Teaching kids about health...

       It's never too early, 

or too late

  to teach

your kids the science of healthy grocery shopping.
Yes it takes more time
Yes its a little frustrating
Yes they will fight
Yes they will run
Yes they fall and cry and bump into everyone....
Yes, Yes, Yes there are a million excuses to try to skip the whole thing and go shopping on your own if you are able to, but then....you've lost the opportunity to teach them all about healthy shopping at the grocery store.

Someday, they will be going shopping for their own families and children. What will they reach for? Have you prepared them for a future of health and wellness, or for a future of possible medications, doctors visits and heaven knows what else.
I am guilty...Until now, I've never really though twice about what I was giving them. I mean, we would eat out once in a while, but at the grocery store for a while it became more about " how much can I save?".
I was all into coupons and walking out with hundreds worth of groceries for $20....but I never spent a second reading the ingredients of what I was buying, and in retrospect, it wasn't all that great. A lot of easy, quick processed foods.

We live in the Convenient States of America....everything is now about " convenience". Fast food is convenient, pre-made processed food is convenient, store bought cakes, cookies and brownies are convenient. They save time, energy and effort.

We work our butts off in order to make money so we can "live better" , have bigger cars, houses, etc. But we don't even care about the MOST important gift we have been given OUR HEALTH. Ask anyone who is ill....they would give anything to  have their health back. You can't put a price on health.

Sadly, my mom ALWAYS tried to teach me this, and she was always the best example of healthy living and eating. She taught me to buy the right foods and to avoid all that processed junk.
But unfortunately, we all have our free agency...and I chose the easy way out, and now I am paying the consequences with my health and my family's as well.
`
I am starting to see my oldest becoming slightly overweight, and that makes me sad. Because he only repeats what he has seen. He loves all the foods I love, he eats everything I used to eat and buy. He is as sedentary as I was for many years.. It's my fault. And it's not easy to admit, but it's the truth.

I just hope I am in time to reverse all the damage I've caused my son and my own body as well.

 I don't want to become diabetic like my dad. I don't want to have heart disease, I don't want to get cancer like my grandparents.

If after doing everything in my power,  I am still dealt with one of those cards, I will try my best to embrace it and overcome it, however I have the choice today and everyday as to what I put in my body.

I have the choice of what I put in my children's mouths, and of what they put in their own mouths as well. After all, WHO buys ALL the food in the house? me
If there are no candy....can they eat candy?   no
If there are no doughnuts, can they eat doughnuts?  no
If there is no soda, can they drink soda?  no

If all they have are healthy homemade oatmeal cookies...will they eventually eat those?  yes

It's never too late. Trust me. Our body's are so perfectly created that we can practically reverse all the damage we've done in a short time. And it will be grateful, and you will see that gratitude show through your skin, hair, nails, mood, energy level and clear mind.

Treat your body as if it were your most precious possession. It will be with you throughout your whole life. It will endure many challenges with you along the way, It will work day and night, it never has a vacation or a day off...

It literally holds your life in it's hands. The day your body gives up is the day your life ends.

If you knew someone held your life in their hands, wouldn't you treat them like gold??? Wouldn't you do all in your power to make them happy?                

It's YOUR body

It is your BEST friend.

HONOR IT. 

LOVE IT.

EMBRACE IT.
NOURISH IT.

xoxo Stephanie