Let's loosely define "food" as substances ingested for the purpose of nourishment.
Close enough?
Now ask yourself:
What Percentage of What I Eat is Food?
And What Percentage of What I Serve My Children is Food?
Startling isn't it? I'm not saying we can never eat an indulgent treat. That's never been my point. My entire purpose is that we all be more mindful of just what we're putting into our bodies and those of our children.
Why? So we can compensate and remain healthy. We must meet the daily nourishment needs of our bodies so we may grow, heal and function properly. We also must exercise everyday to keep these magnificent machines working.
And should we enjoy a little "junk food" now and then... let's just be mindful that we need to offset those empty calories with extra exercise.
Also, make sure to go for the good stuff--you know, the treats made from wholesome ingredients. Exercise won't compensate for the deluge of toxins found in most "Frankenfoods."
And please be a hypocrite. Many of us are from the Pop-Tart Generation and we have a whole host of bad habits to set down. Even so, that's no reason to get our kids hooked. They deserve a fighting chance to grow up healthier than we did. (Full disclosure: I grew up in Atlanta and LOVE the taste of Classic Coke. It's true. Although it pains me to admit it. But no matter how much I enjoyed as a kid getting hooked on that fizzy food coloring and high-fructose corn syrup concoction, there's no way in hell I would serve soft drinks to my own children--no way. I realize when they become adults, they may well decide to drink soda. But by then they'll be able to fully comprehend the potential risks of obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, dental decay, short-term ADHD-type reactions, etc.)
You know there are things that "grown ups" do that our kids know nothing about. If you can't say "no" to a naughty nosh, just do your best to be a stealth hypocrite. You don't want to bring it into the house and make a big deal about how "these treats are only for Mommy and Daddy..."
1 comment:
So true! Eating for the purpose of nourishing our bodies and taking the time to choose the best ingredients is vital to optimum health. It's like car. You want better performance, you put the best gas and oil in it. Many people are aware of poor quality gasoline. Their engine may knock or not run as smoothly. Same concept but with our bodies. =)
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