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M.A.D. Mom’s – Make A Difference
By Dani Walker
Life is funny, infuriating & fascinating. I woke early Saturday morning with child obesity weighing very heavy on my heart (no pun intended). I lay in bed trying to figure out how I am going to get across to friends and family that our children are suffering for our apathy! We as parents MUST make a difference.
After researching, gathering pictures and preparing a power point video I stumbled upon this:
I could NOT have said it better myself. Jamie Oliver speaks MY language. After spending 5 years at Calderas I have truly come to understand the gravity of “our” food issues. I see first hand the lack of knowledge when it comes to REAL food.
We grow heirloom organic produce that people will NOT eat because it is not the right color. Serve a kid a beautiful plate of freshly sauteed veggies & you would think I had given them poop on a plate. We need to educate and we need educated!
I say to people all the time that our children think real food comes from a box that you mix with water and place in a microwave! As my husband and I sat and watched this it was a breath of fresh air to feel like I was not alone on this mission. Jack was actually startled when the kids couldn’t tell a tomato from a potato. He said, “I know you say it all the time but I just didn’t think it was really that bad.”
“The statistics, which you won’t believe, are that in the last 30 years the amount of overweight children from 6 to 11 years of age have doubled. The amount of overweight 12 to 17 year age group has tripled.”
Dr. Saphir explains, “Diabetes is sugar in the blood. The children get all the symptoms that an adult would have that require insulin to get their shots for diabetes. And they really get sick. It also influences their life and puts them at risk for cardiac complications later, kidney complications, and eyesight complications. The difference being that in children, when they get Type 2 diabetes, you don’t need medications usually. You don’t need anything other than to get rid of that weight.”
Total: 23.6 million children and adults in the United States—7.8% of the population—have diabetes.
Since 1950, the amount of nutritional information available to the public has roughly doubled every seven years. During that same period (1950-2000), obesity rose by 214% until today, where 64.5 percent of adult Americans (about 127 million) are categorized as being overweight or obese.
The average American weighs 30 lbs. more today than 100 years ago. In that light, one might conclude that there is a direct correlation between knowledge of obesity and obesity itself.
The point is – we aren’t foolish. We know that a salad is better for us than a pizza; that grilled chicken is better than a smothered burrito; that tofu is preferable to a cheeseburger; that fresh fruits and vegetables are better than candy bars and French fries. People are swimming in information. We’ve become anesthetized by information overload. But more information has not and will not lead to enlightened behavior, less craving for food or improved health. As I say “Wellness is THE connection of paths between knowledge & ACTION!”
So here I am again “Shouting” online! Can you hear me? Every Person’s Individual Effort Makes A Difference.
Jamie barely skimmed the surface of the problems with today’s FAKE food but I think he did a marvelous job and is an inspiration. If we don’t change how we as parents look at food then how will our children? It starts at home. It starts with you & it starts today.
Join me in the revolution. Get my 7 secrets to optimal health. These are easy steps to take every day. They are achievable and will help you understand the importance of nutrition. I will throw in a few easy and awesome recipes we make at Calderas as well!!!!
Your wellness advocate & friend,
Dani
Let me know what you think about this video, share it and let’s be a part of the FOOD REVOLUTION! Call me crazy, but I have hope!
Sassy, classy and kick a$$y Marketing Muse with a passion for living life well. Author/Creator: Education Beats Medication Wellness Series & My Money My Vote Ambassador. I help solopreneurs build their online brand with less stress & more success.