Get this, according to the editors at “Best Life Magazine“, a typical jack o’ lantern bucket will hold approximately 250 small chocolate bars, OR about 9000 calories. Gulp! I don’t consider that much of a treat, my friends. So, what’s a parent to do? Well, a couple years ago, I started handing out “tricks”–little toys and games versus the junk stuff. There wasn’t too much of a difference in cost. It works pretty well and many of the parents actually sighed in relief and smiled when they saw there was no candy distributed.
My son’s orthodontist has a great idea this year, as well. He is offering $2 per pound of candy turned in to him. He is giving $1 to charity and $1 back to the child who brought the candy in. He is sending the candy overseas to the soldiers. Troops, charity, and kids’ dental health all in one swoop. I think it’s a grand idea. It seems my kids have more fun obtaining the candy than actually eating it, anyway. I usually let my kids pick out a few to eat Halloween night and then add some to lunch boxes for the next week. But after that….bye, bye candy.
If you have to go the candy route, the folks at Best Life have come up with their suggestions for the Top 10 BEST (?) candies vs. the Worst 10:. My favorites, of course, are all on the “worst” list.
Check it out and good luck.
Happy Halloween!
Continue reading about Halloween Trick or “Treat”? I Don’t Think So…!
This weekend iHealthchic will help sponsor a youth triathlon put on locally by the Girls in Motion organization. Girls in Motion has the following mission:
“Girls in Motion is a not-for-profit organization that trains college age women to mentor preadolescent girls with the goal of promoting positive body image and preventing obesity and eating disorders.”
At iHealthchic.com, we support this important mission and think this group is doing a tremendous job in making a difference in the lives of Dallas area youth, one person at a time. That’s why we’re looking forward to volunteering at their “Trick or Treat” youth triathlon this weekend, October 26, 2008, at Greenhill School in Addison, Texas.
Exercising together with your children and training for a race is a wonderful family activity that gets you moving, enjoying the outdoors and setting/achieving goals. This weekend, my friends and I participated in a youth and adult triathlon. There were close to 500 children and over 500 adults who participated–in all shapes and sizes! It was loads of fun and the camaraderie and support was contagious.
My 13 year old recently did some research for a school project on the obesity epidemic in America. What he learned is that in 20-30 years, it is estimated that only 10% of our population will be at normal weight. The remaining 90% will be split between overweight and obese. It isn’t too late to turn this epidemic around, however it will take a united effort at the family level, the school level, and at the government level. For more information and ideas on healthy eating, school lunches and family fitness, you can visit these sites:
According to the Mayo Clinic, one of the best ways to positively impact your family’s health is to be a positive role model yourself. Here are their “Cliff Note” recommendations:
- Eat nutritious foods.
- Don’t bring junk food into the house.
- Control your portion sizes.
- Save treats and high-calorie snacks for special occasions.
- Turn off the TV.
- Be physically active every day.
- Stress the importance of healthy lifestyle choices, rather than a number on the scale.
That’s it, short and simple. This is what our local Girls In Motion organization is trying to achieve through their mentoring program. There are programs like this all over the US. Search online to find a similar organization nearby–or better yet–lead by example at home and in your neighborhoods. The statistics are astounding. It’s time to make a difference NOW.
Be the change you want to see. And, have a GREAT week.
Continue reading about Fitness, Family and the Future Health of our Youth
Rule out recess, that is. This is one of my sore spots when it comes to children. WE are responsible for the future of our youth. We teach them all kinds of things from values to attitudes to how to eat. But somehow, in this “no kid left behind” world, we have become too focused on so called “enrichment” classes and activities to the point that childhood obesity has become an epidemic.
We CAN do something about school lunches. if you cannot influence the offerings, then at least you can send something from home. And, that’s definitely a step in the right direction.
But what about the other side of the equation? The equation that’s been proven time after time after time: our bodies are meant to move. We work & perform better. We think better. Our bodies heal better. We feel better…when we are active. And so do our kids.
No longer do schools have physical education every day…how sad is that? And recess–a physical and mental break which is key on many levels– is often dependent on a slew of factors. Sadly, an article in Dallas Child magazine says close to 40% of our nation’s schools have reduced or are thinking about eliminating recess from the school day. My daughter’s elementary school only has PE 2-3 days a week, where the goal is some activity for at least 20 minutes.
