greeting me happy Father’s
day?”
“Ooh, Sir, I am greeting you happy Father’s Day because
you are a father. Fathers are being celebrated today worldwide.”
“Aah,
I did not know. I thought it is the Catholic Fathers that are being celebrated.”
Humorous?
That was this writer’s experience
with one of the fathers who was wished happy Fathers’ Day.
If you are
also like this writer who could not make the trip all the way home to be with
dad on this day, you could still celebrate him. Choose another day convenient
to be with him.
The meal, definitely, must be his favourite. Ouch! But for
the failing health of many a dad. If he is on restricted diet, no thanks to the
ever-rising cases of some tongue cutting, foreign sounding ailments ravaging many
an adult, one or two of the old luscious recipes could be prepared while the rest
of the meal must be in conformity with his medical needs.
But does conformity
with his medical needs mean no fun with meals on this day? That would be unfair;
one could still play around with some healthy, tasty meals for his delight.
If
he is diabetic, prepare him: Fresh fish with amala (from unripe plantain flour)
with lots of vegetables prepared with little oil, preferably palm oil. Let him
top the meal with a cup of 100 per cent natural fruit juice. Remember, his dietician
has told him the calorie intake he can take daily. Work within the limit without
being fussy. Also note that he could take more calories during the lunch or dinner
prepared to celebrate him while he adjusts at the other meals. Whichever way it
is done, ensure he is not only celebrated but he is aware that he is the centre
of attraction.
Is he hypertensive?
You could make a
mouth watering meal for him excluding or using to the barest minimum the offensive
five foods-whole milk, sugar, salt, meat and white flour.
The essential issue
with hypertensive people, as far as food is concerned, is to be mindful of their
sodium, saturated fat and cholesterol intake. This does not mean the Father’s
Day special meals and any other meal for dad must now taste like medicine.
Juices
from fruits like lemon, lime, orange and other fruits could be used instead of
fat in cooking. The new taste is worth it as the meal tastes great, not to mention
the nutritional value such meal would add to dad.
Whichever meal is cooked,
let there be plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables on the table and in the meal.
Go out of your way to spoil him with some grapefruits, apples, and the like. You
could do a fruit salad for him with low fat or plain yogurt instead of the sugar
syrup.
Skinned white meat like chicken could be smoked or grilled. Shred it
and garnish with steamed naturally spiced vegetables for the whole family to munch
before an early and light dinner. Meanwhile, do not forget to remember not to
encourage him to eat big portions.
Here are other fruity meals for failing
hearts. Ever heard the droning voice of a doctor: I’m sorry, we have to
place you on a special diet, your blood cholesterol is too high”? Or yours
is a heart attack?
Then you’ll understand why anyone would bother to
search out meals with nil fat, and cholesterol inputs. These cool, chunky sauces
have just the right things.
Cucumber Relish
In medium
bowl, with spoon, mix four medium cucumbers, diced
One fourth cup seasoned
vinegar
Two teaspoons diced onion
One tablespoon vegetable oil
One fourth
teaspoon crushed red pepper.
This makes about 26 cups.
Each one fourth
cup contains about 30 calories 0g protein. 4 carbohydrate, 1g total fat (0g saturated),
0mg cholesterol, 160 mg sodium.
Tomato
Preparation
time is 20 minutes plus 1 hour to chill
1 large lime
4 large ripe tomatoes,
diced
Half small onion, diced
1 small pepper, seeded and finely diced
2
tablespoons chopped fresh local seasoning leaves
Half teaspoon
salt
Half teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
From lime, grate
half teaspoon, peel and squeeze two tablespoons of juice with remaining ingredients,
stirring gently to combine. Cover and refrigerate at least at least one hour to
blend flavours. It may be refrigerated up to two days. Makes about three cups.
Each
one fourth cup serving is about 15 calories, 1 g protein, 3 g carbohydrate, 0g
total fat (0g saturated), 0 mg cholesterol, 140 sodium.
Peach
Preparation
time is 30 minutes plus one hour to chill
6 medium ripe peach, peeled, pitted
and coarsely
chopped.
3 tablespoons finely chopped onion
1 tablespoon
chopped fresh mint leaves
1 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon seeded,
finely chopped pepper
Half teaspoon salt
In medium bowl, mix all ingredients,
stirring gently to combine. Cover and refrigerate at least one hour to blend flavours.
May be refrigerated up to two days. Makes about three cups.
Each half cup serving:
about 25 calories, 0 g protein, 6 g carbohydrate, 0g total fat ( 0g saturated)
0 mg cholesterol, 20 mg sodium.
Cancer
Even if he is
having challenges with cancer in any form, ensure he has a grand day. It is better
to avoid processed foods in any meal prepared. Go for natural, in fact, organically
cultivated foods. Spice all meals with fresh fruits and vegetables and leave out
completely the offensive five mentioned above.
Happy Father’s Day in
arrears.
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