Our daughter is going to a new preschool this month. Marlena is working closer to town now, and we needed dependable care for Ayla that is not left to the whims of Madison County calling snow days for a large part of the winter.
We found the perfect situation in a downtown church. Two big pluses: they were closed only one day this winter. But most persuasive is that they have a unique approach to feeding our children.
This center does not have sugar or white flour in their larder. Nutritious meals are cooked for the children every day sans the refined sweetener and wheat stripped of nutrition. Poly- and monounsaturated fats are used. Whole fruits, local vegetables, and whole grains make up a large part of their daily diet.
Once a month the children cook their own food. Last week, they made homemade whole wheat pasta and tossed it with feta cheese and spinach. If only we all had started out at 3 years of age eating unprocessed and nutrient-dense food, the state of the nation would not be obese.
Here’s the good news. The USDA has finally come out with recommendations that are useful, pertinent, and easy to follow. They compiled data that proves we need a stronger emphasis on reducing calorie consumption and increasing physical activity.
The 90-page document is actually a good read; you may enjoy skimming it to see what parts interest you. It reports concrete data that I have been talking about all along. Check it out at: http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/Publications/DietaryGuidelines/2010/PolicyDoc/PolicyDoc.pdf
The new guidelines do not suggest a food pyramid of portion sizes, but rather encourage Americans to “consume more healthy foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fat-free and low-fat dairy products, beans and peas, nuts and seeds, lean meats and poultry and seafood, and to consume less sodium, saturated and trans fats, added sugars, and refined grains.” This advice is for ages 2 and beyond.
Because more than one-third of children are overweight or obese, it is important for our families to start eating this way. If you take all the no-no’s out of our diet and concentrate on what they suggest you consume, you will end up eating nutrient-dense food, losing unnecessary weight, feeling energized, and maintaining a healthy body mass.
Here is their new, deconstructed pyramid: What’s important is that you fill your plate with 1/2 vegetables and fruits, then split the rest between whole grains and lean protein or plant proteins that contain poly-or monounsaturated fats. (See the highlighted list above.) Maintaining a calorie balance over time is key to weight management. And diet claims, it makes no difference whether you reduce fats or carbs or sugar, you must reduce total calories to lose weight.
So play with and enjoy your food, but eat less. And get on over here and work out with us.
