As a young child who detested having breakfast, my Lola Ding would usually try to feed me hot oatmeal with milk to prepare me for the day’s lessons and activities in school.
I would pick at my oatmeal, and in feeble compliance shove maybe two teaspoons of it in my mouth, quickly downing it with water, or with more milk. In the end, it was usually the glass of milk I finished, and left the relatively untouched oatmeal on the table, before flying off in Papa’s car to St. Theresa’s, barely making the flag ceremony as usual.
On occasion I would buy steel cut oats or rolled oats to give me some semblance of an attempt at health. But, damn, they’re just so expensive, especially that brand sold at Healthy Options. When traveling, I also make sure to bring along some Quaker Oatmeal cookies—when on long flights, you can never be sure when your next meal would be served. They also relieve me of late-night hunger pangs, in case my hotel or resort doesn’t have 24/7 room service, so it’s always good to make baon.
Studies show that Filipinos consume less than 50 percent of fiber needs every day. According to Jake Andal of the Philippine Society of Nutritionists and Dietitians, working Filipino adults consume an average of only 8 grams of fiber daily. This is waaaaay lower than the average recommended nutrient intake of 20 to 25 grams. As such, we should not wonder why heart disease is the leading cause of death among Filipinos.