Hunger games of a teenage boy

What doesn’t a growing teenage boy like about food? Aiden Nel tells us.


If you know me, then you will know that I really love food. Due to my Type1 diabetes, I try to maintain regular snacking throughout the day, but when it comes to mealtimes I eat a lot. What can I say? I’m a growing teenager.

My dad says that the only time I say “No” when it comes to food, is if someone says, “Have you had enough to eat?”

Seriously though, I’m not that bad. The point I want to make is; it doesn’t matter that I am a Type 1 diabetic. If I roughly know the amount of calories that I am eating, then I am able to have the corresponding units of insulin.

Remember, I have been diabetic now for 10 years, so I am quite good at estimating my insulin units. And besides, I either test myself before a main meal, or 15 to 30 minutes afterwards.

Favourite food: Pork, veggies and rice

Mmmmm. I really enjoy pork! It’s my favourite type of meat to eat. When I smell that pork in the kitchen, I get excited. Our family has pork probably two to three times a week.

When we have pork, we also have veggies and rice. I really enjoy eating veggies and it’s an important part of my diet. We have veggies every day of the week for supper and on a Sunday afternoon lunch.

Rice is also popular in our family meals. During the week, we probably have it three or four times. I like rice a lot, but I have to say that I prefer veggies more.

My favourite way to eat pork is when it has been fried in the pan. I don’t really enjoy pork when it has been on the braai as it loses too much of the moisture. The way I like my veggies cooked is for them to be roasted in the oven, so that they are soft and just melt away in my mouth.

Aiden’s favourite recipe: Meat and veggie soup

Ingredients

  • 500g beef goulash
  • 3 carrots (grated)
  • 2 potatoes medium (grated)
  • 2 celery sticks (chopped into pieces)
  • 4 spring onion leaves (chopped into pieces)
  • 4 – 5 handfuls of soup mix
  • 20ml tomato sauce
  • 20ml chutney
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2ml dried chilli
  • 1 beef stock cube

You can add any other veggies too.

Method

  1. Place all ingredients in a large pot and pour enough water in covering all the ingredients, then add an extra 500ml of water.
  2. Allow to simmer for at least two and a half hours. Once veggies are soft and meat is falling apart, it’s time to dish into soup bowls and enjoy!


Aiden Nel lives in Port Elizabeth. He is 14 years old and has Type 1 diabetes.