TIME TO SHOP RITE

It had taken me close to thirty minutes to find a parking space and the crowd of people trooping into this mall I have heard a lot about; made me conclude that since it was a festive season, there would definitely be a live show by my best musician; 2Face or even a crusade by a popular Reverend.

Curiosity boosted my steps and the thought of a live show made my heart beat to accelerate slightly. Eagerly, I stepped into the

popular massive shop that had replaced the park that I had grown up to know and love, only to see more people headed in one direction. No band was playing; no DJ was spinning his wheels. I was disappointed.

Sadly, but still curious, I joined the crowd and stepped into a beautiful, ultra modern shopping mall. The goods seemed to be calling out to me. Gosh, I was tempted to buy that tasty chocolate bar. The decor and arrangement of the interior was awesome and breathtaking. It was simply gorgeous and cheap. I was still lost in admiration when a man with a cart filled with drinks and canned food nearly ran me over. He apologized and headed for one of the counters. That was when I noticed the very long queue of people waiting to make payments and another longer queue of people waiting to buy loaves of bread!

What actually caught my attention was the content of their carts and baskets. Most of them had them filled with canned foods, assorted biscuits, drinks, ice cream and junks. All manufactured outside the country. “Wetin Naija de manufacture sef?”

Please don’t get me wrong. I buy and use foreign products. In fact, the way these products are packaged would make anybody fall in love with and go for them. My grouse is with the medical effect of these beautifully packaged beverages.I’m sure you are wondering; “Is Nikky also a Doctor?” Gladly, I say; “I am not.”  

As I watched the crowd stocking their carts with these products, so many questions raced through my head; 
what effects do these beverages preserved with chemicals we know nothing about, have on the human body? 
Are they messing with my hormones? 
Are they the cause of my friend’s regular trip to the dentist? 
How am I sure that they are not the cause of my weight gain and the popular love handles I have been sweating so hard to get rid of. 
What of these young people who consume outrageous quantities of brewed alcoholic drinks? What is their faith? Are their children safe?

I was privileged to see my grandparents. My granddad and his generation never ate canned foods and none of them suffered from cancer, cardiac arrest or low sex drive.

Life is a continuous struggle and I must overcome this desire to shop at the wrong shops. It is not easy to quit a negative inclination, but it is time for me to start shopping right. As I stepped out of that massive shop with adorable wares reaching out to my purse and my heart, I decided to start eating healthy. As much as I detest vegetables and fruits, it is time for me to stay away from temptation and save my generation and I from damage and disaster.