The right choice matters!

With numerous courses and enormous opportunities available to the students today, it is important to choose the right course from the right institution

     At any point of time in the year, students are always rushing towards the next option at hand in the field of education. Numerous opportunities and courses are available everywhere and making the right choice matters. In today’s competitive world, it is important for students to select a meaningful course which offer a wide scope for career prospects.

    Rather than going by the brand name or popularity of a course, students are advised to do a detailed research about the institution, before deciding what is best for them. Some of the factors to be taken into consideration before choosing the right college are the faculty, the management, infrastructure facilities, its academic assets such as performance, affiliation, accreditation, etc. The fee structure, placement statistics and professional scope of the course also need to be reflected upon while making the right choice.

     An institute that has a good faculty and offer the right courses has a competitive edge over the others. It is good to consult an academic advisor, whose expertise and experience will be a guiding factor in selecting the right course. Speaking to peers groups taking up similar courses and alumni of the institute will also help in decision-making.

      The basic aspect a student must follow before making a choice on higher education is his interest in the subject. The skill sets and life’s goal must also be considered. Besides, one should not make their decisions based on their teachers and parents advise alone.

      Make an informed choice about the right course of study, for one’s future depends on it. Keep an open mind while taking time out to discuss and decide on the right course from the right academy.

sherene joseph

Stay fit!

Fitness, being the new health mantra today, discover new ways to stay health and happiness

People today hardly find time to lead a healthy lifestyle and de-stress themselves, juggling between work and family. It is important to maintain a healthy balanced diet and engage in regular exercises to keep a tab on weight gain. It not only helps to improve health but prevents common ailments and worries too. 

According to Amee Sampat, franchise owner, Sporty Beans, Kochi, fitness must start at a very young age. “Kids these days are glued to television and next generation ‘toys’ like tablets and ipads. Children as young as pre-schoolers need to be engaged in some physical activity or the other to get them out of the sedentary lifestyle. The idea is to engage them in a fitness activity in a fun way,” she adds. 

On the other hand, exercises and workout should become a part of our daily activity. “One must exercise at least three times a week for thirty minutes a session, with each session consisting of a five minute warm-up, a twenty minute aerobic phase and a five minute cool-down,” says a spokesperson for VLCC. Here are some simple ways to maintain good health and stay in shape.

• Alternate exercises
  Those who cannot make to the gym can always look out for alternate ways to burn fat. Climbing the stairs instead of taking the lift or a brisk 20-minute walk is an excellent form of effective aerobic exercise. Walk whenever and wherever possible, instead of moving in a vehicle. Dance is also an excellent form of workout.

• Eat well
  Fitness does not require one to go on a crash diet. Healthy eating habits could do the trick. Never skip breakfast, the first meal of the day and eating little potions at regular intervals is the key to a healthy diet.

• Hit the spa
  It is good to indulge yourself once in a while and take time off to pamper you. Treat yourself to a luxurious spa therapy and look radiant like never before.  A spa therapy typically refreshes and rejuvenates one thoroughly. It de-stresses and relaxes the senses, leaving a feeling of well-being. 

Apart from these fitness mantras, it is essential to look good in order to feel good. A healthy skin is also part of a fit body, feels Elizabeth Chacko, owner, Kalpana beauty saloon. “Simple grooming tips like washing your face with a mild soap or face wash thrice a day, eating healthy food with lots of fruits and vegetables, avoid oily food and drink lots of water gives you a glowing skin and adds to your confidence,” she adds. 

The changing Kerala palate

The cultural diversity of God’s own country, evolved from the influence of various civilizations in the past, has had a profound influence on the Kerala cuisine today

    Kerala is a diverse state with distinct regions and communities, each maintaining its own culture, customs as well as cuisine. While the Namboodiri cuisine was known as the cuisine of the palaces and is strictly vegetarian, the Mappila cuisine belonging to Malabar region was influenced by the Arab traders. It is basically non-vegetarian with fish, poultry and a variety of spices. And the central Travancore cuisine was typically the cuisine of the Syrian Christians of Kerala, localised with plenty of coconut based flavours.  The famous dishes like appam, stew, pollichathu, pattichathu, mappas and piralan originated from there.

    Apart from the cultural cuisine, the typical Kerala sadhya served on a banana leaf, the vegetable avial, the puttu varieties, pineapple kichadi, jackfruit payasam, etc., are unique to Kerala alone. Apart from the staple diet of rice and fish, banana forms an integral part of the Malayali palate. From the use of banana leaf, to crispy banana chips, banana milk shakes, banana fritters, even banana thoran, the presence of banana in Kerala cooking cannot be ignored. 

    Kerala is constantly on an innovative mode, when it comes to coconuts. Apart from coconut oil, tender coconut water and the normal use of coconut as an ingredient in food preparation, the Coconut Development Board of Kerala has in its kitty, a variety of unique coconut products like coconut vinegar, coconut chips, desiccated coconut, virgin coconut oil, coconut cream, coconut milk powder, and so on. Truly ‘the land of coconuts’ has a lot to offer.

    With all these tasty and diverse cuisine in place, the food habits of Keralites have undergone a transformation over the years. The focus now is more on a healthy diet which can be achieved by following a few basic eating habits. “A healthy diet primarily involves consuming fruits, vegetables and whole grains, to satisfy calorie requirements and provide the body with essential nutrients, fibres and adequate water,” says Bulbin Jose, chief medical nutritionist, Lakeshore hospital. 

    Similarly, the traditional food in Kerala has always been savoured with great taste. The variety of ethnic breakfast combinations on offer is a rarity. An ideal breakfast for an average Malayali typically starts with the morning cuppa followed by puttu-kadala, appam-stew, kappa-meen curry, upma, pathiri, idiyappam, dosa-chutney and so on. These traditional foods can be made healthy too. 

 

    As we age, healthy food can be the key to a positive outlook and staying emotionally balanced. Eating healthy is only about strict diets, staying thin or sacrificing the foods you love. Instead, it is about feeling good, having lots of energy and remaining healthy.  “Simple food habits like adhering to a balanced diet, avoiding junk food, eating naturally sweet food instead of sugary drinks, adding salads to daily food, and finally, balancing the calorie intake with proper exercise, can go a long way to maintaining a healthy lifestyle,” adds Bulbin.

    From the countless spices available, to innovative coconut products, the variety of fishes and its preparation, the finest breakfast combinations and traditional Kerala cuisine, it is impossible to ignore the culinary repertoire of God’s own country.

-Sherene Joseph