Gone are the days when our kids learn various sports in school PE. I learned all my sports that way! In today’s world, the knowledge comes from parents getting kids into extracurricular sports outside of the schools. And while that combats the issue some, it isn’t an option for many under-privileged families. With parents working, kids are often left to the entertainment of TVs and computer games…and a lot of artificial, nutritiously empty, processed food.
Whole Foods has a wonderful program that is free for schools to participate in. It helps kids log miles that they walk/run in quarter mile segments. In Texas, there is a kick off celebration and 6 months later, a final lap celebration. The children who successfully complete a log that equates to a “marathon” (26 miles) earn a free T-shirt and finisher’s medal. I think it’s a great program for the education, goal setting and physical aspects. My daughter is participating for her 4th year. The program also comes with a food calendar to count daily fruit and vegetable intake. It’d be easy to implement in your area and Whole Foods would be happy to help. We participate as “independents”!
Take a stand and speak up. For your kids or the kids in your neighborhood. Be a role model. Let children see you being active and invite them to join you. And let me know what’s working for you!
This is a fight worth fighting.
Continue reading about Back to School…Just DON’T Let Them RULE…
It’s that time of the year again…and I have to tell you, I am READY! Ready for a more normal schedule again. Earlier to bed, earlier to rise. I love the summers, but as a single mom, it’s a more difficult juggle to stay on top of things and keep balanced in the summer when the kids are up later and sleeping in, swimming and racing. It’s all fun, but I am READY for school to start back.
A subject that is near and dear to my heart is kids’ health. You’ve read the stories, seen the headlines. The % of kids overweight has more than TRIPLED (yeah, you read that right) since the mid 1970’s. That’s according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Awful, huh?) It’s tough as a parent to fight the marketing and the taste of junk food. Did you know the government began setting standards for school lunches after World War II because too many young men failed their physicals due to malnutrition?! But, as you and I both know, our school lunches leave much to be desired. Those programs are trying to balance budgets with demand. That’s why 20% of our Jr. and Sr. High Schools have started bringing in McDonalds and Pizza Hut! It sells and the schools get money. Another loophole in the school lunch program involves the ala carte options which are not required to follow the “standards” set by the government.
As a parent what can you do? Expose your kids to as many healthy foods as possible. Involve them in the meal creation. I allow my kids to add ANY food to the grocery list as long as it is healthy. Also, at my house, if you COOK the meal, you don’t have to do the dishes. So, my kids have actually started cooking meals. That way they cook what THEY want and don’t have to do the dishes. Works for me. Long ago, I took a paper plate and drew a cross on it. I explained 1/4 of the plate should be protein, 1/4 starchy carb (rice/potato/whole grain roll) and half should be covered in colorful vegetables–the more color the better. I encourage them to enjoy a wonderful fruit for dessert and I always try to have some washed on hand so fruit is an easy option when they are hungry. And, I holler, “Eat REAL!” when they are heading out the door with friends. They probably roll their eyes, however it’s my reminder to choose real food vs. the artifical stuff when they have the option.
I also send lunches to school and incorporate my kids into that planning process. They can select one day a week to eat at school for their “junk” day. (I know, it makes me cringe, but it helps with the balance and buy in!) Recently I came across a wonderful, easy recipe that my kids LOVE and it gets GREEN into their lives. It is so simple, even my 10 year old makes it! However it’s best eaten as soon as it is cooked, so it’s not really an option for school lunches. It’s called “kale crunch” and I hope you enjoy it!
Take one bunch of kale, wash it, shake or blot the water off, and remove the center stalk. I just pull it off by hand. Then line or spray a cookie sheet with pam or olive oil. Fill it with kale, lightly mist with olive oil and sprinkle lightly with salt, garlic salt, parmesan cheese, or Ms. Dash Chipotle (we’ve tried all of these!). Bake it for 10 minutes at 375 and voila! You have a light, crunchy GREEN snack for your family to enjoy.
Continue reading about Back to School Lunches…Combat the Body Fat!
