Learn Curve for Girls

Suhani Dewra

Pakhi was in Class II. Every day before Pakhi left to school, her mum asked her what she wanted to eat for lunch when she returned home. Little Pakhi always had a delicious food name to say. Some days it was the pasta, on other days it was a plateful of cupcakes. On the weekends, she wanted garlic bread while towards the beginning of the week, she said Indian naan and spicy curry.

One spring, Pakhi’s grandma was visiting her. She saw Pakhi’s mum always make Pakhi’s lunch according to Pakhi’s wish.

“Do you think it’s alright to serve Pakhi what she wants to eat,” asked the grandma.

“O why not. I love cooking food of Pakhi’s choice,” replied the mum.

“But Pakhi mostly wants yumm but unhealthy food. She isn’t getting exposed to all healthy food recipes available. Cupcakes are not always healthy. And so are so many other food options she places the order for,” advised the grandma.

Pakhi’s mum paid no heed to the grandma. She continued to ask Pakhi for her choice for lunch.

One afternoon, Pakhi came home to find a bowl of salad. “This is not what I had told mum to make. I am not going to eat this,” said a grumpy Pakhi. She looked away from the bowl and refused to eat despite much persuasion from her grandma.

Pakhi’s mum had fallen sick that morning, which led her grandma to keep salads ready for Pakhi. The little girl stayed hungry all afternoon and then all evening. Then at night, she felt terribly hungry. She came downstairs to the kitchen hoping to find something fun to eat. There was nothing except the bowl of salad that her grandma had left in the refrigerator.

A hungry Pakhi hurriedly ate all the salad from the bowl. “This doesn’t taste so bad,” murmured the little one.

The next morning while Pakhi got ready for school, her grandma kissed her bye. “What are you going to make me for lunch, grandma?” asked the little girl.

“Do you want to eat what I loved eating when I was a girl like you?” asked back grandma.

“Yes, I want to see what you ate, grandma,” nodded Pakhi.

Since then, grandma made Pakhi some healthy food option. There were raw fruits, then there were wheat pancakes, and sometime a bowl of rice with vegetables.