Monica Sood with daughter Gayatri

Watch what they eat

It is important to give teens healthier version of fast-food favourites, say experts."Kids' eating choices need to be defined early," says Aditi Mehrotra, a city-based nutrition and health educator. "Earlier, kids followed their mums into kitchen and learnt cooking. But now with mothers banking on home delivery and fast food counters, it's definitely not a good sign," she asserts.

Aditi Mehrotra with kids Abhyudai and Aaira

Her workshops help children adopt a life-long habit of eating healthy and being active. “No preaching or lecturing, it's a place where children learn to eat healthy and make healthy food choices. So we have Let's Make Chocolate Healthy, Dish Detectives, The Longest Healthy Centipede, Mom Look What's On My Plate and many other such fun activities," she adds.

Rohini Walia lays stress on innovation to generate teenagers' interest in healthy food. "I encourage them to make kebabs and steaks from daal-chawal. They are healthy and fat-free," she says.

"We have to teach them by setting examples," says Sonali Khanna of Sector 9. The stuff that we don't want our kids to eat is out of bounds for us too," she quips. The woman bats for home-cooked meals, but doesn't mind her sons - Rushil and Aarush — occasionally gorging on ice creams.

The greatest thing is not winning but fighting well - thus goes the Olympian slogan but then a sign of encouragement bestowed on a writer or an artist motivates one to work even better.

Meet some of the region-based Punjabi litterateurs honoured by the Haryana chief minister for their contribution to Punjabi literature.

Credited with 16 publications on diverse subjects, Sahib Singh Arshi, former director of Haryana Punjabi Sahit Akademi, is the recipient of Haryana Akademi's Sant Taran Singh Vehimi award for 2008-09.

Holding three post-graduate degrees, Arshi feels any poet or writer is created by God. However, his upbringing in an ideal environment remains the added advantage in shaping his literary career. He is proficient in five languages. He won appreciation in Thailand, Singapore and Pakistan during the series of lectures he delivered on socio-cultural issues.

Sudershan Gasso, the illustrious son of legendary short story genius Om Parksh Gasso, is the second one to be bestowed with the Sant Taran Singh Vehimi award-2009-10.

Maintaining his excellence in Hindi and Punjabi literature, Gasso's contributes for the propagation of Punjabi language and literature by holding seminars, poetical symposiums and mushairas. His poetry is weaved around the pulse and heart beat of the masses and the classes. Living poetic legend Surjit Patar observed that Gasso's poetry is replete with innocence and patriotic fervour. He has captured the essence of life with its elemental experiences of all segments of society in his literary creations. His book Khushbooan de Kangan had been awarded the best poetic treatise earlier.

Retaining her impulse for creation of literary gems, poet of the masses Charanjit Kaur has been depicting the cultural ethos of the people since 1970. Credited with over 10 books in Punjabi, she was honoured with the coveted Baba Sheikh Farid award - 2009 of Haryana Punjabi Sahit Akademi. A senior officer in Haryana government Charnajit Kaur had been rightfully awarded with Kesari and Puaad Gaarav Samman and also for her book Guddiyan te Labour Chowk.

"I can say for a fact that after Madhuri Dixit there have been very few actors in tinsel town who can carry off classical styles," Mahavir said."Most, if not all, yesteryear Bollywood actors were trained dancers. Their rooting in classical dance helped them emote on celluloid as dancers have a good control over facial expressions for every situation," said Mahavir who was in the Capital to stage 'Nupur', a unique kathak recital directed and choreographed by him.

Born into a traditional family of musicians and vocalists, it didn't come as a surprise when Mahavir, who is also a trained classical singer, got opportunities to work with stalwarts like Lata Mangeshkar, Usha Mangeshkar and Hariharan among others.Mahavir is currently working on an upcoming movie on kathak. He maintained that unlike popular misconception kathak was not a rigid art form.

"It can be fused with any style of music and dance as it is one of the most lucid dance forms which is easy to experiment with and which never lets go of its elegance," Mahavir said.The artiste has been striving to change the perception about kathak in India and across the world, to make it more youthful, more relatable to the present times. He believes that Kathak is a perfect embodiment of beauty, aesthetics, emotions, rhythm, pace and joy."My main aim is to bring kathak back to Bollywood and probably to Hollywood and I'm confident I'm not being utopian. A deep knowledge in dance will only work well for actors," he said. — PTI

Hollywood actor Jude Law has reportedly splashed out thousands of dollars on anti-ageing products.

