5 Ways to Stay Moving

One of the biggest contributing factors of childhood obesity is living a sedentary lifestyle. This means living a life with very little movement. Today you can go through all whole day and barely get up. You sit in your car to drive to work, you sit in front of your computer all day while you are at work, and then you sit and dirve home, go home and sit and eat dinner and watch TV, then lie down and go to sleep. With a busy schedule how can you make sure you and your family are able to get a move on it?

1 .Go for walks after dinner and watch the sun go down.

2. Play games that get you moving as a family instead of watching TV every night. Games such as Sherades,Pictionary, Wii, or even Twister.

3. In the mornings get up and stretch before starting your day, warm your muscles and get the blood flowing.

4. On the weekends make a day of going to the park, bring a basketball, baseball gloves, tennis raquets etc, bring a picnic lunch, and plenty of water. Spend time playing each activity you bring and stop halfway through to eat lunch. Then play some more!

5. While you are watching TV you and your family can do exercises such as crunches, bicep curls, and squats. During each commercial do a different set of exercises!

Doing these 5 little things will help you and your family not only spend more time togetherm but burn calories while you are at it! Get up and get moving! Take your life back in your own control!

School Lunches

Today I pose this question: Is it healthier for our children to eat a brown bag lunch or to eat the hot lunches schools are serving?

I was reading an article over the weekend about such a topic. What I discovered was shocking!

When I think back to school lunches I remember sloopy joes, hamburger surprise, mixed fruit, milk and cookies. Today children are seeing pizza, soda, and ice cream as lunch choices. Children are being given very little choices to eat healthy. And if given the chance are our children going to choose a salad over a piece of pizza?

So why do our schools continue to serve foods with which they know have no nutritional value? The U.S. Department of Agriculture continues to push more meat and cheese into lunch programs to keep the agribusiness lobbyists happy! As a nation we are jepordizing our children's health to keep lobbysist happy?!?! In the article I read they said that the Secretary of Agriculture just announced that the USDA is purchasing 75 million pounds of cheese, on top of the already purchased tons of cheese, butterfat and other dairy products purchased for school lunch purposes! ( to check out the related article visit: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-kscol-schools-m0823sbaug23,0,6280221.story )

This is a disgusting amount of carbs, fats and calories our children do not need. What they need is fruits, vegetables, and water! So, what is our Government going to do?

Obama has a legislation up for reauthorization called the Children Nutrition Act. This bill is to regulate and determine what our schools are serving for lunch. If this Act is updated and put to the test our children should have more healthier choices instead of so many un-healthy things to choose from. They should have more fruit, more vegetables, less fatty and fried foods and the chance to make only healthy decisions for lunch.

But who knows how long this will take to put into effect. So in answer to my own question: Children are better off eating a brown bagged lunch that parents can regulate themselves. As parents we can not depend on our governement to make sure our children eat healthy! I propose that as parents we learn how to prepare healthy lunches ourselves!


Below are 3 great resources on Children's Health and Nutrition and great ideas for healthy lunch habbits!


Lunch Box Menus For You by Janice A. Johnston


Lunch Lessons: Changing the Way We Feed Our Children by Ann Cooper and Lisa Holmes


The Top 100 Recipes for a Healthy Lunchbox: Easy and Exciting Ideas for Your Child's Lunches ~ Nicola Graimes

Obesity Action Coalition

As I was doing my research today I came across a fantastic resource! The best part is they work right behind us at the office! I think this is pretty crazy! So at the Office Building where my mom's Senior Helpers Business is there is a company called the Obesity Action Coalition. I used to pass by it on my way to and from the restroom (and I was pregnant so I was always walking by the sign on the wall). I was always curious what it was they actually did with obesity. Today I got my answer! I stumbled across their website this morning and wouldn't you know they are dedicated to EDUCATING and helping fight against obesity. It is a great sight with great tools such as: BMI indicator, an Advocacy Program and tons of information. WWW.ObesityActionCoalition.ORG Check them out! They are a really neat site that is truly dedicated to helping those dealing with obesity. They are not only a site with information, but a site with a heart and passion to HELPING those dealing with obesity. It is not only affecting our children, it is affecting our families. Education is the key to beating this epidemic. Become a FREE member of the OAC and be a part of the voice.

You Are What You Eat

"You are what you eat." This is a saying we have all heard growing up. I know when I was younger I used to laugh at the idea. I used to try to imagine myself as a piece of pizza, a hot dog, or even an ice cream cone. It didn't make sense to me as a child, but now as an adult the picture is crystal clear. It is true we are what we eat! Scary isn't it?
The purpose of eating is to provide nutrients for our body so that our organs and muscles can perform their necessary duties. Our bodies need energy to operate and food is where we find that energy. The food we eat effects every organ and muscle in our body. Each nutrient, vitamin, or sugar does it's own job. Protein repairs muscles, calcium builds strong bones, vitamin B helps us fight off a cold, and carbs actually provides our bodies with the fuel it needs to perform it's daily tasks.
It seems simple doesn't it? Yet, so many people are unaware of what they are actually putting into their stomachs. They are unaware of what the by-product will do to their insides. This lack of knowledge is a huge contributing factor to the rise of childhood obesity.
In so many households everyone is so busy there is barely time for everyone to eat dinner together. Let alone having everyone eating a meal of all fresh food that is healthy and takes time to prepare.
I believe part of the issue (even for myself) is not knowing how to cook! That is why today I am offering an awesome deal on The Guide to Organic Cooking!!!! In this guide you will learn all you need to know about organic food and how to prepare it.
The Benefits of organic eating are huge! No more preservatives! No more Processed fast food! Instead know that what you are putting into your body! Know what you are putting into your children's bodies! Take care of you and your family today!! Cook a meal they won't forget! Help with this fight against childhood obesity! Make a difference for your loved ones today. Purchase your Guide To Organic Cooking: The Healthy Way of Living today!!