Discovering that my BMI was in the overweight range really bugged me, and I felt I had to do something about it. I am concerned about my weight, mainly from a health perspective, in case a certain somebody decides to tell me that guys should not worry about their weight. Let's just say -- I want to live a good long life, and fats usually get in the way.
My job has turned me into a monster, causing me to forget about the simpler pleasures of life, subtly adding kilos to my frame. So I tightened the belt and made an attempt to return to the austere routine I used to follow in the past (before I took on my current career) -- eating nothing but oats and fruits for dinner. While some people might find oatmeals less than appetizing, I actually enjoy eating it, especially when the oats are mixed with Milo. The porridge-like texture and the taste is a combination die for -- what more can I ask for?
The recipe that I used was simple: Five scoops of Quaker Oats, Five scoops of soy milk powder, and one scoop of Milo for taste. Mix thoroughly, and then add boiling water. After that, let the oats settle for about half an hour to an hour.
After an hour, I decided it was time to partake in my oatmeal. After tasting a few sips, I noted that it tasted a little different from usual. "Perhaps it is not so fresh anymore," I thought. After all, I had bought the oats almost a year ago, and had yet to finish it. Then, I noticed there were little bits about the size of an ant adorning the rim of the bowl. Initially I thought they were ants -- upon closer examination I was satisfied that they were not ants. After all it had a smooth surface without the characteristic legs and feelers you would expect to see on an ant. "Perhaps they were parts of the oats that just kind of fell off? Husks maybe?" I thought to myself. Assured, I ate the oats happily.
However, after slurping almost half of my bowl, I felt uneasy. There was a nagging feeling within me that all was not the same. The oats did not taste like oats, if you get what I mean.
I decided to check the ingredients I used to make the oats in details. At first I thought they could be ants and might have been attracted by the sweetness of Milo, so I checked that first. No luck. Next, I checked the organic soya powder that formed the milk base. No luck there too. Feeling a little better, I checked the oats tin.
My oats was alive! Something was making waves in my oats -- imagine my horror when I saw lots of tiny little creatures (I don't know what they were -- definitely not ants) moving around in it. I immediately poured away the rest of the oats into the sink. I would like to throw up just thinking of what I had eaten. My stomach feels a little itchy now, perhaps with all those little things crawling on the walls of my stomach too.
Oh well, as the old adage goes, it is always good to have a balanced meal by including some protein in your diet.