The "Sherlock Holmes" actor was recently spotted on a shopping trip at a cosmetics store where he was seen handing over $3,000 for wrinkle creams.

The 37-year-old star who was in the shop with a female companion, was recognised by a girl in the queue who later said: "His beauty products are more expensive than mine. 

0He will be wrinkle-free for life". —IANS

Hollywood actor Scarlett Johansson fought hard to land a role in 'Iron Man 2' and had to immerse herself in comic books, to impress movie bosses.

The 25-year-old actor, who plays sexy Russian spy Black Widow in the superhero movie, admitted she actively campaigned for the role after Emily Blunt dropped out because of scheduling conflicts.

"I was a huge fan of the first movie and was quite 'geek-ed' out at being part of the second one. I just wanted to be a part of 'Iron Man' so I really researched the comic books and came in with some ideas of my own about how to develop the character. I see her as being determined and ambitious," Johansson said.

The 25-year-old star wanted to be a part of the movie because she readying for some action alongside her co-stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Samuel L Jackson and Robert Downey Jr.

"I love everything about this character. I love every detail from her fabulous outfit to the wonderful hair. I mean, there's nothing not to like about the character. She's very bad and I think it's rare that we get to see these sort of super heroines bought to the screen," Johansson said. — PTI 

It was not crash diet that almost made actor Preity Zinta faint, but her weighing scale that shocked her to core.

"Eeeks! Stepped on the weighing scale after two months and almost fainted! Have put on four kilos! Forget the news! I need to focus in the gym now," Preity posted on her Twitter account.

While many filmmakers want to cast Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan in their movies, Big B is wondering when Priyadarshan will work with him.After watching "Kanjeevaram", a Tamil film by Priyadarshan.

 Big B wrote on his blog bigb.bigadda.com: "Good film, powerful subject, exquisitely shot and directed. Well done Priyan! Wonder when you will work with me.""Religiously every year for the past 15 years he says he will and must, but never does," he added. — IANS

"Life is not about negative things. One should look out for possibilities it offers. You cannot fight darkness with sticks and stones, but with light." Sanjana Jon seems to be working on the lines well after brother Anand Jon's much publicised conviction. The frequent trips that she made during the time of his trail to appeal to the government and fashion fraternity to support Anand first introduced her to the social circle. But the designer and social worker has gradually improved since then, creating her own space, whether it is in the fashion world or outside it.

In the city to support 'Save the girl child', an initiative of The Global Punjabi, an international forum to bring together Punjabis worldwide for social and cultural causes, she talks about three cheers in her life presently- Spreading AIDS awareness, saving the girl child and creating fashion inside the Tihar Jail.

"Fashion for me has always been for a cause. Whether it was supporting Tiger conservation in US, trying to make a difference with the inmates of Tihar jail or AIDS awareness," she says. Making her fashion debut at Cannes and featuring in New York and LA Fashion weeks, Sanjana is making use of her designer abilities to bring in reform through awareness. "I have been training the inmates of Tihar Jail in weaving and designing. And the creativity that they bring out show they are game for the change in their life." She wants to continue the creative reform to other prominent prisons in India but before that she is busy with the cause number two.

"I followed the reports about gender inequality in Punjab and Haryana. It is so tough being a girl in this part of the world where female foeticide, eve-teasing and being subjected to lewd comments are a norm. I belong to Kerela and being brought up in a matriarchal society, I want people to know how important women are for the society," she says. For the same, she plans to organise a support march with celebs, masses and the special guest, The Great Khali. "These marches will be organised in different cities including Chandigarh, Delhi and Mumbai."

