In my last blog post there were no words, only pictures, to express my confusion and disbelief at spending 3 hours in the Little League concession stand distributing garbage to children and parents. While I understand concessions are a fundraising venture for the West Bend Little League I can't help but see the irony of "helping" children and the community with organized sports and exceptional playing fields by selling junk food. We are in reality "helping" corporate food producers addict us to processed foods, sugar, and potentially a life-time of health and obesity related illnesses. Please, don't "help" my children.
And I am GUILTY, my kids will have slushies and popcorn too...and my stomach flip-flops because everything I know reverberates about the waste of money and the demise of my childrens' good health directly related to high fructose corn syrup; fake, manufactured movie style popcorn; and caffeine, sugar laden beverages. I was dreading working the concession stand, initially because I did not want to be responsible for money exchange! Within a few minutes however I realized I was capable of operating a cash register but I was not capable of dealing drugs! I struggled with my personal judgments of the consumers, both children and adults; I struggled with my perception of the grocery/concession business ; I felt critical toward the patrons..both parents and children. I have issues. My required participation was a good thing...an eye-opener...an exercise in mass consumption and the epidemic of weight issues that exist within our community. It also called my attention to the fact that I can be judgmental and do nothing or I can take a positive approach to community education, family exercise, and highlight local services that take pride in growing fresh, wholesome produce. How difficult would it be to have a small fruit stand in addition to the concession booth? Even easier, the concession stand could display a beautiful bowl of fresh fruit (they picked up fresh Dilly Bars quite easily) providing the option of encouraging a better choice.
I have strong, fit, wise, nutritional savvy friends who also struggle with the perceived pressure our children exert on us. We feel powerless to assist our kids in making healthy choices. And it is tiring. My daughter is almost 12 years old so for the past 12 years I have had to encourage her to make the healthy choice as well as be mindful that the words I use can be significantly detrimental or inspiring to creating a healthy self-esteem and body image. If we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change. If I look at teaching my kids about healthy nutrition as being a chore, drudgery I become tired...I feel debilitated. If I see a bustling Farmer's Market, fresh strawberry fields, restaurant owners taking pride in their local food offerings I become inspired.
My friend Stacy recently shared, " Totally agree- the worst place for junk food Tiffany is at sporting events, school events too. But I often feel alone in trying to reinforce this with my kids and refusing to buy that kind of stuff- trying to cook as much as I can with whole foods lately." I think Stacy is correct. These days parents that reinforce healthy decision making appear to be in the minority. My husband is a coach for the little league as well as for the high school basketball team. We all have unique platforms to help encourage children to make healthy choices for their bodies. If you coach children of any age, in any sport you have the authority to emphasize to the children and their parents the wisdom in selecting nutrient dense, whole foods like banannas, nuts, grapes, and lean proteins to aide in their physical performance. That is one reason I solicit the help of our coaches--I pull them aside and whisper, "tell her skittles are terrible for her...tell him the lolly dolly will rot his teeth....tell him soda contributes to diabetes...tell them if they want to be great athletes they need to eat foods that will build muscle and energy." In addition my children employ a filter to my words--they no longer hear me but they hear their friends' parents, they still hear their coaches. You have my permission, if you ever see my children around town and they are eating the nutritional equivalent of plastic (gummy bears, Big League Chew, soda pop) to whisper to them, "I believe you could make a much better choice for your body."
If I work the concession stand again I promise, I will no longer judge you or your kids. To do so is absolutely hypocritical of me because I struggle with the same battle. Plus, if I am trying to live according to God's priorities then what business do I have in judging you? What I will do however is gently educate. If your child orders fried mozzarella balls, ice-cream cookie bars, twizzlers and soda I just might ask the question, "Are you certain this is the food fuel you want to give your body?" I have encouraged my husband, as a coach, to write a letter to the parents of his 9 year old players to plan accordingly for summer tournaments. Sports drinks, slushies, soda are not the hydration source our bodies generally crave...particularly if most of the time the kids are in the dug-out. Running around the bases once or twice and standing in the outfield does not physiologically drain our body of electrolytes. Most of the time the kids have not even broken a sweat. Ice-water is an excellent thirst quencher and eventually nothing else will satisfy. The sports drinks and sodas willl become offensive to their taste buds!
My friend asked me to pick up her Wellspring CSA (community supported agriculture) box this week from the Imagine Cafe. She is on vacation and did not want the items to rot. Included in this fresh produce were fresh, farm eggs (happy cage-free chickens!), rhubarb, romaine, spinach, kale and a host of beautiful fresh herbs. I had a complete change in my emotion as compared to my feelings at the concession stand. I felt happy! Most women I know recognize foods and moods tend to correlate. The mood I felt surrounded by fat, grease, and sugar in the concession stand was completely opposite the mood I felt when handed this amazing produce. I grew up on an avocado farm and I worked hard each summer to help harvest the fruit. I hated it--I swore I would never eat avocados again. Now I BEG, I PLEAD with my mom and dad to send us oranges, avocados, leeche nuts (delicious, juicy tropical fruit), mangoes...picked fresh off the tree. And thankfully they do. Once your body detox's from these chemical laden foods that have a shelf life of eternity, your body will yearn for what it truly needs. How our great-great grandparents cooked--even perhaps what some people call a "paleolithic diet," can yield mental clarity, physical fitness, and emotional stability.
