Learning By Example

We all tell our kids, to eat healthy, be active, and drink water instead of soda. We send our kids to school where they may (or may not) learn about the food pyramid, and what they should be eating. Do you follow a healthy fruit and vegetable variety at home that could compare? Or are your meals "normal...ya know, mac and cheese and chicken tenders, and spaghetti, etc." like many ?
I know a lady who we will call, "Bridgette" (not her real name), who is a personal trainer and had reformed her life from being obese with unhealthy lifestyle habits. She has kids, is divorced, and joint custody goes with that situation. She is concerned about the health and well being of her kids due to their poor diet and lack of exercise while they are at their dad's.
She has tried to impress upon them the importance of staying active, and eating healthy, (even "super healthy" sometimes) to counteract the damage that is being done with "normal" processed foods, high in saturated fat and other unhealthy ingredients. They have too much on their minds to do anything; it's too hot; they had a long week; they are online, and any other reason to say no. They are... t-e-e-n-a-g-e-r-s!!! That's right! And when you tell them something, you know they already know!
I remember when I knew everything! I wonder what happened?? I had to learn all this other stuff, and I am still learning! I must have been mugged for my previous wealth of knowledge sometime after puberty. I hope they find the one who took my vast knowledge of the universe, and throw the book at him...or her! Until then, many teens have access to this portal of knowledge, and sometimes find us ancient ones redundant and babbling nonsense of healthy living, and such . I joke, naturally . This view is shared by Bridgette, and so is the frustration that we try to educate those that would benefit from our past experience and knowledge in health and wellness through nutrition and exercise. Not just teens, but all people, age is no matter.
The problem is that regardless of how healthy Bridgette's home cooking was, and how much she influenced the healthier choices when going out, her kids did spend enough time at their dad's to pick up the easier, unhealthy habits. It doesn't matter that he is a cancer survivor ...who still smokes. Or that his mom has Diabetes, and likes to snack daily on meals of white bread only, and a side of coffee. His kitchen has been filled with starches, and processed meats and white pasta galore. Pizza service is on speed dial, and slider-like burgers and Mickey D's is the meal of choice otherwise. She has been worried for years, as all her advice is blown off by the person who is supposed to be helping raise her kids in an environment to help them flourish. Her ex-husband had appearently told her that veggies and fruits are luxery foods, and too much compared to the easier, cheaper mac and cheese. When she brought healthy food to his house, or sent healthy food home with the kids, affordable shopping lists, and articles on diet and exercise to the ex via e-mail, she thought he would somehow pay attention, and cop a clue. Hard luck, Bridgette.
It seems her teenage daughter, a brilliant student, with an amazing future, has been waking up feeling ill for a few months now. She has then started to feel ill after each meal, and exhausted. Her nails are ridged, and she has no energy and massive mood swings. Signs that she is not absorbing nutrients...otherwise known as malnutrition. I thought Bridgette was going to have a full blown breakdown. After all her " Please eat healthy..." and sent info over the years, trying to encourage a healthy lifestyle for the sake of her kids, this is happening. It is a nightmare for those who really know just how important nutrition and exercise are to true health. The pain some have gone through trying to restore health to even near normal, after being unhealthy and taking things for granted. It's not a game, and it is no fun. The potential for further disease and even death are very real issues. To top it off , Bridgette is a Personal Trainer with high nutition background. I felt so bad for her. She wept as she explained how she tried to encourage a healthy lifestyle away from her home.
You can only be responsible for your own house, and do your best to impress good eating and exercise habits on your kids wherever they go. There will always be outside influences, be it friends, other family members, or pressed schedules making fast food an easy option, regardless of the nutritional absence in the meals.
Her daughter became suddenly scared, and knew that this was no longer an abstract worry, of "what could happen". This is really happening, and to her, not someone else. She was tired and hoping that it's not the diabetes that runs in the family(and is engulfing the world-especially young people at an alarming epidemic rate) , but a digestive disorder maybe. You know , something fixable. Not a comfort to the mommy.
As Bridgette awaits the results of her daughter's tests in the next 7 days, we can take this as a huge example to be an example to our kids, and do our best to impress upon them the dire need of a nutritious diet, and proper exercise. You can't depend on others to teach or show your child what to do, if you do not adhere to it yourself. Appearently, Bridgette's ex husband thought that since the kids ate pretty healthy at their mom's house, that he was off the hook for a healthy lifestyle. He could just feed them garbage, and be sedentary and play his video games. Nice example.
Please , be proactive in your lifestyle, and set a good example for your loved ones. He is sorry NOW that he didn't listen. Now that his child is sick. The cancer he carried, and the tumor in the neck of his second child weren't enough to impress a healthier lifestyle in his house. Now his first born is sick. Let's hope he cops a clue soon! Or the cute 2 year old he and his new wife have will be following suit and suffering a disease of her own. It is sad , and I hope and pray all is safe and well with Bridgette's daughter. I hope it is something you can fix with a small effort. But I also hope the warning is respected , and the nutrition and exercise is implemented to make the kids as healthy, and as happy as they could be.
Lead by example, and don't just hope your kids are getting nutrients along the way "somewhere". Now and then nutrition isn't enough. Make it habit, and your kids will, too.
Be happy and healthy!
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