So sweet

I8217;m not an ardent flier or traveler, or I would be almost dead 8212; what with my blood sugar level going haywire with the in-flight f...

I8217;m not an ardent flier or traveler, or I would be almost dead 8212; what with my blood sugar level going haywire with the in-flight food. Having recently flown a major airline in India on three separate occasions, I can authoritatively lament that so anti-diabetic is the fare, that the country8217;s diabetics should seriously raise a stink.

There were two big gulab-jamuns two, if you please, as though couples are preferred in food too, sweetened juices, creamy fillings in bread lookalikes, rice grains and paneer pieces in the veggie8217;s slot. There were only chocolatey toffees as starters. No, swayed the airhostesses, there8217;s nothing else. No Indian stuff that goes so well with the diabetic8217;s diet 8212; no elaichis, cloves, plain saunf.

Getting back to the teasers on the platter, toffees were followed by sweetened juice packs. Hungry and thirsty, I returned the juicy concoction to the airhostesses and asked for black tea instead. In fact, the only two items which seemed okay for the diabetic in the skies, was the tea provided, of course, that you desist from sprinkling sugar and dried milk powder from the packets provided alongwith into it and maybe a lone salty snack, sulking on the tray, a complete loner. I8217;m not the calculating sort, but this sort of fare means that one quarter of the stuff the passenger has paid for can8217;t be touched by the diabetic.

Isn8217;t it time our airlines do a re-think for the sake of the diabetes stricken or those on the brink of it. Till then, the passengers could carry their own rotis and daals in tiffins and dabbas.

In this day of commercial hype, we seem to have lost touch with the basics. Though we talk blithely about esoteric policies to prevent disease, our insensitivity levels on the ground 8212; and in the air 8212; are truly astounding.

Anyway, for the diabetic flier, for now, there8217;s no place like home. At home, you cook your own simple fare 8212; rotis, daals and subzis. And as you gulp it down, along with black tea, you send up a relieved 8216;8216;Subhan Allah8230; Thank you God for a healthy, non-sweet meal!8221;