While busy with her cause-concern routine, she knows how to make a statement here as well. She has roped in celebrity names like Paris Hilton, Ivanka Trump, Princess Sara al Saud of Saudi Arabia, Salman Khan, brothers Amaan-Ayaan Ali, Bret Lee and others for her shows and initiatives. She has also worked with six former beauty queens, Amelia Vega, Jennifer Hawkins, Natalia Glebova, Zulekha Rivera and Sushmita Sen for her AIDS awareness campaign. "There are more than 60 strong celebrities endorsing Save the girl campaign. I would want to expand the campaign to each state for which I plan to approach local stars and bodies." Well, isn't it a golden rule of all social concerns, throw in a celebrity and the cause is complete. "People don't want to hear long speeches. You have to give them some entertainment and with it the message. Celebrities help mobilise the cause," says Sanjana.

Next, she plans to promote Indian weaves and dying arts through a reality show. "We have to preserve our culture and connect to the roots. There is no place like home. But the show will take some time to take shape." Till then she plans to open her exclusive store in Delhi and find more causes to work on.

nehawalia@tribunemail.com

Realities, Illusions and Phantasia is an aptly named exhibition by six young artists. This group of friends pays tribute to their teacher late Manmohan Sharma, by painting humanity and nature in its myriad forms.

Ramandeep Kaur and Sumidha Khanna paint wandering human nature. Raman's series In Search in mixed media brings out the state of human mind and one's limitation to do things in life. A human shape with paint and brush in a pensive mood is the theme of her paintings.

Sumidha Khanna's paintings Thoughful State, acrylic on canvas, are her self-portraits in different moods. "I have painted my state of mind in different times," she shares. In each one of her paintings in dark colours 'G' stands prominent. "G is for Gopal," says Sumidha. "Wherever the human mind wanders, it's God who holds the reigns," she adds.

Dikshika Aggarwal's Dialogue, oil on canvas, is a series of four paintings in which she tries to link the past and present to a complete future. In one of her paintings, a human figure explores her future in a pitcher that stands a symbol of wealth as well as water that sustains life.

Vandana Sharma paints nature in its bright hues. Green bamboos painted against deep purple and orange present a beautiful sight.

Jaswinder Singh makes a comparison between animals and human nature on mixed media. Hardeep Singh Jassal gets bolder and takes inspiration from Mughul and Rajasthani schools to create something modern.

"If an artist gives say 75 per cent, the rest 25 per cent is what viewer's contribution is towards the work of art and that's why exhibiting works has such a significance," says Jassal.

On at Govt Museum and Art Gallery-10 till April 27.

The virtual world that entertains the real world has become a real challenge to deal with. It’s addictive. It doesn’t let one put an end to the conversation with friends on a social networking site. It keeps one hooked till one crosses more levels than friends of an online game. And by the time one succeeds in doing it, invariably someone else glued to the other terminal somewhere would surpass. It’s a vicious circle, affecting the school going children the most. “It’s important to realise if adults who are sensible enough, given their age can fall in the trap, how will children deal with it,” says Punita Singh, a counsellor.

Hours of chatting, messaging, commenting, making new friends on social networking sites and online gaming can result in behavioural changes and poor academic performance. “You need to concentrate well to respond to every development in the virtual world, which drains all the energy. This amounts to irritable behaviour in children,” says Dr. Simmi Waraich, psychiatrist, Fortis. Also, long hours of playing games on the computer can hamper the mental growth of a school going kid. “An addicted child might stop socialising or playing outdoor games with their friends. It can make him an introvert and a loner.” Because the games don’t require participation from anyone, the child will find it difficult to adjust on a group or a team. “Everything in the virtual world happens as per the wish of the child, which isn’t the case in the real world. Hence, when he has to follow the rules set by his parents, school or the society, he will not be able to cope,” adds Dr. Waraich.

Punita believes online games and social networking is the worst form of recreation for the child. For school going students it is as harmful as playing online games. “Social networking makes sense for adults who use the medium to stay in touch with school or college friends who they don’t get to meet very often.” The situation is different for students as they have their friends around them in the school and even at home. “What parents don’t realise is that their child through a social networking site can become friends with those too who don’t fall in the same age group. Also, parents in this case will never come to know their child’s friend circle and he might fall in a bad company.”

