How to maintain a nutritional diet during the covid-19 pandemic?

When we are constantly anxious about being attacked by an unseen enemy – a virus, the only thing that can keep our bodies going is good food.  As the famous Ayurvedic adage goes ‘When diet is wrong, medicine is of no use. When diet is correct, medicine is of no need’, amidst Covid pandemic, we tend to dwell deeply on these words. Simple yet profound.

Nutrition is an essential requirement for the body to fight pathogenic attacks. So, when a new wave of COVID-19 infection appears every few months due to coronavirus mutation, good food enriched with adequate nutritional requirements can assist us all in combating it.

According to experts, nutrition can improve resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. On the other hand, improper and unhealthy food consumption can lead to malnutrition and make the body vulnerable to viral infections. Proteins are the building blocks of life. As a result, consuming less protein increases the body’s susceptibility to coronavirus attacks. A protein intake of 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight is recommended. It can be found in animal products such as chicken, beef, fish, and dairy, as well as plant products such as beans, lentils, nuts, and whole grains.

A large proportion of people in India prefer to eat vegetarian food. There are many protein-rich foods that are both nutritious and delicious when prepared in an Indian style.

1. Soyabeans: These are high in vitamin C, protein, calcium, fiber, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium while being low in saturated fat. There are numerous recipes available for preparing various soyabean dishes.
2. Peanuts: They are an excellent source of protein, vitamins, and minerals. They are extensively used in Maharashtrian dishes such as Misal-pav.
3. Chickpeas:  Along with proteins, Chickpeas have  iron, phosphate, calcium, magnesium, zinc, and vitamin K. In India, they are fondly known as ‘Chole’. 
4. Lentils: A hearty Indian meal is never complete without a serving of lentils. Lentils are a high-quality source of plant-based protein. In addition, they are a good source of fiber and can aid in accelerated fat loss.
5. Oats: They are traditionally not a part of Indian cuisine, but it is undeniable that oatmeal is a superfood. It is not only rich in protein but also high in soluble fibre. As a result, oats are gradually becoming accepted as a part of the urban Indian diet. Typically, they are mixed into the flour when making roti dough or consumed for breakfast.

Let us accept; Covid is here to stay. However, it may eventually manifest as regular flu, for which one can take medication and be done with it. However, until that time comes, we must quarantine ourselves for 7-15 days each time a new deadlier variant is discovered, according to various guidelines.

Loneliness throughout the quarantine period, a lack of energy and enthusiasm is causing substantial harm to individuals. We have video calls, Netflix, and the internet to help us deal with loneliness while in quarantine. To address the issue of lethargy, many services have sprung up that provide homemade, nutritious and  protein-rich food explicitly made for Covid patients. Typically, meals are served in steel tiffin, which is returned after use. However, despite utmost precautions, there is a risk of Covid infection spreading to the delivery boy, and then the contamination chain may continue.

Alternatively, the food is packed in plastic thalis and delivered. In such a case, the plastic is disposed-off mindlessly and is usually assorted by rag pickers manually before being delivered to the final dumpsite for landfilling or recycling. Here too, the risk of Covid spread is high.

Evirocor can make a significant difference in this situation. The meals can be delivered in leakproof, easy-to-use, and disposable eco-friendly Oko bowls and wet & dry food containers, along with a small sachet of sanitisers provided by tiffin services. As a result, there is no need to return the containers, reducing the risk of Covid spread.

In India, it is said ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, which is a Sanskrit phrase found in Hindu texts that means “The World is One Family“. To save our big family, we need to defeat this virus, but for that, we first need to take care of our food and hygiene.