Since the Queensland Floods during late December 2010 ‒ early January 2011, the average Australian hasn’t been able to afford to buy that staple food we toss in children’s lunch boxes daily, munch on in a snack-attack, or slice and dice over our muesli and blueberries every morning. I’m aware ‒ on many levels we’re mostly a blessed nation in this lucky country of sunshine, grace and occasional droughts, floods, bushfires and political mayhem. But today, when I arrived at The Fantastic Plastic Cafe, I noticed Ben and Des (café mates) looking anxious, talking animatedly about some issue that had the usually laid-back Ben, gesturing everywhichway.
I grab a coffee and join them, sipping ‒ listening. Appears, Ben can fly BestFlights Sydney-Melbourne for the price of 6 1/2 kilos of bananas. He can also buy a fresh fish/chips and salad luncheon down on the harbour front at The Fish Market from Costas for 3 people for the price of 6 1/2 kilos bananas and the list goes on and on and on.
Des is gobsmacked that his wife (they have 3 children) is buying bananas at A$14 a kilo. Ben turned to me and demanded: “Mate ‒ they grow bloody wild in Queensland ‒ what the?” Both Ben and Des are staring at me ‒ like I’m more than capable of explaining why any/every woman would buy bananas at that exorbitant price. I slowly, clearly and somewhat carefully too, give a brief rundown of a few of the benefits of the banana and why his ‘trouble ‘n strife’ (dearest wife) might buy them, even at that exorbitant price‒ especially having to daily pack lunches for 3 hungry, rapidly growing children and a beefy 6 ft 11 husband, who plays footy (AFL) weekends. Surprisingly, Des and Ben enthusiastically start to discuss the health benefits of bananas from an athlete’s perspective and before I know it, I’ve learnt a thing or two myself and drafted a post. Luvly. I’ve also created a page on this humble fruit: bananas ‒ superfood 101 under the “health-nutrition” page, if you’re interested and would like to read about some of the banana’s outstanding health benefits and why it is listed as a superfood. cheers
catchul8r molly
Amazing. The simple things we take for granted are not so simple for other people. I will eat my daily banana with much more appreciation today. Thank you for a reminder to be grateful for everything I have!