Go, Slow and Whoa!
September is Childhood obesity month. As we head back to school and start to get back to our routines, finding time to eat healthy and exercise becomes increasingly difficult. Here are a few helpful tips to keep our plates healthy and our bellies happy!
By Rachel Crockford, BSN, RN, TJS School Nurse
Header image by Freepik
It's important to have fun with food, try new things and indulge from time to time, but to develop healthy bodies and minds, we need to be mindful of what we're eating. Foods can easily fall into three categories that are easy for you and your children to remember: Go, Slow and Whoa.
- Go foods are foods that you can almost always eat. Examples of Go foods are fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain breads and pastas, low-fat milk and yogurt.
- Slow foods are sometimes foods. Examples of Slow foods are french toast or waffles, white breads and pastas, microwaved popcorn, pretzels and baked chips.
- Whoa foods should make you say "whoa." These foods are the least healthy and should be once in awhile foods. Examples of Whoa foods are chicken nuggets, hot dogs, french fries, sugary cereals, cookies, cake and ice cream.
Moderation is key. It's okay to have Whoa foods every once in awhile, but to nourish growing bodies and minds, it's best to focus on filling up on Go foods.
The ABCs to Fostering Healthy Habits
Ensuring that you and your children engage in healthy eating habits paves the way to a healthy lifestyle for years to come. Below are a few tips and tricks to encourage your children to adopt healthy eating habits.
- A - Avoid distractions at the table. Engage in conversation. Use meal time to catch up on one another's day. Ask questions that require more than a yes or no answer. For example: What was something that happened today?
- B - Be a role model. Set the example you want your kids to follow.
- C - Choose your words wisely. Avoid using words like diet, fat or bad foods. Instead, try promoting healthy living by focusing on positive choices.
Using these tips and tricks will set your family up for healthy eating success. Happy healthy eating!
Sources:
- https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/go-slow-whoa.html?r...
- https://hnhu.org/wp-content/uploads/healthy-school...
This blog was originally shared in Nurse's Notes, a monthly newsletter by Nurse Rachel Crockford, BSN, RN.
About the Author
Rachel is a registered nurse who earned her Bachelor of Science from Drexel University in Pennsylvania. She has extensive nursing experience in pediatric care, and previously worked at an elementary school in Virginia Beach. Rachel's family moved here from the east coast, and her husband is pursuing his MBA at Rice University. She has two children, Duke and Colt.
Degrees Held
Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Drexel University
Bachelor of Arts in History & Political Science