Punita asserts that it should be ensured that the child remains to be a part of the real and not the virtual world. Adarsh Kohli, additional professor, clinical psychology and a child counsellor suggests that strong emotional bonding of the child with parents can prevent it. “For parents, online games and social networking sites are an escape route to avoid spending time with children. If parents are allowing children to access Internet in any form, they should supervise them.” Time limit of their Facebooking, Orkuting or playing games should be decided. Children should be encouraged to open up, play outdoor games, meet friends and take part in team assignments. “It’s suspiring to see school students expressing on the Facebook or Orkut that they are sad or happy. The status updates might reflect the wrong picture, when the reality is different.” She feels it’s important to express reality in the real world to find solutions to the problems. And for that parental support is of course the prerequisite.

ashima@tribunemail.com

It’s time to bring out the short dresses and the strappy shoes! But remember that the skin bears the most brunt of the harsh sunlight. And, with the temperature soaring to unbelievable heights, the smartest thing to do is to protect your skin.

According to the head of dermatology department in the Government Medical College and Hospital-32, Dr GP Thami, the most common skin problems we face during the summer are dehydration, excessive oiliness of the skin, acne, pigmentation, fungal infections of the skin due to excessive perspiration and tanning.

“Long-term overexposure to the sun can cause age-spots, wrinkles, changes in skin texture and skin cancers, due to the harmful ultra-violet rays of the sun. These invisible rays are of two main types — the UVA or Ultraviolet-A rays and UVB or Ultraviolet-B rays. Both cause suntan, sunburn and sun damage. Hence, sun-screen is essential to prevent the skin from looking older and to prevent certain skin cancers,” he says. He advises to bathe twice a day because of the high level of humidity and pollution during these months. “Ensure that your baths are short if they are with warm water, as it tends to rip away essential oils causing excessive drying. Consistently being in an air-conditioned environment also removes essential oils from the skin. Opt for skin friendly fabrics like soft cottons and linen and go for large hats and sunglasses. Wash your face at least thrice a day with cold water using a mild cleanser and apply calamine lotion thereafter since it soothes the skin. Using the right face care products helps prevent pimples. Remember that treating acne is easier than treating the mark. Also, make sure your scalp is clean since a dirty scalp can give rise to skin irritation. A healthy diet and adequate liquid intake goes a long way in achieving flawless skin,” he says.

Summer’s heat and humidity is merciless. However, not all hope is lost. Here are some of the common summer challenges he/she will face and tips on how to counter them.

Tan and burn: A suntan is actually the body’s defense mechanism against strong sunlight and the visible evidence of damage to the skin on exposure to direct sunlight. It varies with skin type – fair skinned people get sunburns easily whereas those with a darker complexion get more tanned. The ultra-violet radiation burns through the outer layer of skin and causes serious damage, which shows up as patches of red patches, peeling and itching.

Solution: Avoid sunlight by applying a sunscreen of minimum 25 SPF during the day. Whenever stepping out in the sun, use an umbrella, hats and broad rimmed sunglasses. If you experience a lot of itching, take an allergic tablet at night for a week and apply a very mild steroid lotion at night.

Pigmentation: Normal skin or skin with pigmentation problems gets darker when exposed to the summer sun. This is because exposure to the sun causes melanin to rise to the upper layers of the skin causing pigmentation.

Solution: Avoid direct sunlight. Use a sunscreen of a good SPF mixed with calamine lotion at least two to three times in the day. Proper sun protection is a must. Cover the affected area. Oral antioxidants, vitamin C and folic acid should be taken orally to fight free radical damage. Use a skin lightening cream containing vitamin C, hydroquinone or retinoic acid at bedtime.

anujaj@tribunemail.com 

Young people are putting their hearing at risk by listening to music as loud as a jet engine, a researcher has warned. Playing music at high volume and using earphones that fit in the ear canal could lead to loss of hearing.

Professor Peter Rabinowitz, from Yale University School of Medicine said: “Some players generated volumes in the ear higher than 120 decibels - similar in intensity to a jet engine.” During the research Rabinowitz also found that the leading cause of preventable hearing loss was exposure to excessive sound levels.

“Concern is growing that children and young adults are developing noise-induced hearing loss as a result of over-exposure to amplified music, especially through the use of personal music devices such as MP3 players,” he added.

— IANS