And I am GUILTY, my kids will have slushies and popcorn too...and my stomach flip-flops because everything I know reverberates about the waste of money and the demise of my childrens' good health directly related to high fructose corn syrup; fake, manufactured movie style popcorn; and caffeine, sugar laden beverages. I was dreading working the concession stand, initially because I did not want to be responsible for money exchange! Within a few minutes however I realized I was capable of operating a cash register but I was not capable of dealing drugs! I struggled with my personal judgments of the consumers, both children and adults; I struggled with my perception of the grocery/concession business ; I felt critical toward the patrons..both parents and children. I have issues. My required participation was a good thing...an eye-opener...an exercise in mass consumption and the epidemic of weight issues that exist within our community. It also called my attention to the fact that I can be judgmental and do nothing or I can take a positive approach to community education, family exercise, and highlight local services that take pride in growing fresh, wholesome produce. How difficult would it be to have a small fruit stand in addition to the concession booth? Even easier, the concession stand could display a beautiful bowl of fresh fruit (they picked up fresh Dilly Bars quite easily) providing the option of encouraging a better choice.
I have strong, fit, wise, nutritional savvy friends who also struggle with the perceived pressure our children exert on us. We feel powerless to assist our kids in making healthy choices. And it is tiring. My daughter is almost 12 years old so for the past 12 years I have had to encourage her to make the healthy choice as well as be mindful that the words I use can be significantly detrimental or inspiring to creating a healthy self-esteem and body image. If we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change. If I look at teaching my kids about healthy nutrition as being a chore, drudgery I become tired...I feel debilitated. If I see a bustling Farmer's Market, fresh strawberry fields, restaurant owners taking pride in their local food offerings I become inspired.
My friend Stacy recently shared, " Totally agree- the worst place for junk food Tiffany is at sporting events, school events too. But I often feel alone in trying to reinforce this with my kids and refusing to buy that kind of stuff- trying to cook as much as I can with whole foods lately." I think Stacy is correct. These days parents that reinforce healthy decision making appear to be in the minority. My husband is a coach for the little league as well as for the high school basketball team. We all have unique platforms to help encourage children to make healthy choices for their bodies. If you coach children of any age, in any sport you have the authority to emphasize to the children and their parents the wisdom in selecting nutrient dense, whole foods like banannas, nuts, grapes, and lean proteins to aide in their physical performance. That is one reason I solicit the help of our coaches--I pull them aside and whisper, "tell her skittles are terrible for her...tell him the lolly dolly will rot his teeth....tell him soda contributes to diabetes...tell them if they want to be great athletes they need to eat foods that will build muscle and energy." In addition my children employ a filter to my words--they no longer hear me but they hear their friends' parents, they still hear their coaches. You have my permission, if you ever see my children around town and they are eating the nutritional equivalent of plastic (gummy bears, Big League Chew, soda pop) to whisper to them, "I believe you could make a much better choice for your body."
If I work the concession stand again I promise, I will no longer judge you or your kids. To do so is absolutely hypocritical of me because I struggle with the same battle. Plus, if I am trying to live according to God's priorities then what business do I have in judging you? What I will do however is gently educate. If your child orders fried mozzarella balls, ice-cream cookie bars, twizzlers and soda I just might ask the question, "Are you certain this is the food fuel you want to give your body?" I have encouraged my husband, as a coach, to write a letter to the parents of his 9 year old players to plan accordingly for summer tournaments. Sports drinks, slushies, soda are not the hydration source our bodies generally crave...particularly if most of the time the kids are in the dug-out. Running around the bases once or twice and standing in the outfield does not physiologically drain our body of electrolytes. Most of the time the kids have not even broken a sweat. Ice-water is an excellent thirst quencher and eventually nothing else will satisfy. The sports drinks and sodas willl become offensive to their taste buds!
My friend asked me to pick up her Wellspring CSA (community supported agriculture) box this week from the Imagine Cafe. She is on vacation and did not want the items to rot. Included in this fresh produce were fresh, farm eggs (happy cage-free chickens!), rhubarb, romaine, spinach, kale and a host of beautiful fresh herbs. I had a complete change in my emotion as compared to my feelings at the concession stand. I felt happy! Most women I know recognize foods and moods tend to correlate. The mood I felt surrounded by fat, grease, and sugar in the concession stand was completely opposite the mood I felt when handed this amazing produce. I grew up on an avocado farm and I worked hard each summer to help harvest the fruit. I hated it--I swore I would never eat avocados again. Now I BEG, I PLEAD with my mom and dad to send us oranges, avocados, leeche nuts (delicious, juicy tropical fruit), mangoes...picked fresh off the tree. And thankfully they do. Once your body detox's from these chemical laden foods that have a shelf life of eternity, your body will yearn for what it truly needs. How our great-great grandparents cooked--even perhaps what some people call a "paleolithic diet," can yield mental clarity, physical fitness, and emotional stability.
Fresh farm eggs from Wellspring CSA...thank you Tonnie!
Physical fitness in its most fun form...ball hop relay race on the last day of school!
I admit it--my parents were right. We should eat fresh...it is good for children to work...food you grow tastes better than anything from the store.
Special thanks to Terri Bodden of Pleasant Valley Tennis and Fitness and Jen Martin at the Soul Source who inspired me with their Wholesome Food discussion last night. When we talk, share, laugh and generally emote it tends to decrease our food cravings as well. Healthy social relationships go together with healthy living and healthy eating. Thank you ladies for a great evening!
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