KOCHI: “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food,” stated the Father of Medicine Hippocrates in his arguments on health and the living habits which influence this aspect.
In a quest to ensure the public is well aware of the health benefits of consuming organic fruits and vegetables, Ente Bhoomi, an environmental NGO has set up a green restaurant-cum-mall which is expected to revolutionise the way city folks eat and drink outside.
At the moment, what is expected to attract customers to the ‘green’ mall is the new fruit stall which opened shop here on Wednesday.
The fruit juice vendors have been trained under Dr Vishwambaran who is a practicing doctor from Bangalore. The fruit juice and shakes will be made using fresh veggies and fruits blended in coconut milk and honey.
“We won’t be using sugar since it is a sweet in the most refined form. It’s minerals have been lost after several hours of processing, the secret to why it stays for years without decay. Also, we will be focusing mostly on fruits which have a long life such as jack fruit, mango and apple.
It is better to reduce intake of fruits which have a shorter life span. Also, honey will be used as a substitute for sweetening the fruit shakes,” says Dr Vishwambaram.
Special classes for the public on the nutritious benefits of fruits and vegetables will be held every week at the Ente Bhoomi spot here.
The public will also be trained on how to make these fruit juices at their homes and will be provided with kits for the same.
Meanwhile, the hotel operated by Kudumbashree workers here which sells organic food using only vegetables and fruits purchased from Ente Bhoomi stalls is also attracting quite a crowd. Enveloped inside a canopy of trees, the hotel could be a perfect getaway for those looking for an easy yet serene lunch treat.
An exclusive Kudumbasree health drink is the ‘Oushada chaya’ made of a ‘koottu’ mixed with traditional herbs. Rice is served with special vegetarian curries and pickles which lend a homely feel.
The ‘kootu chamanthi’ made of variety vegetables including cucumbers, mangoes, raw papayas coupled with payasam’s lend variety to the lunch.
The fruits and vegetables being sold at ‘Ente Bhoomi’ mall is quite costly in comparison to the ones being sold in open markets.
“ These products are from our farms from Wayanad. Availability of such organic fruits and veggies is a rarity in the city which is why it is being sold at a higher price,” said Krishna Das, Managing Director of Ente Bhoomi.