Mother of three Raijieli Rogo does not enter the supermarket with a long list of items because she lives a simple life.

The 58-year-old widow lives with her children at Nadonumai outside Suva.

“I do not have a big budget because I only buy what I need as for wants I ignore them,” Mrs Rogo said.

“I bake four dishes of pie six days a week; the money I make is sufficient to pay our bills, and other needs,” she said.

“I only shop here at NewWorld opposite the Suva Market because it is clean, the isles are wide and the items are neatly and appropriately stacked – it is easy to find what you are looking for.”

Mrs Rogo plants rourou, bele and tubua around her house as she consumes these on a daily basis.

“I for one do not encourage my children to eat meat, I am always boiling bele, rourou or tubua for our meals.

“The number of diseases like cancer, diabetes is scaring.”

Originally from Lakeba in Lau, Mrs Rogo had attended Uluiqalau District School for primary then moved onto Ratu Finau Junior Secondary School up to Form Four.

After passing her Fiji Junior exam she came to Suva and was one of the pioneers of Demonstration School later named Laucala Bay Secondary School opposite the Vodafone Arena.

She passed her New Zealand School Certificate at Form Five.

Then secondary school went as far as Form Six and the external exam was the New Zealand University Entrance of which she was not successful.

She had to return to the islands as he father a copra seller could not afford her to repeat.

“I returned to Lakeba and helped my family in the daily chores,” she said.

“While on Lakeba what fascinated me is that we hardly got sick and my grandparents were hardworking and fit unlike those these days in towns and cities.

“Back in the islands we had our food cooked in lovo (earth ovens).  My grandfather would go to his plantation from Monday to Saturday and make lovo.

“He would put everything into the lovo – dalo, pawpaws, and vegetables for his meals. He would bring baked food back home and we would consume these food.

“There was no cancer, diabetes like today, now my son complains of stomach aches, headaches, fever, weak muscles  – this is due to grog, smoke, liquor and fast foods.

“There are also a lot of idle people, God gave us all hands to work.

“My husband passed away five years ago – we have a small market where we sell vegetables and root crops and I bake also.”

Mrs Rogo bakes four dishes of pie everyday which she makes $15 for each tray. She sells pie slices so she makes $60.

She has a tight budget and she keeps to $80 for groceries every week.

“I only buy basic items so there is not much to buy as we eat a lot of vegetables.”

“I like making vakasakera (an Island vegetable dish) – I use saigon leaves, cabbage and tubua and the other is baigani (eggplant) tavu (grilled) with miti.

“That is a treat as I will only make them if we have coconuts otherwise it is boiled rourou, bele or tubua.

“Today I’m thinking of buying a chicken also which I hardly buy.”