Movie Night: Weight of The Nation – Part 3

This week we are exploring how school lunches are produced for our young people in the public school system. We will examine if this process plays a role in the fact that young people today are at greater risk for asthma, hypertension, and diabetes. In fact, children are being diagnosed with diabetes!

The early years of life are so important. Physical activity should be encouraged, because it is good for cardiovascular health, self-esteem, brain function, boosts mood, helps to get a good night’s rest, helps build strong muscles and bones, and helps maintain a healthy weight. If you have children and they are not already doing this, get them into a sport or some physical activity each week or each day if possible. Find something they enjoy and encourage them to stick with it.

Children should not have their own TV in their bedroom. This is something born out of our modern society that’s another detrimental behavior to our overall well-being. Advertising is impressionable on young children’s minds. They develop brand loyalty very early on in life and these commercials that target children don’t promote real food. It’s all processed foods. There are healthier cereals, although I never see those advertised, but cereal is not a health food. Breakfast should be fruit or a smoothie. This will keep them attentive in class and allow their brain to retain the information better.

Also, with fruits and smoothies in the house, there will be no need or craving for pasteurized, sugary, void-of-nutrient drinks. The options available should be filtered water and fruits to make smoothies. Once that’s all the options in the home, guess what? That’s what the children will eat. Most don’t have any income to buy unhealthy stuff so if they are eating it at home it is the responsibility of the parent to take control of the kitchen and provide an environment that supports the words being preached to to the children about eating healthier. As the parent, you set the example.