At a time when obesity, heart disease, diabetes
and everyday stress are skyrocketing, it's worth taking
a month off from our normal lives and actually making those
changes we promised at New Year's (see our article on Lasting
Resolutions).
March is the American Dietetic Association's
National Nutrition Month, and even if you think it's too
late mid-March to start, try making one change in your family
life and stick to it until mid-April. The rule of thumb
is, it takes
thirty days for changes to start to work.
But making that change all at once is not
going to work. Declaring to the kids, "We're eating
broccoli every night for dinner, no snacks after school
or work, one hour of family quality exercise time every
night," is a pronouncement for failure. Your kids will
just roll their eyes and say, "Yeah, whatever."
Instead, make it your commitment to do one
thing all month. Say you want to insist that your family,
scattered on the winds, eat dinner together every night
for a month. Don't insist on radical changes, "all-broccoli,
all the time" in the family diet, because it doesn't
work (see our article on Kids' Nutrition).
Studies have shown that families who eat dinner
together regularly, without Mom and Dad being the nutrition
police, are happier, closer and yes, healthier.
If it's not possible to eat dinner together,
try a family breakfast instead (see next story.)
Another small step you might try won't hurt
your budget. Use a juicer such as the L'Equip
Mini Pulp Ejector Juicer (just $99), perfect for crowded
countertops, and make milk such as The
Soy Power Milk (see Recipes)
or juices from fresh vegetables and fruits. Make LivingRight.com
a part of your nutrition solution.
At first your family, used to a scattered
schedule, may chafe at eating together every day. Or they
kids and your spouse may turn their noses up at the juicer,
or drink the juice only when you're the one making it.
But slowly, they'll realize you are serious
about making the change. Tell them, "I am doing this
for my health so I can be there for you. If you want to
do it too, I'd love to have you along. Just try it at least."
No one likes to be left out of the group, especially young
children. Plus, if you have been lackadaisical about running
in the morning or making excuses about skipping breakfast,
your newfound commitment will earn your family's respect.
You may see the following results:
