Buy fresh food
WHETHER it’s vegetables or meat, buy fresh foods.
This was the advice of our shopper of the week, Maciu Oli Seru who adds it's also important to eat them fresh and in moderate amounts.
His usual place to shop at is Extra Supermarket in Flagstaff because it has variety of quality products and a great shopping atmosphere.
Mr Oli is a teacher at Nakasi High School while his wife teaches at Adi Cakobau School (ACS).
He is originally from Ovea, Bau, Tailevu and has maternal links to Koio, Solomon Islands.
MACIU Oli Seru and his wife Litiana have a budget of $300 fortnightly for groceries, toiletries and snacks.
But apart from that, they spend around $30 to $50 weekly on fresh vegetables and fruits.
“My best friend is my shopping buddy (the Mrs),” he said.
“We usually have the normal grocery list as your average family but have our specific preferences when it comes to brands. I used to love my monosodium glutamate (MSG) foods. Nearly everything I eat must have MSG until Dr Google told me it was not helping me in any way apart from entertaining my tastebuds. I have since switched to using sesame oil in moderate amounts. Small constant good changes in diet will help maintain good health in the long run.”
The 30-year-old says healthy shopping is something we should all have taken a stand on.
“We will not compromise when it comes to healthy shopping regardless of the price,” Mr Seru said.
“It’s either we spend good money investing in our health now or spend good money later trying to save it. Apart from buying healthy foods and vegetables, it’s good to always be active — whether it’s through backyard gardening or simple walking or other physical activities. We need to regularly keep ourselves active. I currently don’t have a training routine but this interview is definitely challenging me to make one and to stick to it.”
His favourite food is chicken Bibimbap — a Korean dish he first tried at the Grace Kitchen.
“It’s a mixture of different coloured vegetables lightly fried in sesame oil,” said Mr Seru.
“Well marinated and lightly fried boneless chicken with long grain rice and a sunny side up half cooked egg. The secret to the dish is the Gochujang — its a Korean chilli paste made by Grace Kitchen and sold at Extra Supermarket.”
Mr Seru says the person who motivated him to be who he is today is his mother Kelera Oli.
“Without skipping a beat I’d say my mother is always standing for what is right,” he said.
“Always loving and believing in my siblings and I despite our many faults. Our very own wonderwoman.”