Once again, I am thrilled about our First Lady’s initiative to encourage our nation’s families to make healthier choices in their daily activities and what they eat, and making healthier food options more accessible. This movement is called Let’s Move. This is very near and dear to my heart, as “just move” is something I would tell so many people in fitness and wellness consultations. Whatever you decide to do, just do it while moving–just move!
On the Let’s Move website, Mrs. Obama tells her story that as a mother in a working family, prior to their residence in the White House, she struggled to feed her children healthy food. She fell victim to the ease and convenience of fast food and delivery pizza. She saw the result in her children.
Childhood obesity is not a condition that afflicts the underprivileged. Highly caloric, yet nutrient poor foods are all too convenient and inexpensive options in all neighborhoods.
The following are a few suggestions for making healthier options more accessible to ourselves and our loved ones at home.
- On Sunday or grocery day, wash and cut all vegetables, so prep time is cut down during the week.
- During the weekend make stews and soups that can be refrigerated and/or frozen to be heated up throughout the week for lunch, dinner, or snacks.
- Buy non-fat granola, dried fruit, and chopped nuts in bulk. Pre-package them into small snack bags (that can be re-used to be conscientious of our environment), so that they are in convenient single size portions. You can top yogurt with them for parfaits.
- Put small, balanced meals/snacks into containers in the refrigerator to avoid the “there’s nothing in the fridge” feeling. For example, put some grapes, cheese, and crackers into a container with compartments; sandwiches cut into quarters; vegetable sticks with dip.
If you have any other suggestions, please add your comments.
