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Reshape The Family Diet -- Avoid Dinnertime Troubleby Cyndi Thomas, ND 
When I announced that my family needed to change its diet somewhat... well,
to say my children weren't as excited as me would be an understatement.More than once they cried: What? Salad again! When are we going to have some real food? My understanding reply was usually, "This is dinner...eat it or starve." After all, I had taken it upon myself to get my family in the best possible health -- NO MATTER WHAT! I had decided no more junk food. We were going to sprout alfalfa and have produce delivered by truck once a week. We were going to have meals made up of just fruits and vegetables. We were going to drink juice made from... gulp, barley grass and carrots. My kids were going to be thrilled with the change! So I sat them down -- all seven of them -- and gave a brilliant lecture on the importance of good nutrition. I even had charts and graphs. I knew that once they understood, the change wouldn't be a problem at all. After all, I had intelligent kids. They would understand. Right? Wrong! C'mon mom... do you really mean no more hot dogs, hamburgers, ice cream, brownies, potato chips and soda pop. You don't expect me to give up soda pop -- DO YOU? I no longer recommend anyone do what I did. My path to healthy living was paved with good intentions. But my family suffered the potholes that accompanied my attempt to overhaul their eating habits overnight. You won't have to endure as much agony. I've compiled a few guidelines to make such a transition easier for the caring mother (or father) wanting what's best for her or his family: 1. Do not say anything to the family about what is to transpire. (The exception here is if the family already has an excellent, above-average level of communication and they would rather have apples instead of Ding-Dongs for dessert!) So like I said, "Don't say anything."The transition is much smoother when mom AND Dad agree on the diet change. Still the rule is the less fanfare, the better. Slowly introduce more nutritious menus and set a good example of eating and enjoying. Make positive comments about how good the vegetables taste -- and how good they are for the body. If questions are raised as to why the menus are different, be honest and direct: "We've been reading (or the doctor told us -- or Bob and Mary have been telling us) that junk food makes our bodies sick." Follow with statements on how much better you have been feeling since eating "right" and comment on any noticed changes in the children's health or behavior. For example: "Johnny, you sure have been easier to get out of bed in the mornings since we've changed our diet." Don't neglect an opportunity to point out to the children when a slip away from healthful eating produces direct negative physical discomfort. Whether it's affecting you ("Boy, that ice cream sure gave me a headache!") or them ("Johnny, see how you are acting since you've eaten that piece of cake?" Keep the "wrong" food out of the house. That way your kids won't be tempted into eating something they shouldn't. If you must go to the store to get something, you will often think twice about whether it's needed -- OR NOT. Children learn by example. A household that manages food properly will help children adopt healthy eating habits. Here are a few quick additional tips: • Praise your child's efforts to make better dietary choices. • Stock the pantry with healthy foods. • Provide balanced meals at regular times. • Keep snacks healthy (raw fruits, veggies, etc.) • Lead by example. You MUST also eat healthy. • Reward good behavior with nonfood items, such as CDs and clothes. Changing a lifestyle doesn't have to be complicated. Slow and steady always wins the race. My pop drinker rarely indulges anymore. My sugar addict gets a headache when she indulges. My younger ones can't eat off the children's menu at restaurants -- they don't offer salads on the kid's menu! And, my husband totally avoids dairy to keep his allergies from becoming a problem. Are we perfect? Of course not. But we now spend more time eating the right things as opposed to the wrong. And it does get easier with time. I know your family is worth the effort. And someday they will realize how right you were and maybe even thank you for it! Medical Disclaimer: The School of Natural Health has provided this material for informational purposes only. We do not prescribe and we do not diagnose. If you use the information outlined in this website (book, survey form, newsletter, supplements) without the approval of a health professional, you prescribe for yourself, which remains your constitutional right, but neither the author(s), nor the School of Natural Health assume any responsibility. Please check with a trusted medical doctor before making any sudden and new dietary changes. Cyndi is a Naturopath (N.D. from the College of Natural Health) and is a member of the American Association of Certified Consultants. Cyndi has overcome numerous physical problems through the principles of Naturopathy. She has been published in ezines and magazines, is the author of "Vibrant Health - It Can Be Yours" and is the editor of the online newsletter, BNHealth. Cyndi lives in Oklahoma with her husband, Paul and their seven children, whom she home schools. You can visit her site at: http://www.schoolofhealth.com or email her at cyndi@schoolofhealth.com Hi dear Parent, I've been doing some extensive research on supplements. The information I'm discovering points to the importance of getting our nutrients from whole foods. Science is beginning to realize that our bodies use whole foods better than vitamins, which are bits and pieces and parts of whole food. It's no accident, they tell us, that an apple, for example, is filled with a hundred or more different vitamins and nutrients (and, as yet, unidentifiable "good stuff") that are designed to work TOGETHER to feed our bodies well and to energize us. There's Truth in the old saying: "An apple a day, keeps the doctor away." That apple, a whole food, "knows" how to protect and build up our immune system to keep us healthy! 
All Nature's Gifts are designed in that way: Nutritious foods like fruits
and veggies - apples, oranges, bananas, pineapple, grapes; carrots,
broccoli, sweet potatoes, corn, string beans.Scientists, nutritionists and medical doctors tell us we should eat five servings of fruits a day, and four servings of vegetables a day. That's a whole lotta food to eat. To be honest, most of us don't eat that well each and every day, don't you agree? There are daze (sic) when I'm lucky to eat a banana, a handful of grapes, a baked potato and maybe some steamed green beans. But that's not enough healthy whole food to fuel our bodies optimally. For over six months now I've been increasing my daily servings of whole foods with MORE whole foods. In fact, I'm delighted to tell you that I've been able to eat, not nine fruits and vegetables a day, but SEVENTEEN! I'm feeling stronger, more relaxed and definitely healthier. I'll be so glad if you'll visit the site listed below. I think the information there will be enlightening to you and empower you in your search for continued good health for your family. This company even has fruits and veggies for the Liddle Kiddles... they're called Gummies! Come in all sorts of colorful shapes. And best of all... they don't taste like turnips! :) Come for a visit now, please. Thank you. Love, Joan =============================================== If you would like to receive a free audiotape on the importance of whole-food nutrition, send your name and mailing address to: tapeJB@schoolofhealth.com |
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