Be An Advocate for Child Health : SuperFoodsRx

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Be An Advocate for Child Health

We welcome the crisp colorful fall season as our families return to the routines of the school year.   With our busy schedules, and the seemingly endless list of after-school activities, it’s easy for our family’s nutrition to get lost in the shuffle. Snacks are often provided for our children, by well meaning individuals who might not be aware of what constitutes healthy food.   It’s not uncommon for a busy child to eat junk food several times a week, as they eat on the run, and snack with their respective groups.

This is where we can make a difference.    Here are several action items that will positively impact the health of the children in your life.

One sure way to strengthen your voice is to seek out like-minded parents and work together. This is especially effective in larger organizations.

In schools, be mindful of the a la carte foods that are sold in the cafeteria after lunch. Often you will find cookies, chips, and other low nutrient dense foods being sold to our children to raise money.

Work with organization leaders and suggest that celebrations model a healthy diet; like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and only one trans-fat free dessert for each child.    Place the dessert on the table, only after the meal has been served. Believe it or not, the children will feast on these nutritious offerings and often forget about the dessert.

Volunteer to coordinate celebrations or snacks and create a nutritious menu. For birthdays, suggest parents bring a fruit salad and give out stickers, pencils, books, or erasers. Kids love this stuff and they won’t even miss the icing!

Instead of the beloved Ice Cream Sundae Bar, try a Smoothie Bar with frozen fruit smoothies. Watch their eyes light up as they sip these delicious offerings. Smoothies are easily made with frozen fruit, ripe bananas and fresh orange juice.   They are immensely popular and can also be sold for fund raising purposes.

For sports teams, suggest snack guidelines of fresh fruit and water instead of donuts, chips and other foods that often contain excessive amounts of fat and sugar. Brightly colored sports drinks laden with food dyes are now popular beverages both on and off the field. Keep in mind that these drinks are designed to replace electrolytes for individuals who are strenuously exercising for 60 minutes or more.   It’s rare that our younger children meet this criteria when playing organized sports, and certainly not when they are at lunch. These drinks add extra calories with little or no nutrition.

If your organization has fund-raisers, consider selling non-food items. Several internet sites have creative fund raising ideas dedicated to non-food products.

Error on the side of making healthy choices, and remember that you are not forging this path alone. Other individuals will surface, and be grateful that you are leading the charge. Be courageous and advocate for the health of our children. They are counting on you.

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