Adjunct associate professor in Linguistics Paul Geraghty, is committed to maintaining a healthy diet through mindful meal choices.
He prefers shopping at affordable supermarkets like Shop N Save Supermarket in Nabua, Tebara Shop, MH, and RB Patel. Occasionally, he visits the Nabua market for fresh produce and also purchases from vendors outside Shop N Save.
“I mainly choose supermarkets that are budget-friendly and conveniently located,” he said.
His grocery budget typically ranges from $100 to $150 every one to two weeks. Living alone, he usually handles his shopping solo and doesn’t often shop with others.
Interestingly, Geraghty doesn’t use a shopping list, claiming, “It’s all in my head!” He enjoys interacting with people while shopping and relies on his memory for what he needs.
He focuses on purchasing delicious, healthy foods, particularly seasonal vegetables like tomatoes, carrots, dalo, kumala, tivoli, and ota. “I tend to avoid lettuce and cucumber because they don’t appeal to me,” he said.
To stay healthy, Geraghty incorporates a lot of walking into his routine, which he enjoys as a great form of exercise.
He finds it surprising that many people prefer waiting for taxis instead of walking. Those who grew up along the Nabua and Raiwaqa corridor are likely familiar with him as the “white man” who walks almost everywhere.
He believes that living in a village is healthier than residing in town, stating it provides a more supportive environment for health and education for children.
“If you live in a village, embrace it! It’s far healthier than town life, and children receive a better all-around education”.
On a related note, he urges shoppers to always opt for healthier choices and engage in activities like walking to boost their well-being.
He often reminisces about the now-closed New World Supermarket that used to be on Shalimar saying: “I miss the two-litre containers of fresh milk from Rewa Dairy they sold and I wonder if they’ll ever come back.”
Before joining the University of the South Pacific over 20 years ago, Geraghty served as the director of the Government’s Institute of Fijian Language and Culture for many years.
