It was a bright and sunny afternoon, and little monkey Lala was happily playing in the family garden. The fruit trees were full of ripe mangoes, apples, and juicy grapes. Everything looked so fresh and delicious that Lala could hardly wait to taste them.
As she wandered through the garden, she spotted a shiny red apple hanging from a low branch. Without thinking, Lala picked it and took a big bite.
Crunch!
“It tastes so sweet!” she said with a smile.
Just then, Mom walked outside carrying a basket. She gasped when she saw the half-eaten apple.
“Oh no, Lala!” Mom said gently. “Did you wash that apple first?”
Lala looked down and slowly shook her head.
Mom explained that even fruit picked from their own garden can have dust, dirt, tiny insects, or germs on the skin. Washing fruit before eating helps remove many of those things and makes it safer to enjoy.
A little while later, Lala’s tummy started to feel uncomfortable. She sat quietly on the porch, holding her stomach.
“My tummy doesn’t feel very good,” she whispered.
Mom brought her some water and helped her rest. She reminded Lala that not every stomachache is caused by unwashed fruit, but washing produce is an important habit that helps reduce the chance of getting sick.
After resting for a while, Lala began to feel much better. Together, she and Mom walked back to the garden with a bowl of clean water. They carefully washed apples, grapes, pears, and peaches before placing them into a basket.
Dad joined them and smiled proudly.
“Now that’s the right way!” he said. “Clean fruit is delicious and safer to eat.”
Lala happily took another bite—this time from a freshly washed apple. It was just as sweet as before, but now she knew it had been cleaned properly.
From that day on, Lala never forgot the simple lesson. Whenever she picked fruit from the garden or brought some home from the market, she always washed it before eating. She even reminded her friends to do the same.
A few extra seconds at the sink could help everyone enjoy tasty fruit more safely, making every snack both healthy and happy.
