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| The colorful solution to childhood obesity? Photo by muammerokumus |
Obesity is a massive problem in the U.S. and many other countries around the planet.
Now apparently there is some good news in terms of childhood obesity dropping a bit in several U.S cities and states.
What sort of rocket science or other wizardry has been able to turn the tide?
Apparently, the improvement can be credited to children eating more fruits and vegetables and fewer unhealthy fried/processed foods.
Sometimes the answers to our problems are so simple.
And sometimes many of them can be found in the garden either directly (where said fruits and vegetables grow) or indirectly (virtues of hard work, growing what you consume and caring for an environment with the potential to nurture you).
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Aaron, that simple change – eating more fruits and vegetables – definitely works as a fat-fighter. On children and adults. My weight seems to have reached a lower set point after I changed my diet. Amazing how much unnecessary and harmful additives go into processed food.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree, Lee.
DeleteI'm trying to go for the whole, unprocessed foods as much as possible.
I think about this a lot. We try to eat a lot of veggies, mostly home grown or bought at the farmers market, but occasionally we will "splurge" and go to a fast food place. Not because the food is good, but just for a change. However, I've noticed that some of these fast food places don't even offer a vegetable (besides french fries or the tomato on the hamburger). No salad, no choice of eating healthy. But here's the thing that's most noticeable - the young adults and teenagers that are working there are mostly overweight. Not all, but most. It makes me want to "splurge" less and less.
ReplyDeleteSounds great, Holley.
DeleteFor a fast food splurge, we like to go to Chipotle (http://www.chipotle.com/en-US/Default.aspx?type=default). I believe that they take a bit more care with how they source their ingredients, with an emphasis on humanely-raised meat. A burrito bowl there is mostly rice, beans and veggies with some meat for flavor. Delicious, filling, affordable and you get the peace-of-mind of watching the food prepared in front of you in an open kitchen! Love that transparency :)
Oh, I love Chipotle, but unfortunately, the closest one is quite a drive away. :( But I do applaud this company. I love that even if you're vegan, vegetarian, or meat eater, you can still go and get what you want without having to special order something.
Delete