The health of our kids is a very serious thing. Today’s kids don’t eat or do the things that I used to do as a child. Despite not eating as healthy as I should when I was a child at least I was very active in some kind of sports activity. Recently I spoke at Lee Elementary School in Atlanta. This was an invitation that received from one of the 21 Day students.Sonya thank you I really enjoyed talking to the faculty.

I spoke to the faculty    about setting an example for the kids. Often times children look up to their teachers, especially in elementary school.  Kids will learn almost everything they need to learn in school; from elementary to college. I honestly feel that elementary is where the root is planted and from the root grows the fruit. Teaching a child what the purpose and function of food is is vital in helping them maintain a healthy body image. Teachers have stressful and overwhelming role and often times we take for granted all that they do.  Stressful situation can lead to unhealthy and over eating. If the teacher is stress and overweight healthy eating is not high on the list of priorities.  So what is the solution? Decreasing the stress thereby, decreasing the emotional stressful eating which can encourage them to make healthy food choices.

Jamie Oliver’s food revolution is a program whose goal is to change the food in school cafeterias. Processed foods, French fries, sugary milk, and unhealthy carbohydrates are the foods items that make up the menu in many of America’s schools. How can we expect our kids to eat fruits and vegetables when they’re not even available? High schools may offer a salad bar but when you’re use to eating French fires and hamburgers since elementary do you really think they’ll eat salad now? Probably not.

Small changes can mean a lot, replacing the white bread with whole grain, substituting fries for fruit, and grilled chicken for hamburgers. Kids will be kids and want to eat unhealthy foods but moderation is the key.  Totally restricting something from kids will only make them want it more. Giving children options is something that helps them feel more in control. Childhood obesity is at an alarming high if children are going to be the future we must take an interest in teaching them how to eat and maintain a healthy body and life style.

So I’m on a mission to help the teachers of the world decrease stress, make health conscious food choices while teaching our children they too can eat and be healthy.