The influence of overly exaggerated advertisements that do not reflect the facts, unconscious eating habits, admiration for new things and the inability of public institutions to inform the public correctly have led to an excessive fondness for cola and painted/unpainted, carbonated/non-carbonated drinks, whether in poor or rich neighbourhoods. Cola and coloured/colourless sodas have now become the must-have drink of most families.
So, why don’t we think that these random and unconscious habits can harm our health and our religious life?
The biggest harm you can do to your child is to make him a regular cola and soda drinker, cola and soda addict. The best way to protect him from this bad habit is not to bring cola and carbonated drinks into our house. Remember, if there is a child at home, the only drink that should always be on your table is; should be water and milk.
Do not afraid of milk which is the best beneficial drink in the World. As people get older, their need for calcium and vitamin D increases, so milk is not only needed by children but also by adults.
First of all, we must abandon our “Unhealthy Eating” habits, which we continue to do knowingly or unknowingly, and which are an extension of the “Unhealthy Lifestyle” imposed on us, at our homes and schools. We should turn Halal and Tayyib Nutrition information into curriculum in school education.
Watch out for junk food!..
Unfortunately, all children love chips, crackers, chocolate and candies. These are already produced for children. On the other hand the process, solids and oils used in their production can cause problems both in terms of health and religion. For this reason, it will be an important precaution that this type of food is first checked by an impartial institution. In addition, frequent and excessive consumption of such products, even if it has been inspected, affects the child’s nutrition and therefore health adversely, as it suppresses the appetite. Children who consume junk food frequently, untimely and excessively often cannot gain weight and their bodies remain without resistance. For this reason, they also often get sick.
One of the new eating habits, fast food nutrition harms the heart.
The high-temperature cooking technique, which is mainly applied in places where ready-made food is sold, cause chemical changes in the content of natural fats. These foods invite various health problems, especially cardiovascular diseases. That is why experts emphasize that the eating habit called “fast-food” is becoming widespread among young people, and the age of having a heart attack is also gradually decreasing. Although it has been stated that heart attack is common over the age of 40, when statistics are reviewed, it is seen that heart attack goes down to the age of 12. The news that children aged 12, 15, and 17 have died as a result of a sudden heart attack in recent years is an indication of the importance of this issue.
Our homes and school canteens should be converted to a new food diet format, instead of prepared foods with various chemical additives, which can be harmful, dangerous and religiously objectionable. We think that a diet format consisting of fresh fruits and their freshly squeezed juices; dried nuts such as walnuts, hazelnuts, peanuts; milk, ayran (drink which is made from yoghurt, water and salt), cheese, olives; wholemeal, oatmeal breads is a suitable format for our children’s Healthy Nutrition.
Let’s not forget that we are all responsible for this. The hadith of our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) should not pass before our eyes even for a moment.
Abdullah ibn Umar reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said; “Every one of you is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock. The leader of people is a guardian and is responsible for his subjects. A man is the guardian of his family and he is responsible for them. A woman is the guardian of her husband’s home and his children and she is responsible for them. The servant of a man is a guardian of the property of his master and he is responsible for it. No doubt, every one of you is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock.”[1]
[1] Sahih al-Bukhari 7138, Sahih Muslim 1829