Growing Rate of Obesity in America

I have finally found my purpose!  Yes, the light bulb moment!  As a wife, mom, daughter, sister, colleague and friend of several wonderful people, I have come to the conclusion that we have nothing without our health.  It simply is the essence of our existence.  And I've seen so many intelligent adults including MYSELF struggle with weight, health and self-esteem issues.  As adults today, we have so much more information accessible to us compared to our parents did 15 or 30 years ago thanks to the Internet.  We can use this knowledge and information to make sound and healthy decisions for ourselves and our families. And we can also share this information with our friends and colleagues.

When I hear the statistics of the growing rate of obesity among adults and children, it horrifies and saddens me.  What are we doing to ourselves and our children?  We are practically poisoning them with sugar, preservatives, salt and fast-food! Children and adults in America hardly get enough exercise and then I hear that schools are cutting out recess and athletic programs due to financial constraints.  This makes me very sad and mad.

The obesity rates for American adults has doubled since 1980 and sadly, it has tripled for children! Obesity is the cause for more than 30 serious disease.  Please see http://healthyamericans.org/obesity/ for more information.  Can you imagine how much strain this will put on our healthcare system? And can you imagine the impact this has on a child who struggles to fit into society. We are constantly bombarded with images of skinny models or actors with six-packs.  Kids who are overweight are constantly ridiculed in school.  Unfortunately, schools and parents are to blame for providing junk food as a form of nutrition.  Why do you think there is a McDonald on almost every corner in America?

We live in a society that is constantly racing the clock.  We work long hours and we have little time to plan meals, buy healthy fruits and vegetables and actually prepare nutritious meals for ourselves or our families.  So we run through fast-food restaurants on our way from work or we buy frozen meals that are full of sodium and preservatives.  And I admit once in a while or in a week I do the same thing because I'm tired of cooking and cleaning as well. But it's definitely not a solution for every day of the week.  My husband and I have our favorite places to eat out as well but I know that I can make a healthier version of the same foods at home.  I want my daughter to taste a variety of foods (especially fruits and vegetables) and eat fresh home-made foods most of the week like I did growing up.

So this blog will be about healthy recipes, exercise for kids and parents, and encouraging families to exercise together and provide good examples and role models for our children.  So I encourage everyone to start with a simple goal: drink 8 glasses of water, eat 4-6 servings of fruits and vegetables and take a 30 minute walk with your spouse, children, friends or dog. 

On a final note, here is a great article for all parents: 8 Reasons to Make Time for Family Dinner:  http://www.health.com/health/article/0,,20410583,00.html

Welcome and thank you for reading my post!
Make it a great day with healthy food and exercise!!!
You can do it!