Overcome the Junk Food Addiction
Beating our Junk Food Generation with Tips from a Local Expert
An insight into how we can provide healthy food choices for our kids but while keeping it fun!
By Claire Whittleston March 8, 2011
“I don’t want Brussels sprouts, Mommy! Can I have a cookie with ice cream on top?”Sound familiar? It’s frightful to say, but we are living in a junk food generation and many of our children don’t eat enough of their fruits and vegetables.
Over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates in America have tripled and almost one in every three children in our nation is overweight or obese, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
We’re all busy juggling home, work and family life and it 's a challenge to focus on the basic principles of healthy eating. How can we practice the balance between healthy food choices and keeping it fun for our kids?
Apart from the obvious — replacing junk foods with healthy options and exercising regularly — I was interested to learn from Glen Rock’s very own Integrative Health & Nutrition Coach, Waltraud Unger.
She gave me an insight into how we can provide healthy food choices for our kids but while keeping it fun for the whole family.
“Explore new foods and cook together as a family," Unger said. "Children are more willing to eat something that they helped prepare. In my workshops I teach children a lot about the food we are preparing: How it is grown, why we eat it and alternative dishes you can make from it. They get a chance to roll up their sleeves and get messy with food. My motto is: 'I am learning to like it, ' instead of: 'Yuck….I don’t like that. '"
Since the beginning of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative to end childhood obesity within a generation, individuals and organizations around the U.S. have developed new solutions and programs. Launched early last year, Let’s Move! begins with kid’s at an early age, aims to provide parents with information to make healthy choices
An insight into how we can provide healthy food choices for our kids but while keeping it fun!
By Claire Whittleston March 8, 2011
“I don’t want Brussels sprouts, Mommy! Can I have a cookie with ice cream on top?”Sound familiar? It’s frightful to say, but we are living in a junk food generation and many of our children don’t eat enough of their fruits and vegetables.
Over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates in America have tripled and almost one in every three children in our nation is overweight or obese, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
We’re all busy juggling home, work and family life and it 's a challenge to focus on the basic principles of healthy eating. How can we practice the balance between healthy food choices and keeping it fun for our kids?
Apart from the obvious — replacing junk foods with healthy options and exercising regularly — I was interested to learn from Glen Rock’s very own Integrative Health & Nutrition Coach, Waltraud Unger.
She gave me an insight into how we can provide healthy food choices for our kids but while keeping it fun for the whole family.
“Explore new foods and cook together as a family," Unger said. "Children are more willing to eat something that they helped prepare. In my workshops I teach children a lot about the food we are preparing: How it is grown, why we eat it and alternative dishes you can make from it. They get a chance to roll up their sleeves and get messy with food. My motto is: 'I am learning to like it, ' instead of: 'Yuck….I don’t like that. '"
Since the beginning of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative to end childhood obesity within a generation, individuals and organizations around the U.S. have developed new solutions and programs. Launched early last year, Let’s Move! begins with kid’s at an early age, aims to provide parents with information to make healthy choices
References: Botes, S. (2011). Junk food can lead to lower IQ in children. Natural news.com. Retrieved March 8, 2011, from http://www.naturalnews.com/031446_junk_food_intelligence.html Sahar, E. (2010, December 9). "Junk" Is Not Food. on Islam. Retrieved March 8, 2011, from http://www.onislam.net/english/family/moms-and-dads/raising-positive-children/450015-qjunkq-is-not-food.html Weaning kids off junk food. (2011). the Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved March 8, 2011, from http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/wellbeing/weaning-kids-off-junk-food-20110216-1avta.html Whittleston, C. (2011, March 8) Beating our Junk Food Generation with Tips from a Local. Expert. Glen Rock Path. Retrieved March 8, 2011, from http://glenrock.patch.com/articles/beating-our-junk-food-generation-tips-from-a-local-expert