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Can’t stay away from the phone? Adopt these easy methods for digital detox

In the digital world, mobile phones have become an important part of our lives. Mobile phone addiction has dominated people to such an extent that it is becoming very difficult to stay away from it. But spending time on the screen continuously can cause problems like mental stress, eye fatigue, and sleep. Therefore, digital detox is very important in this digital age. Nowadays people are taking the help of digital detox to take a break from the phone. Digital detox means a period in which we distance ourselves from our electronic gadgets, such as mobile phones and social media, for some time. We should set aside a few hours a day for digital detox. For this, you have to adopt some habits that can help keep you away from the screen. You can adopt these easy measures to reduce your screen time; let’s tell you… Set no-screen time Set phone free time for digital detox. Every few hours, decide a time when you intentionally keep the phone away from yourself. Like at mealtime, 1 hour before sleeping, or as soon as you wake up in the morning. When you stay away from the phone for a few hours, you will feel that your mind feels light and calm. Instead of using the phone, start doing those activities that you like. But keep in mind that you should do only those activities in which the phone is not used. Things like reading a book, physical activity, spending time with nature, meditation, and spending time with loved ones can help in distraction. Keep notifications off The second easy way is to control notifications. There are many apps downloaded on the smartphone, which keep sending notifications again and again. Along with checking them, we start using the smartphone. In such a situation, go to the settings and turn off the notification option. By doing this, the habit of checking the phone again and again will gradually start decreasing. Take a break from social media The third easy way is to distance yourself from social media. Be it work, entertainment, or social connection, everything is connected to the phone. People today often spend hours browsing platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. To control this, you can use the device settings of the phone, where you can set a daily limit for each app. What will happen is that when the limit is reached, the app will close and you will be saved from scrolling again and again. This is also an effective way to take a healthy break from social media.

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These Outrageous Food Fusions—Like Gulab Jamun Paratha & Maggi Momo—Are Only for the Daring

A humble rant against unholy food pairings, with a little love for the pineapple pizza. I usually refrain from turning up my nose at any community’s food, because I genuinely believe that food and spices are a window into the history and culture of a people. But I draw the line at dishes that seem to exist solely as an assault on the senses—creations that have nothing to do with culinary tradition. Gulab jamun parathas or rasgulla sabzi fall in that category. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for innovation in the kitchen. Without it, we wouldn’t have French fries, baked Alaska, or even something as everyday as vada pav. But I do think innovation should have some taste in it. Pun fully intended. This week, I’ve decided to list all the culinary eccentricities I’ve come across after seeing yet another video criticizing one of my favorite innovations, the Hawaiian pizza. Now, you either love pineapple on your pizza or you don’t. I fall firmly in the first camp. I enjoy how the sweet pineapple cuts through the sharpness of the cheese, the saltiness of the ham, and the spiciness of the pizza sauce. Yet, I know many who would rather go hungry than eat Hawaiian pizza. It takes me back to a childhood appetizer I was once served at a friend of my parents’ house—cubes of cheese, pineapple, and olives skewered on toothpicks. The pineapple was the surprise element, and in a good way. Hawaiian pizza was not invented in Hawaii. It was created in 1962 in Canada by a Greek-born chef named Sam Panopoulos. The name came from the brand of canned pineapple he used. And honestly, after trying the monstrosity that is Chicago’s deep-dish pizza, I’ll take Hawaiian any day. In its own way, Hawaiian pizza reminds me of another oddball “delicacy”—the ”American chop suey, which my father adored. It is crispy noodles topped with a slightly sweet tomato-based vegetable sauce thickened with cornstarch. No Chinese person has likely ever eaten it, but it was a huge hit in the 80s and 90s. That said, some food “innovations” truly baffle me. Case in point: Momo Pizza. I haven’t had the courage to order it, and I doubt I ever will. The photo alone was enough. Pizza slices were twisted at one edge around a single momo per slice. This was then baked, which means the momo covering was crisped up. Who is ordering this? Now that I’ve mentioned momos, what in heaven’s name are Maggi momos? Who came up with it? This is not Maggi noodles cooked with momos in it. It’s quite the opposite—it’s momos filled with Maggi noodles. If the salt content doesn’t kill you, the carbohydrates and your dying senses surely will. Tandoori momos look so frightening, both as a concept and in their lurid red looks, you have to marvel at the people who order these. There are, of course, combinations that I don’t understand, but others swear by. Malai cheeni toast is one of them. It’s India’s answer, and a vegetarian one at that, to the French toast. Thick slices of bread are slathered with butter and toasted, then topped with a thick layer of cream and sprinkled with sugar. Instant heart attack on toast. I shouldn’t scoff, though, because Jamie Oliver—the chef who revolutionized school meals in the United Kingdom, wrote multiple cookbooks, hosted many more television shows, and has multitudinous restaurants in his name—recently put up a video of ice cream with extra virgin olive oil and sea salt! The sea salt I understand, but EVOO on ice cream? And just after that, I saw a reel showing a mango-Coke float—mango pieces muddled in a glass and topped with Coke. Why?My uncle used to relish having boiled rice with ghee and ketchup. So really, there’s no accounting for taste. And if the British—with all their stiff upper lips—can eat blood pudding and call it a delicacy, then why should rasgulla sabzi be singled out?

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