What I enjoyed the most was that she wasn't there to preach to us. Her message came from the voice of a mother who at one time or another had many of the same concerns about her own family's health and wellness that many parents have. When America's First Lady can relate to what most average Americans may experience, it makes it easier and more believable to follow the Let's Move! campaign. Mrs. Obama reminded us of a time when fast food was something special and not the daily norm and when exercise was a regular part of our days. I, too, remember when a McDonald's Happy Meal was a real treat for me. My mom believed in cooking "real" food. On the days when she was too busy to cook or when she had to work late, she made sure that we ate dinner in the cafeteria at Spelman. If we didn't eat there, we would stop at S and S Cafeteria, Morrison's Cafeteria, or Picadilly. And she chose those places because she knew that I would get a hot, balanced meal complete with veggies. A visit through the drive-through of McDonald's or Burger King was not a part of our reality. So, when I did have a chance to eat fast food, it was something that I looked forward to, but I certainly didn't expect it.
Now that I am a busy, working mom of 2 boys, I find that I do make the effort to prepare a meal for them most weeknights. And yes, there are times when it would be far easier for me to pull through that drive-through window, I try to resist that temptation because I know that a) the food is not going to be as good as what I can prepare and b) it's just not healthy for us. Don't get me wrong...there are times when picking up dinner is the best solution. With food prices rising, however, sometimes it seems that eating out is even cheaper than cooking at home. Again though, the cheaper alternative is most likely the least healthy alternative. Eating out does not have to be disastrous if we know how to select healthier options and how to make those options more attractive to our children.
What we struggle with the most in our home is the endless snacking. Between the potato chips and cookies, it sometimes it feels as if we've lost the war to the snack pack. Like Mrs. Obama chided, sometimes it's just easier to hand over the chips than it is to continue harping on why the chips are bad or why you should eat the vegetables. That's where our resolve as parents must click in. We are the decison makers and the purchasers in our home. Our children are most often the ones influenced by all of the commercials and ads luring them into the coolness of all types of great tasting but bad-for-you foods and habits. At the end of the day, though, we are the ones that spend the dollars at the cash register. We are the ones that cook the meals or make the choices of where and what we will eat. We are the ones that have the power to either allow our kids to be couch potatoes or encourage them to be active daily. Mrs. Obama encourages us "to find creative solutions that work for our families." We have to find the best way to incorporate change into our daily lives that is realistic, doable, and sustainable.
While we may have more conveniences and technological advances now, it is still our right and our duty to ensure that we make food and health choices that will benefit our children, not harm them. If 1 out of 3 American children are obese, then it is clear that the decisions we make about what we feed them and how we train them are failing our children. And in the long run, these decisions will have dire health consequences for our children and ultimately for our nation. First Lady Obama poignantly reminded us that "we have a voice. We can change things when we come together." Her words certainly sparked something in me. For more information on the Let's Move! initiative, visit http://www.letsmove.gov/.
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