The food Relish.

"Food makes the world go round", believe many gastronomical enthusiasts across the globe. Irrespective of your mood, food always gives a soothing and almost tantalizing effect to your otherwise bored self. There's food for the happy soul, the sad soul, the bored soul, the depressed soul etc. Where do you think the inspiration and the fan following for "Chicken soup for the soul(s)" comes from? (Besides of course the heart-wrenching stories).

Lust for food So, when do your eating habits become alarming signals? Exploration on this beautiful journey of dishes brings us to the darker side or i'd rather call it irresistible side of food. As a child we were drawn to the ringing bells of gola, bajji, pani puri, bhel vendors. With a tang of imli and a ting of lime, we were surreptitiously bound to these foods. Growing up, we realized that healthy food comes with a price or it comes with a mother. But, "junk" food was always the pocket friendly sweetheart. This is the prime reason why people opt for eating tons of turns of junk food rather than eat a self conscious plate of healthy veggies which was lying only at the pit of the tummy. Do you find yourself usually in this situation ? If no, then carry on. If yes, then I've a couple of tips that will help you regain the healthy intake. ( I hope you haven't already run away to grab a plate of Pani puri)

* Firstly, when you look at the vendor and are drawn by the ringing bells. Stop for a moment and think of all the oil that's going into your tummy. Is the water in the food even clean? What if the vendor dug his nose in the idle minutes before you approached him?

* For most people, I feel the above should have grossed them out and made them ignore the bells and follow their own bells. But, if you are one of those who feels the impurity is what makes the food yummy. Picture this: A bhel puri vendor was talking to a fellow vendor, as he was talking he succumbed to relieving his itching on the chest and dug his finger nails and scratched away his chest to comfort. Then, he sneezed and cleaned his nose with the same hand and wiped it on his shirt which looked battered. Then, you approach him and he digs his hand into the pot pourri of ingredients and the lodged dirt in his nails and fingers are now one with your bhel puri. Gross now?

* If you prefer a more holistic approach, then I would recommend that you exercise quitting on junk food even for a few days and do that at intervals. Not only does this exercise replenish you eating habits but it also teaches you how not to surrender to your temptations.

But, being a food lover, I wouldn't say resisting your temptations to the point of starvation is good. I still like to grab my favorite bajji's and bonda's once in a while. Most of all, enjoy what you eat and eat what you enjoy with conditions applied.